UB40 featuring Ali Campbell to perform in South Africa in 2026

The group will perform at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town on 2 June, the Durban ICC on 4 June, and the SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria on 6 June. The tour is presented by Big Concerts in association with KFM 94.5, East Coast Radio, and Hot 102.7.

Tickets for the general public go on sale on 7 November 2025 through Ticketmaster and Big Concerts. Several presales will precede the public release. Mastercard cardholders can access a presale from 5 November until 7 November, with additional preferred ticket access available from 7 November via priceless.com/music. Members of the Big Concerts Fan Club can participate in a presale beginning 6 November ending 7 November.

UB40, originally formed in Birmingham in 1978, became one of the most successful reggae bands in history, known for hits such as Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You. The band’s early work, including the albums Signing Off (1980) and Labour of Love (1983), addressed themes of social and political struggle while blending reggae, dub, and pop influences.

Ali Campbell, the band’s founding member and lead vocalist, left the original UB40 in 2008, later forming UB40 featuring Ali Campbell. The current line-up continues to tour internationally, performing to sold-out audiences.

Reflecting on the group’s legacy, Campbell said: “When I first founded UB40 back in 1978, I put everything I had into it. None of us could have imagined we’d go on to sell over 100 million  records and take reggae from Birmingham to the world.”

Fans attending the South African shows can expect performances of the band’s classic songs alongside newer material.

Further details about the tour and ticket sales are available at www.bigconcerts.co.za and www.ticketmaster.co.za.