Article Contributed by SRO
Published on 2026-04-20
TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL—80’s New Wave Tour—Announces Cross-Country Summer Tour Launching July 17
TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL—the acclaimed multi-act ’80s extravaganza which originated in 2024—returns for a full 2026 summertime tour of the U.S., launching July 17 in Phoenix and wrapping August 16 in Aurora, Illinois.
The colorful lineup features Thomas Dolby & The Lost Toy People, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Motels, The Producers, Animotion, The Escape Club, and Tommy Tutone. See the tour dates and artist quotes below. Tickets will go on sale nationally on Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. local time.
This will be the first time Thomas Dolby & The Lost Toy People have performed together since 1988; their last show was at the Rose Bowl supporting Depeche Mode. This will also be the first time in over 25 years that The Producers’ original lineup will tour the U.S. nationally from coast to coast.
The 2026 tour comes on the heels of a hugely successful holiday tour of the Northeast. This year’s trek will hit 15 markets, including Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco, Anaheim, Hollywood, Las Vegas, New Town, North Dakota, Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, New York City, Louisville, St. Petersburg, Huber Heights, Ohio, and Aurora, Illinois, with more dates to be announced.
The artists performing at this year’s TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL exploded in the pop culture zeitgeist in the 1980s thanks mainly to the high rotation of their music videos on MTV. These artists have enjoyed a steady rise in popularity in recent years, with their music having a lasting impact.
“Totally Tubular Festival has clearly emerged in just two years as the market leader for all ’80s tours in North America, not to mention Totally Tubular is hands down the best ’80s party on the planet,” says Jon Pleeter, the festival’s creator. “For all of the fans of ’80s new wave music, the Tubular circus is coming to town—we’ll see you this summer.”
The TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL 2026 shows are:
Friday, July 17
Phoenix, AZ
Celebrity Theatre
Sunday, July 19
Denver, CO
Mission Ballroom
Wednesday, July 22
San Francisco, CA
The Castro
Thursday, July 23
Anaheim, CA
House Of Blues
Friday, July 24
Hollywood, CA
Hollywood Palladium
Saturday, July 25
Las Vegas, NV
SAHARA Las Vegas
^Sunday, July 26
Salt Lake City, UT
Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
*Saturday, August 1
New Town, ND
4 Bears Casino
Friday, August 7
Washington, DC
Warner Theatre
Saturday, August 8
Atlantic City, NJ
Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena
Sunday, August 9
New York, NY
Pier 17
Wednesday, August 12
St. Petersburg, FL
Ferg’s Pavilion
^Friday, August 14
Louisville, KY
Iroquois Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 15
Huber Heights, OH
Rose Music Center @ The Heights
^Sunday, August 16
Aurora, IL
RiverEdge Park
*Bow Wow Wow will replace The Motels in New Town, ND at 4 Bears Casino on August 1. The New Town, ND show goes on sale June 22.
^On sale now.
Artist quotes are below.
“The current 80s music revival is more than just a walk down memory lane for those of us that were actually there. Because those born after the 80s are discovering the treasure trove of fresh musical ideas that exploded onto the scene in the heyday of MTV and KROQ. And the huge influence we had on everything that came after.”
—Thomas Dolby
“The Totally Tubular Festival invites the audience into a unique experience with hitmakers from the 80s. Every artist on the bill brings hit songs that spark fond memories. After the show, fans tell us stories of where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the song ‘Obsession.’ Then they introduce us to the next generation—the sons and daughters they brought to the show. The Totally Tubular Festival is a wonderful shared experience for both the audience and the artists.”
—Bill Wadhams, Animotion
“The 80s gave us some great songs that stand the test of time. It’s great to play to audiences, young and old who sing the words along with us.”
—Trevor Steel, The Escape Club
“I can’t tell you how many multigenerational families come to see us play on a fairly regular basis. It’s pretty encouraging when the kids of the folks you played for in the 80s are seriously into your music and sharing it with their friends. Sure it’s nostalgic for some people, but there’s nothing wrong with that because what they experienced in their youth was authentic and groundbreaking.”
—The Producers
“1980s music = fun. It’s all about the catchy melodies, feel-good nature of the music, fun quirky lyrics, and never taking one’s self too seriously.
Whether it was pop, metal, new wave, country, etc., 80s music was about having fun. Just look at the 80s fashions. 80s music was also produced at the peak of creative analog mixing. It has a warmth, power, and freshness to it that has since been replaced with conformity.”
—Jimmy James, Tommy Tutone
