Radiohead Return With 21 Shows—and Another Swing at the Ticket Bots

Radiohead are heading back into the arena—and they are bringing another experiment in concert ticketing with them.

The band has announced 21 performances for 2027 across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Saitama. Perth’s RAC Arena will host four nights in May, followed by six dates at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, six at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena and five June performances at GMO Arena Saitama in Japan.

That is enough news to make a large corner of the music world levitate. The sharper part of the story, however, is how Radiohead are attempting to place those tickets into human hands.

Australian fans must register before September 10 for the chance to receive an unlock code. Registration order does not affect selection, and a code permits access to the sale without guaranteeing a ticket. Japan is using a separate application process running through September 27.

Prices are fixed rather than dynamically adjusted. Australian standing tickets are listed at AUD $199 including fees, while seated tickets range from AUD $139 to $349. Face-value resale will be the only approved route in Australia. Japan will check ticket names against identification and will not permit ordinary resale or transfers.

Australian tickets include a contribution to Greenpeace Australia Pacific and the Australian Marine Conservation Society; Japanese tickets support More Trees. Radiohead says it will match the total donations.

No ticketing system can turn massive demand into unlimited seats. Registration forms can still feel like a velvet rope made from spreadsheets. But fixed prices, face-value resale and open acknowledgement of the bot problem at least point toward a more respectful relationship with listeners.

Radiohead say these will be their only shows of 2027, although they hope to perform elsewhere in the future. That makes the scramble inevitable. At least this time, the band is trying to keep the scramble from becoming a feeding frenzy.

Official information and promotional image: Radiohead.

Written by Chetuno