Badshah to become first Indian rapper to headline The O2 in London

Indian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Badshah is set to headline The O2 Arena in London on March 22, 2026, marking the first time an Indian hip hop artist will perform a full-scale solo concert at the iconic venue.

The announcement positions Badshah among a select list of Indian artists including A.R. Rahman, Arijit Singh, Diljit Dosanjh and Sid Sriram who have performed at the arena — but makes him the first Indian rapper to lead a headline show. The concert is being produced by TCO Group, in partnership with TM Ventures and Rock On Music.

The performance will serve as a prelude to Badshah’s upcoming world tour and follows a pivotal moment in 2024 when he was invited on stage during Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati Tour stop at the same arena, where he publicly expressed his ambition to headline the venue.

The move comes after a series of milestones for the artist in the UK market. In 2023, he became the first Indian rapper to sell out the OVO Arena Wembley as part of a multi-city UK tour, signalling a growing international audience base.

The O2 — known for hosting global performers such as Beyoncé, Adele, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Elton John — is regarded as one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world, with a capacity of more than 15,000.

Badshah said his upcoming O2 debut marks a cultural shift for Indian hip hop. “Desi hip hop belongs on the global stage, and this show is our declaration,” he said. “London, we’re about to make history together.”

Industry executives say the booking reflects the rising global demand for South Asian music.

Neal Karia, Managing Director, TCO Group, described the event as “a historic milestone for South Asian music globally,” while Alaap Gosher, Co-Founder & Director at TM Ventures, called it “a defining moment for Indian hip hop.”

The concert is expected to feature a three-hour set, spanning chart hits, catalogue classics and recent releases, backed by large-scale staging, immersive lighting, and international touring production.

Tickets will be available on Ticketmaster.co.uk and AXS.com. Artist pre-sale begins on December 9, with general ticket sales opening on December 12. O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers will have early access via priority ticketing.

The announcement caps a significant year for Badshah. He recently crossed 5 billion Spotify streams across all credits—becoming the first Indian rapper and only the second Asian solo artist to do so. He also launched multiple ventures including Badboy Pizza and Shelter 6, and partnered with MAYBACH Eyewear for a limited-edition release. His recent music work includes a collaboration with Davido and his debut in international film scoring for 52 Blue.

Badshah’s O2 debut marks a major step in the international commercialisation of Indian hip hop and signals the growing crossover potential of South Asian music markets.