Last updated: 27/01/2023 at 10 am

Cincinnati rockers The National are hitting the road in May to celebrate the release of their upcoming new album, ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’. Find out everything you need to know about The National UK tour dates, venues and how to get VIP tickets.

American alternative rock stars The National are back out on the road again in 2023 for a North American and European tour in support of their new album, ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’.

The Ohio natives released their self-titled independent debut album ‘The National’ in 2001, before signing with Beggars Banquet Records in 2005. Since then, the band has gone on to enjoy great commercial success with releases such as ‘Alligator’, ‘Boxer’ and ‘High Violet’.

The band's new tour includes ten European dates across the months of September and October, with four of those dates in the UK.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about The National’s new tour dates, venues and how you can secure VIP tickets to their shows.

Buy The National VIP tickets

Are The National releasing new music?

At the start of January, The National officially announced that they would be releasing their ninth studio album ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’ on the 28th of April 2023.

The record is the Ohio rockers' first release since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the band have stated that they found it hard to find their creative spark.  

In an interview with NME, lead vocalist Matt Berninger stated that “Even though we'd [the band had] always been anxious whenever [they] were working on a record, this was the first time it ever felt like maybe things really had come to an end”.

The band eventually made a creative breakthrough and now believe that the album is set to usher in a new era for the band, as they approached the creation of the lyrics and melodies for the album in a completely new way.

The eleven-song project includes features from Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. The first single from the album titled ‘Tropic Morning News’ was released on the 18th of January.

When was The National’s last tour?

The National’s last tour took place last summer, in support of their 2019 album ‘I Am Easy To Find’. The tour was supposed to take place in 2019, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rescheduled for 2022.

The tour comprised twenty-two dates from July to September, including three UK shows at All Points East Festival, London, Depot Mayfield, Manchester and Connect Festival, Edinburgh.

The tour marked the band's first on-stage performance in over two and a half years and featured performances of new unreleased songs, including a very early performance of their newest single, ‘Tropic Morning News’.

The National tour 2023: where are they playing?

The National's 2023 tour consists of twenty-nine dates across North America and Europe, including four huge dates in the UK and Ireland at First Direct Arena, Leeds, OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Alexandra Palace, London and 3 Arena, Dublin.

The full list of dates on The National’s 2023 European tour are:

  • 3 Arena - Dublin, Ireland - 21st Sep 2023
  • First Direct Arena - Leeds, UK - 23rd Sep 2023
  • OVO Hydro - Glasgow, UK - 24th Sep 2023
  • Alexandra Palace - London, UK - 26th Sep 2023
  • Ziggo Dome - Amsterdam, Netherlands - 29th Sep 2023
  • Max-Schmeling-Halle - Berlin, Germany - 30th Sep 2023
  • Zenith - Munich, Germany - 1st Oct 2023
  • Wizink Center - Madrid, Spain - 4th Oct 2023
  • Super Bock Arena - Porto, Portugal - 5th Oct 2023
  • Campo Pequeno - Lisbon, Portugal - 6th Oct 2023

Who are the support acts for The National’s tour?

The National will be supported by Soccer Mommy at all of their UK shows, Bartees Strange at the rest of their European shows, and both acts plus The Beth's in North America.

The tour will also feature a one-off appearance from Patti Smith at their Madison Square Garden, NYC show.

How can I get VIP tickets for The National’s tour?

The National’s new tour will feature a whole host of new music from their highly anticipated new album ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’. Tickets will no doubt be in high demand due to their fans flocking to hear their favourite new songs live.

Seat Unique is delighted to extend fans access to premium hospitality packages for The Nationals show at First Direct Arena, Leeds.

Why not skip out on the hassle of fighting for general sale tickets and take your The Nationals concert experience to luxurious new levels, with a VIP ticket package?

With a VIP ticket from Seat Unique, you will benefit from the following luxury inclusions*:

  • VIP entry and exit from the venue.
  • Premium padded seating with unrivalled views of the stage.
  • Access to a private VIP lounge before the show.
  • Access to a private bar serving a range of premium beverages.

*Inclusions vary depending on the choice of package.

For groups of up to 12 people, why not opt for a private box package, for all the perks of a VIP ticket package plus exclusive use of a luxury 12 seater suite with a dedicated box host?  

Private box packages and VIP tickets for The National at First Direct Arena are on sale now. Prices start from £69 per person + VAT. Get your tickets now for a fantastic night of alternative rock.

Buy The National VIP tickets

If you’re a fan of rock music then Seat Unique offers a wide range of rock hospitality packages for a number of different artists on our website.