The Pogues have announced a trio of Irish dates as part of their upcoming Greatest Hits Tour 2026, bringing some of the band’s most beloved songs back to stages across the country later this year.
Following the success of recent anniversary tours across the UK and North America, the legendary Irish folk-punk group will head back out on the road this winter for a run of shows across Ireland, the UK, Germany and The Netherlands.
As part of the tour, The Pogues will perform three major Irish dates in December 2026, kicking off at 3Arena, Dublin on December 9, before travelling to SSE Arena, Belfast on December 10, and finishing up at Gleneagle Arena, Killarney on December 12.
Tickets for the Irish shows will go on general sale on Wednesday, March 18 at 10am, with presales available through MyMCD ahead of the public release.
Formed in London in 1982, The Pogues became one of the most distinctive bands of the decade by blending traditional Irish folk music with punk energy and sharp storytelling. Their songs often mixed raucous pub-style celebration with darker reflections on loss, exile and working-class life, creating a sound that proved hugely influential.
The group were fronted for many years by the late Shane MacGowan, whose songwriting and unmistakable voice helped define the band’s identity. MacGowan, who died in November 2023 at the age of 65, wrote many of the band’s most famous tracks and remains one of the most celebrated figures in Irish music.
For the upcoming tour, original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy will lead the performances, once again joined by a rotating lineup of guest musicians and singers. Organisers say the shows will feature appearances from “the cream of the current generation of Irish artists”, bringing fresh interpretations to the band’s catalogue.
The concerts will focus on the band’s most iconic material, drawing from what has become one of the most recognisable songbooks in modern Irish music. Audiences can expect performances of classics such as “Fairytale of New York,” “Dirty Old Town,” “A Pair of Brown Eyes,” “Rainy Night in Soho,” and “If I Should Fall From Grace With God.”
Released in 1987, “Fairytale of New York” has become one of the most enduring Christmas songs ever recorded and remains a staple of festive playlists across Ireland and the UK every year. The track, recorded with the late Kirsty MacColl, regularly returns to the charts each December and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time.
Over the course of the 1980s and early 1990s, The Pogues built a reputation as one of the most exciting live bands around, known for their chaotic energy and passionate crowds. Their mix of traditional instruments such as accordion, tin whistle and banjo with punk-inspired intensity created a sound that influenced generations of artists.
The upcoming Greatest Hits Tour 2026 will revisit that era while celebrating the band’s lasting cultural impact. By bringing in younger Irish performers alongside the original members, the tour aims to showcase how the band’s music continues to resonate with new audiences decades after it was first released.
In a statement announcing the shows, the band said: “After the incredible reaction to our recent anniversary shows, we wanted to take the celebration even further — we hope you’ll come along, it will most definitely be worth it.”
The announcement is expected to draw strong interest from Irish fans, particularly with the Dublin, Belfast and Killarney dates marking some of the band’s biggest shows on the island in recent years.
With a catalogue that continues to define Irish folk-punk and a legacy closely tied to the country’s musical identity, the upcoming tour promises to be both a celebration of The Pogues’ greatest songs and a tribute to the enduring spirit of the band’s music.
