1 - The biggest video game concerts coming to the UK and Europe in 2026
Video game music has become a major live-music phenomenon, with orchestras, bands and multimedia shows bringing iconic soundtracks to concert halls and arenas across the UK and Europe. From large orchestral productions to tours dedicated to specific games, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for fans who want to experience game music beyond the console
Many of these concerts combine live orchestras, game footage and immersive visuals, allowing audiences to relive memorable moments from popular titles while hearing their soundtracks performed on stage.
Here are some of the major video game concert highlights for 2026:
A Painted Symphony – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A cinematic orchestral show celebrating the soundtrack of the upcoming RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The concert blends symphonic music with visuals from the game, offering fans an early taste of its atmospheric world. To be performed at Rockhal on March 25, promoted by Den Atelier.
BAFTA Games in Concert (UK tour): Marking two decades of the BAFTA Games Awards, this touring orchestral production features music from award-winning titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Helldivers 2, performed live with visuals highlighting memorable gaming moments.
The Music of Square Enix: A large-scale symphonic show celebrating some of gaming’s most beloved franchises—including Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, NieR, and Chrono Trigger. The production pairs orchestral performances with projected game footage.
London Video Game Orchestra concerts: This ensemble regularly performs orchestral arrangements of music from popular franchises such as Final Fantasy and Super Mario, bringing classic game soundtracks to concert venues around London.
Game Music Festival (London and Wrocław): An international event dedicated entirely to video game music, featuring concerts with composers and orchestras performing iconic scores from major titles.
Why game music concerts are growing:
The popularity of these events reflects how video game soundtracks have evolved into a respected art form. Many of the composers behind modern games now write cinematic, orchestral scores comparable to film soundtracks, making them ideal for live performance. At the same time, concerts provide fans with a nostalgic way to reconnect with the worlds and stories they love, turning gaming culture into a shared live experience.
2- ‘Highguard’ to shut down weeks after launch following negative reception
The multiplayer shooter Highguard will permanently shut down on March 12, 2026, less than two months after its release. Developer Wildlight Entertainment confirmed the decision after the game struggled to maintain a stable player base.
The free-to-play hero shooter launched on January 26 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Despite attracting over two million players initially, interest quickly dropped and daily player numbers declined sharply.
Wildlight said the team was grateful for the community’s support but admitted the studio “has not been able to build a sustainable player base” to keep the game running long term. Before the shutdown, the developers will release one final update, adding a new character, weapon and progression features so players can enjoy the game during its final days.
The abrupt closure highlights the difficulties facing new live-service shooters, where games must quickly attract and retain large audiences to survive in an increasingly competitive market.
3 – Poppy releases new ‘Marathon’ anthem with Son Lux
Musician Poppy has released a new track, “In Death We’ve Just Begun,” created for the upcoming sci-fi video game Marathon. The song was made in collaboration with Ryan Lott of Son Lux and features in the game’s new cinematic trailer. The atmospheric track blends Poppy’s distinctive vocals with a cinematic electronic sound, matching the futuristic tone of the rebooted Marathon, the multiplayer extraction shooter from Bungie, the studio behind Halo and Destiny.
The music accompanies a visually striking launch cinematic that explores the game’s mysterious world and characters, reinforcing the darker, sci-fi mood Bungie is building for the title. The collaboration highlights how modern game launches increasingly feature original music from well-known artists, turning game trailers into multimedia events that blend gaming, film-style storytelling and contemporary music.
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