The legendary frontman of The Cure, Robert Smith, has been announced as the curator for the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at London’s Royal Albert Hall. A longtime supporter of the charity, Smith will being his expertise to the event, following his previous success curating Meltdown at the Southbank Centre.
The announcement marks the 65-year old frontman as the successor of series founder and The Who legend Roger Daltrey. Last year, Daltrey announced that he would be stepping down as curator of the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series after 24 years. However, he will continue to serve as the charity’s patron.
“It’s an absolute honour and a real thrill to be asked to curate the 2026 shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” said Robert Smith. “Teenage Cancer Trsust does incredible work, and I can promise it will be a truly memorable week!” Roger Daltrey also shared his excitement about Smith taking on the role: “Finding the right person to curate this incredible week of concerts hasn’t been easy, but I’m thrilled to announce that Robert Smith has agreed to take it on for 2026.” Daltrey went on to praise The Cure’s longstanding support for the charity, emphasising that Smith understands the vital work Teenage Cancer Trust does. He noted that the concert series has become a major highlight in the music calendar, featuring some of the world’s greatest artists. In his view, Smith – an iconic musician himself – is the perfect person to carry the tradition forward. This year’s Teenage Cancer Trust shows will take place from March 24 – 30, featuring an impressive lineup of musical and comedic talent. Confirmed acts include The Who, The Corrs, James Arthur, Frank Carter, Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock, as well as a comedy night hosted by Micky Flanagan. Additionally, it’s been announced that the renowned Erased Tapes label will take over March 29, presenting performances from Penguin Cafe, Daniel Brandt, Douglas Dare, and Hatis Noit. Tickets are still available here. Looking ahead to 2026, Jamie Johnson, Head of Music & Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, expressed enthusiasm for both this year’s lineup and the ‘Inbetween Days’ singer’s future involvement. “We are deeply honoured that Robert Smith, one of the most influential artists of our time, has agreed to curate the 2026 concerts,” he shared, “His dedication to the charity and incredible musical vision will make for an unforgettable week, while also raising crucial funds to support young people facing cancer.” In other news, The Cure have always proved themselves to be advocators of charitable endeavours; most recently, the band teamed up with British producer Four Tet on his remix of their new single ‘Alone’. As per an announcement regarding Record Store Day 2025, royalties from the sale of the ‘Alone (Four Tet Remix)’ 12” will go to charity Médecins Sans Frontières.
THE @FOURTET REMIX OF ‘ALONE’ WILL BE RELEASED FOR @RSDUK AS AN EXCLUSIVE ONE SIDED BLACK LABEL 12″ VINYL
ALL CURE RECORD ROYALTIES FROM THE SALE OF ‘ALONE (FOUR TET REMIX)’ 12” RELEASE WILL BENEFIT MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES/DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF) (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KMHOtlzELF — The Cure (@thecure) March 13, 2025
‘Alone’ comes from The Cure’s 14th studio album ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, released late last year. It saw the band earn their first UK Number One album in 32 years, ending a 16 year creative drought. The single has since earned critical acclaim, even landing itself on NME’s Best Songs of 2024.
