Love To Be… Celebrates 30 Years With Nationwide Academy Tour
Legendary house music brand Love to be… will embark on a major UK tour in partnership with Academy Music Group (AMG) from 7th November 2026 to 17th May 2027, bringing its three-decade legacy to O2 Academy venues in Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Manchester and London. The partnership marks a significant new chapter for the Sheffield-born institution, taking its unmistakable house music energy on the road for its biggest UK venue tour.
Co-founded in 1994 by Tony Walker at the renowned Music Factory, Love to be… has spent over 30 years shaping UK club culture. From Frankie Knuckles, Masters At Work and Basement Jaxx, to Claptone, Sam Divine and Sonny Fodera, the brand has consistently united house music royalty with rising artists performing alongside the biggest names in global dance music. Its worldwide community has been built through events spanning New York, Ibiza and Sydney, syndicated radio show, record label and its 6,000-capacity flagship festival at The Stray in Harrogate. Today with Tony Walker alongside Director Marc Dennis steering the ship, Love to be… stands for heritage and innovation, bridging generations on the dancefloor with the same passion that fuelled the early years.
Across the huge tour of O2 Academy venues, each city will host a carefully curated lineup of headline talent and contemporary UK faves, each promising a gathering where people come together, never leaving the dance floor. Also stopping at Hangr Sheffield (17 Oct), Arts Club Liverpool (24 Oct) and Horizon Brighton (28 Nov), clubbers joining the 2026/2027 tour can catch killer sets from Sam Divine, Belters Only, Solardo, Todd Terry, Fat Tony, Sandy Rivera, Marshall Jefferson, Groove P, Yousef, lau.ra, K-Klass, Rue Jay, Trimtone, Janika Tenn and many more to be announced.
Supporting the next wave of talent is central to the tour. Love to be… has launched The Next Generation DJ Competition, giving emerging DJs the chance to win a set at their nearest O2 Academy venue. Entrants aged 18+ can submit a 30-minute house mix via the official competition page.
Love to be co-founder Tony Walker said, “This is more than a competition. It’s a chance to be part of a story that’s been building since 1994 – and to write your own chapter in it.”
With a history of unforgettable events and an unwavering commitment to house culture, Love to be… now takes its story nationwide as it continues to celebrate three decades of dance.
Keep an eye on https://www.lovetobeevents.co.uk/ or on socials @lovetobeevents for all the latest ticket sign up info and lineup announcements.
Love to be…
