The Darkness surprise commuters at St Pancras with impromptu festive set ahead of 2026 UK arena tour

Travellers passing through St Pancras International got more than they bargained for this week, as British rock legends The Darkness delivered a surprise pop-up performance to mark a major milestone in their career.

Frontman Justin Hawkins and guitarist Dan Hawkins took to the station’s famous public piano, treating an unsuspecting lunchtime crowd to festive favourites and hits from their back catalogue. The set included a rendition of Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End), Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe and Wine, and classics such as I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Friday Night, drawing cheers and sing-alongs from delighted passersby.

The appearance coincides with the announcement of their biggest UK headline tour in two decades, as well as the 20^th anniversary of their second album, One Way Ticket to Hell… And Back. The 2026 tour will see them play arenas across the country, including a headline slot at The O2 in London on 16^th December.

The band’s latest album, Dreams on Toast, soared to number two in the UK albums chart earlier this year, marking a return to commercial heights not seen since their 2003 debut Permission to Land. Their surprise performance at St Pancras follows in the footsteps of other high-profile musicians who have played the station’s pianos, including Elton John and Alicia Keys.

Speaking about the appearance, Justin Hawkins said: “As Santa prepares to fly his reindeer-fuelled sleigh of Slays across the night sky, thence to squeeze his tubby frame down the exhaust flues of the nation’s central heating boilers, so we, The Darkness, dust off our Christmas songs in readiness for a glut of celebration!”

The Darkness headline tour kicks off in Glasgow on 8^th December 2026 and will feature support from Brothers Osborne and UK rock outfit A.

The editorial unit
Photos: Sam Lane photography

For further information and future events, visit The Darkness’s website here.

Watch the video for Sometimes fairytales and Dreams here: