Hill Dickinson Stadium is just days away from hosting its first major non-football event when Ashes rugby is held at the stadium on 1 November.
The sell-out match is the first of what Everton fans are hoping will be plenty of non-football events at the stadium. The club has already hosted several business events in its commercial spaces and the fan plaza demonstrated its versatility as the start and end point of the Everton 10K last week, where the clever configuration allowing the toilets to be opened onto the plaza was demonstrated for the first time.
The outside area can host festivals of up to 17,000 people, but Everton are yet to confirm a music event inside or outside the stadium.
Everton do already have permission to hold events on the Plaza and inside the stadium. In August the club applied for a licence to host ‘major non-football events’ at Hill Dickinson that covered boxing and music.
The licence has been granted and Everton are now allowed to host events at the stadium. The club will need to submit a detailed Event Management Plan to notify the council on timings, when and where alcohol will be sold, safety issues and crowd dispersal for any event with more than 5,000 people attending.
Each major music event in the stadium will bring in upwards of £1m to the club’s coffers each time so it is likely Everton are working overtime to attract some of the biggest stars to become the first act to perform. With a brand new stadium, superb acoustics, and a riverside location a short way from the city centre, it should not be a difficult task.
We know My Chemical Romance, confirmed for an Anfield gig next summer, and Eminem, who will play the much smaller M&S Arena as part of a three-venue UK tour next year, have already been ruled out.
We are in the middle of 2026 tour announcement season. Oasis are expected to reveal a host of 2026 dates (although none in Liverpool), while recent weeks have seen Wu Tang Clan, Luke Coombes and Foo Fighters have all announce gigs across the world.
If Everton are to host music events in summer 2026 we can expect an announcement in the next month or so. It is not guaranteed; while the licence is in place the stadium is a brand new venue and Everton’s commercial team will need to convince major bands – who also have the option of several Manchester venues nearby – that the stadium would make a good destination.
Any events would follow strict conditions, with music allowed until 11pm. However, fans can remain within the stadium for some time after with the licence stating some events could run until 3am inside stadium corporate areas.