Radiohead draws largest audience in O2 arena history
Radiohead just set a new all-time attendance record at the O2. Here’s how they pulled it off.
Radiohead have officially set a new all-time attendance record at London’s O2 Arena, marking another milestone in the band’s long and influential career.
The record was broken during the second night of their highly anticipated reunion shows, part of a brief run of UK dates that sold out instantly. According to venue officials, Radiohead surpassed the previous O2 attendance benchmark by drawing the largest-ever crowd for a seated-and-standing concert configuration, with additional production adjustments allowing for expanded floor capacity.
Fans packed the arena hours before showtime, creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of a festival than a standard indoor gig. Long queues spiralled outside the venue as thousands flocked in to see the band’s first major London performance in years.
Inside, Radiohead delivered a nearly two-hour set. The roar from the record-breaking crowd was especially notable during songs like Karma Police, Everything In Its Right Place and Paranoid Android, with several moments where the audience’s singing nearly drowned out the band.
Venue staff said the combination of demand, staging layout, and production tweaks made the new record possible. Radiohead’s team reportedly worked closely with the O2 to maximise sightlines and floor space while maintaining strict safety requirements.
The achievement adds to a year already full of momentum for the band, following rumours of new material and a series of festival headlines earlier in the summer. Fans online celebrated the attendance milestone as proof of the band’s enduring legacy, and evidence that their influence has only grown since their last major tour.