The Cure’s Robert Smith to curate Teenage Cancer Trust shows for 2026
The music icon will curate the gig series for 2026
By Nick Reilly
The Cure’s Robert Smith has been announced as the curator of the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) gig series for next year.
The Goth-rock icon is a long-term supporter of the charity gig series at London’s Royal Albert Hall, having played two shows there with The Cure in 2014 and 2016. Smith, who will take over from The Who’s Robert Daltrey, also played a major role in the TCT’s UNSEEN campaign during lockdown – which helped the charity raise funds during that period.
Smith will oversee the TCT shows in 2026, after Roger Daltrey stepped back as curator last year following 24 years overseeing the shows.
Speaking about the new role, Smith stated: “Teenage Cancer Trust does the most fantastic work, and it is a great honour – and a real thrill – to be asked to curate the 2026 shows at the Royal Albert Hall. I can promise it will be a very memorable week!”
Daltrey added: “It has not been easy to find the right curator for the week of concerts in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, but it’s with great excitement that I can
announce that Robert Smith has signed up for 2026.”
“With The Cure’s long and outstanding support for Teenage Cancer Trust, Robert appreciates the vital work this charity does,” he added.
“The concerts have become an essential fixture in the music calendar, featuring some of the world’s greatest artists. It has been a challenge to find the right person to take them on – but Robert, a true musical great, is the perfect curator for the 2026 concerts.”
This year’s gig series will see shows from The Who and The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, while it was confirmed today that Erased Tapes will also play on Saturday March 29.
Speaking about the show, Robert Raths, founder of Erased Tapes, said: “It’s not every day that you get asked to take over a space like the Royal Albert Hall. To return within a decade feels more than an honour, especially for such a great cause.”