Why is Radiohead's 2025 tour facing boycott calls from activists? Drama explained

Radiohead have officially confirmed a five-city European arena tour for November and December 2025. These will be their first shows since 2018. Following this announcement, calls for boycotting the trek have emerged as activists are urging audiences to avoid the band's comeback shows.

The controversy is believed to stem from guitarist Jonny Greenwood's collaborations and performances in Tel Aviv during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. Campaigners say the band has not distanced itself from Greenwood's actions. They have also accused Radiohead of "complicit silence" on the crisis.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, has urged fans to reject Radiohead's upcoming 2025 tour. Their statement criticized Greenwood's performances with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa in Tel Aviv. The shows reportedly continued during violence in Gaza.

An official statement was posted from the Instagram page of the BDS movement, which read:

"Even as Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza reaches its latest, most brutal and depraved phase of induced starvation, Radiohead continues with its complicit silence, while one member repeatedly crosses our picket line, performing a short drive away from a livestreamed genocide, alongside an Israeli artist that entertains genocidal Israeli forces."

The post continued:

"Palestinians reiterate our call for the boycott of Radiohead concerts, including its rumoured tour, until the group convincingly distances itself, at a minimum, from Jonny Greenwood's crossing of our peaceful picket line during Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza."

Notably, Thom Yorke has previously defended the band's right to play in Israel. He stated that performing in a country is not equivalent to endorsing its government. Nevertheless, some activists are describing Radiohead's upcoming shows as "artwashing."

Yorke has also faced criticism for comments made during a 2024 solo show in Melbourne, where he clashed with a protester, who demanded that Thom Yorke speak out about the situation in Gaza. In May 2025, he also released a statement condemning the Netanyahu government and Hamas.

Radiohead's upcoming 2025 tour dates

Radiohead's upcoming run will feature four-night residencies in each city. It will kick off in Madrid and end in Berlin. Below are the confirmed dates and venues:

• Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Madrid, Spain at Movistar Arena
• Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Madrid, Spain at Movistar Arena
• Friday, November 7, 2025, Madrid, Spain at Movistar Arena
• Saturday, November 8, 2025, Madrid, Spain at Movistar Arena
• Friday, November 14, 2025, Bologna, Italy at Unipol Arena
• Saturday, November 15, 2025, Bologna, Italy at Unipol Arena
• Monday, November 17, 2025, Bologna, Italy at Unipol Arena
• Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Bologna, Italy at Unipol Arena
• Friday, November 21, 2025, London, UK at The O2 Arena
• Saturday, November 22, 2025, London, UK at The O2 Arena
• Monday, November 24, 2025, London, UK at The O2 Arena
• Tuesday, November 25, 2025, London, UK at The O2 Arena
• Monday, December 1, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark at Royal Arena
• Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark at Royal Arena
• Thursday, December 4, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark at Royal Arena
• Friday, December 5, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark at Royal Arena
• Monday, December 8, 2025, Berlin, Germany at Uber Arena
• Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Berlin, Germany at Uber Arena
• Thursday, December 11, 2025, Berlin, Germany at Uber Arena
• Friday, December 12, 2025, Berlin, Germany at Uber Arena

Tickets for this 2025 tour will be available to fans who pre-register through the band's website. Registration will run from September 5 to September 7, 2025. General sales are set to open on September 12, 2025.

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