AL DI MEOLA BRINGS THE GUITARCHITECT TOUR TO THE BARBICAN

Wednesday 25 June 2026 | Barbican, London

Presented in collaboration with Serious

Legendary guitarist Al Di Meola returns to London in summer 2026 with The Guitarchitect Tour, a landmark live show celebrating five decades of innovation, virtuosity and global musical exploration. The concert takes place at the iconic Barbican on Wednesday 25 June 2026, as part of the Summer Jazz Series.

Tickets for Al Di Meola at The Barbican – On sale NOW

A master architect of modern guitar

A founding member of the seminal jazz fusion group Return to Forever, Al Di Meola has shaped the sound of contemporary instrumental music since the 1970s. A Grammy Award-winning solo artist, his influence spans jazz, fusion, Latin, flamenco and Mediterranean traditions, underpinned by a signature style defined by speed, precision and lyrical depth.

Across an extraordinary career, Di Meola has released a catalogue of landmark recordings, including Elegant Gypsy, Casino and the genre-defining live album Friday Night in San Francisco. Each has played a pivotal role in expanding the expressive possibilities of the guitar.

Inside The Guitarchitect Tour

Performed with his acclaimed acoustic band, The Guitarchitect is both a retrospective and a forward-looking statement. The show weaves together classic compositions, deep-cut fan favourites and new material, all enhanced by immersive multimedia visuals and personal storytelling from Di Meola himself.

Audiences can expect:

• A career-spanning set that unites past, present and future

• Cinematic visuals that frame the music within Di Meola’s artistic journey

• Intimate insights into the ideas and influences behind the compositions

• Virtuosic performances delivered with trademark precision and warmth

The result is a concert experience that is as reflective as it is exhilarating - an exploration of how one artist has continually evolved while remaining unmistakably himself.

A rare London appearance

Renowned for his electrifying live performances, Al Di Meola remains a tireless creative force, captivating audiences worldwide with shows that balance technical brilliance and emotional resonance. This Barbican performance offers a rare opportunity to experience one of modern music’s great innovators in a setting celebrated for its acoustics and atmosphere.

HERBIE HANCOCK ANNOUNCES 3-NIGHT RESIDENCY AT LONDON'S BARBICAN AS PART OF SUMMER JAZZ SERIES

Photo: Danny Clinch

Herbie Hancock returns to the Barbican Hall with a 3-night UK exclusive residency to celebrate his 85th birthday and over 50 years since his first ever London show, at the historic Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park. Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With an illustrious career spanning five decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe. Herbie’s last performance at the Barbican in 2023 was described as “completely engrossing” by The Guardian.

There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, “Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.”

Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: in the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. Though one can’t track exactly where he will go next, he is sure to leave his inimitable imprint wherever he lands.

This exclusive residency is promoted alongside Marshall Arts and forms part of Serious’ Summer Jazz Series, in which a handpicked collection of global jazz stars will take to the stage at the Barbican and Cadogan Hall across June and July.

HERBIE HANCOCK ANNOUNCES TWO NIGHTS AT THE BARBICAN AS PART OF EUROPEAN TOUR

Image: Nick Letellier

Legendary musical innovator Herbie Hancock is to return to the Barbican for two unforgettable nights on 28 and 29 July. Returning to the UK after his previous 2022 shows at the Barbican and Glastonbury Festival, these are the only UK shows Herbie Hancock will be performing this year and come at the end of a three week European tour. They promise to be an electric experience from a jazz icon who shows no signs of slowing down.

Herbie Hancock's previous Barbican show, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival Summer Series last year, was met with critical acclaim with the Evening Standard proclaiming “A fine ensemble supported the veteran jazz man, but he was the undisputed star” whilst the Financial Times described it as “A gripping, crowd-raising gig”.

With an illustrious career spanning over six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, there are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. Despite his career being in its 7th decade, Herbie Hancock continues to amaze audiences across the globe. As a member of the Miles Davis Quintet that pioneered a groundbreaking sound in jazz, he also developed new approaches on his own recordings in the 70s. From Record-breaking albums such as "Headhunters" that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music, to "Rockit" and "Future Shock" which marked Hancock's foray into electronic dance sounds; during the same period he also continued to work in an acoustic setting with V.S.O.P.

For more information on Herbie’s European tour click below.