A major celebration of punk’s legacy is set for next summer, with The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter confirmed to headline a special anniversary performance. The event will take place on 1 August at Cardiff Castle, bringing together three of the group’s original members — Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock — alongside Carter, who has taken over frontman duties in recent years.
The upcoming date is designed to honor a milestone moment: fifty years since Sex Pistols played a small Manchester show at The Lesser Free Trade Hall. That early appearance, attended by only around 40 people, went on to be mythologized for inspiring musicians who would later form bands such as Joy Division, The Smiths, and The Fall.
Nick Saunders, the founder of Depot Live and the organizer behind the concert series, described the event as “an incredible night of punk legends,” adding in a separate remark that “it’s going to be spectacular.”
Formed in 1975, The Sex Pistols quickly became the face of the UK’s punk movement. Their influence was amplified not only through their music but also through the controversies that surrounded them, which often dominated tabloids throughout the late 1970s. The group’s original lineup shifted in 1977 when Matlock departed and was replaced by the late Sid Vicious, shortly before the band split in 1978.
Reunions have occurred over the decades, most notably a successful tour in 1996 followed by various shorter runs and one-off appearances. The newly announced Cardiff performance will feature three of the founding members alongside Carter, though former singer Johnny Rotten will not participate. Carter has been performing with them as lead vocalist since 2024.
Fans will have a chance to secure pre-sale tickets beginning at 10:00 GMT on Thursday. The lineup for the event also includes Cardiff punk outfit Panic Shack, along with The Stranglers and The Undertones.
The concert is part of next year’s Depot Live series, which runs from 11 June through 2 August. Other previously announced headliners include The Streets, Katy Perry, Garbage, Skunk Anansie, Bastille, and McFly.
The Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter U.K. 2026 Shows:
Saturday, July 11 – TK Maxx Presents Live at The Piece Hall, Halifax, with The Undertones and Panic Shack
Sunday, July 12 – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester with Dr John Cooper Clarke
Saturday, August 1 – TK Maxx Presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle with The Stranglers, The Undertones and Panic Shack
Sunday, August 2 – TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre with THE STRANGLERS, The Undertones
