DEF LEPPARD Live 2026 Summer Tour In Birmingham (Show Report/Setlist)
Def Leppard played a Live 2026 tour show in Birmingham, England last night with 19 songs performed.
The show took place at the 15,685 capacity bp Pulse LIVE arena.
The band's first visit to this city since December 2018.
A return to a very familar arena venue.
Back To Birmingham
After makin a quick visit down south to London, the Live 2026 tour made it's way back up North.
This time returning to the West Midlands for the first time since December 2018 on the Hysteria & More tour.
Back to a UK arena venue played and headlined even more times than Sheffield Arena.
12 headline shows now played here since 1988.
bp Pulse LIVE, or as most of us know it, the NEC Arena which is part of the NEC complex which has up to seven large halls.
The seventh hall is the main indoor arena which was first played by Queen in December 1980 under the original name of Birmingham International Arena.
But from 1983 to 2008 it was known as the NEC Arena.
Most of the band shows here taking place in that time and now they were back for the first visit since Decemmber 2015 after a brief detour to a newer arena in this city in 2018.
Slang Special Guest Night #3
Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt was back once again on 'Slang' after playing on the song in Sheffield and London.
And, like the Sheffield appearance, he was wearing his Union Jack shirt, Pyromania style.
Better And Better
9pm came and went and it was all very quiet online and so much so that there was nothing posted by fans at all during the show.
But just after it ended a lot of posts revealing that not only was another great UK arena show played but Nuno from Extreme was back again during 'Slang'.
And since last night the full show has been posted with over 50 YouTube videos and counting.
More than making up for the quiet 'Live' updates.
Joe reminded the crowd of the band's first ever vist here in 1979 supporting Sammy Hagar.
And between himself and Sav worked out it has indeed been 49 years since they formed the band and soon it will be 50.
The crowd were so good that Joe said it had been "Amazing", and that - "It just keeps getting better and better!.".
Which can also be said of the production and the performances in 2026.
He didn't mention they have now headlined here more than at any other UK arena, but as he said, his memory and maths aren't that good!.
Will they stay up to watch England in the World Cup tonight?.
We many never know, but they have another quick day off to rest before one more show in the UK and a new venue to visit.
Which, despite s shaky opening, seems to now be fully up and running.
19 Song Setlist
'Rejoice', 'Personal Jesus' and 'Just Like '73' were all played here for the first time.
Birmingham History
The first show in Brmingham took place in .
The first visit here was in September 1979 at the Odeon Theatre supporting Sammy Hagar.
The Top Rank Suite was played in February 1980 followed by the Odeon Theatre in April 1980.
The Odeon Theatre was then played again in July 1981 and March/December 1983 on the Pyromania tour.
In September 1987 the now closed NEC Forum was played on the same complex as the NEC Arena which was played for two nights in April 1988 for the first time.
Three In The Round shows were played in June/July 1992 on the Adrenalize tour at NEC Arena. The only time the band have played three nights at a UK arena.
Two NEC Arena shows were played in November 1996 on the Slang tour and one in October 1999 on the Euphoria tour.
Carling Academy was played in October 2003 on the X/Ten world tour.
The band returned to the NEC Arena again in June 2008 on the Sparkle Lounge tour.
It was played again as LG Arena in December 2011 and then in December 2015 as Genting Arena.
The last visit took place in December 2018 at Arena Birmingham (now Utilita Arena Birmingham).
Last nights show was the 21st performance in Birmingham.
The next Def Leppard show takes place on 6th July in Manchester, England.
Birmingham, England 2026 Photos
Screenshots by dltourhistory.
Watch some Fan Videos from the show here.
Def Leppard - Birmingham, England 4th July 2026 Setlist
- 01 - Rejoice
Played for the first time in Birmingham.
- 02 - Animal
- 03 - Let's Get Rocked
- 04 - Personal Jesus
Played for the first time in Birmingham.
- 05 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
- 06 - Switch 625 (Instrumental)
- 07 - Just Like '73
Played for the first time in Birmingham.
- 08 - Rocket (Single Version)
- 09 - Rock On/Rick Savage Bass Intro
- 10 - White Lightning/Phil Collen/Vivian Campbell Guitar Intro
- 11 - Slang/Get Up Offa That Thing (By James Brown/Fame by David Bowie)
Played with special guest Nuno Bettencourt on guest guitar once more and in his Union Jack shirt.
- 12 - Promises (With A cappella Vocal Intro)
- 13 - Armageddon It
- 14 - Love Bites
- 15 - Rock of Ages
- 16 - Photograph
- 17 - When Love & Hate Collide
- 18 - Hysteria/Bass Intro/Extended Outro
- 19 - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Show Intro Voice
"Ladies and gentleman."
"Would you please welcome Universal recording artists Def Leppard!."
Joe Elliott - Let's Get Rocked Intro
"Good evening Birmingham!."
"And all those who have traveled to be here tonight."
"How ya doing?."
"How ya doing?."
"Are you ready for this?."
"Are you ready for this?."
"Do ya wanna get rocked?."
Joe Elliott - BOTH Intro
"Thank you! Thank you very much!."
"How are you doing? Over here, come on."
"How are you doing over here?."
"Good to see you again. And over here, what's going on?."
"And of course, of course, how are you?."
"So, what have we got lined up for you tonight? Well, a little bit of everything."
"We've got some old, we've got some new, we've got some borrowed, as you just heard thank you very much, more to come."
"WLet's go, let's go old right now. 1981, High 'n' Dry!."
Joe Elliott - Rock On Intro
"Thank you! Thank you very much Birmingham! Birmingham! Birmingham!."
"We were talking in the dressing room earlier, about the first time we ever played here, and I believe it was September 1979 when we opened for Sammy Hagar at the Odeon."
"Anybody here tonight that was there then? Yeah, I know you were. One guy waiting, one f***ing man. That's alright."
"We built, we built from the bottom up."
"So, yeah, that was September 1979, but this thing goes all the way back to August 1977, which is nearly 49 years, my maths is shit, 49 years?."
Sav - "It's nearly 50 years."
"It's nearly 50 but it's actually 49. 49 f***ing years ago!."
"I met somebody for the very first time. Came round to my mum and dad's house with a couple of his mates. He was very impressed with my record collection, and that was about it."
"That night, that very night, we made a decision, didn't we?."
Sav - "We did and what was theat decision Joe?."
"We would form a band and see what happens."
"Well, 49 years later, here we are, once again in Birmingham!."
"And just look at all the people out there. It's beautiful. We love it."
"We're blessed to be able to do this all these years later."
"And I have to say, hand on heart, 49 years later, this boy here is still my best mate."
"Please make some noise on the bass guitar Mr. Rick Savage!."
Joe Elliott - Slang Intro
"Thank you, Birmingham!."
"Are you guys ready for a bit of fun?."
"I said, are you guys ready for a bit of fun?."
"Will you please welcome, up on the stage with us tonight, from the amazing, Extreme, Mr. Nuno Bettencourt!."
Joe Elliott - End Of Show Speech
"Thank you, Birmingham!."
"It just keeps getting better and better!."
"Thank you, Birmingham!."
"Wherever you are from, to be here tonight, we appreciate you coming. We appreciate you being here."
"Let's do this again one day."
"Amazing! Thank you so much!."
"Until next time!."
"And there will be a next time!."
"We love you! Once again, thanks for having us tonight. Amazing. Beautiful."
Various Photos/Videos
- Def Leppard - Birmingham 2026 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Def Leppard Tour 2026
- Related News - 3rd July 2026 - London Show Report
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