Island 'beyond excited' as Peter Kay gigs added

Peter Kay fans have been sharing their excitement after the comedy giant announced he will play two dates on the island in 2026.

The comedian announced he would be adding extra performances to his Better Late than Never... Again tour in a TV advert on Sunday.

The new shows include the Villa Marina's Royal Hall in Douglas on 20 and 21 February 2026, which as it stands, would be the final confirmed shows of the tour.

Confirming the announcement on Facebook, the venue said the team were "beyond excited" to welcome the entertainer.

In a statement, Peter Kay said: “It’s been wonderful doing what I love most, stand-up comedy.

"Laughter is more important than ever in these challenging times and with the cost of living still at an all-time high, ticket prices for the new dates will start from £35 with a booking fee," he added.

Producers said the gigs had been added due to "overwhelming demand" for a tour that has seen Kay play at some of the UK’s largest arenas.

The new performances would also see him take to the stage in more intimate spaces including the Royal Hall, which has a maximum seated capacity of 1,360, they said.

The performer began the tour in December 2022 and recently completed his 100th show at the Manchester AO Arena.

Ryan Archibald from Castletown said it was "really exciting for someone that big to come over, I'm a big fan, I saw him in Manchester last year and it was great".

He said he would "definitely" try to get tickets, and although he expected "a commotion online" he was prepared to "get in there".

Dot Stanley from Peel said "he is funny and makes me laugh", but she said some people might be disappointed, because "it'll be a sell out, you'll be lucky if you get a ticket".

Meanwhile, Gary Burns from Douglas said he thought it could attract other well-known performers to put on shows: "If Peter Kay comes to the Isle of Man, other people might come over too."

Tickets go on sale at 10:00 GMT on Saturday and can be purchased from the venue or online.

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