Rising Afrobeats artist FOLA has officially announced his first international tour, Catharsis on the Road, marking a major milestone in the fast-growing career of the Nigerian singer-songwriter.
The tour, set to begin in April 2026, will take FOLA across several major cities in the United Kingdom and Ireland as he brings the music from his acclaimed debut album Catharsis to international audiences.
Announcing the tour on Instagram, FOLA wrote, “Taking Catharsis on the road. Different cities, same therapy.”
The announcement follows a breakthrough year for the Lagos-born artist, whose emotionally driven sound often described as a “soul hospital” blend of Afrobeats, Afropop, and R&B, has helped position him among the most exciting emerging voices in Nigerian music.
Tour Dates and Cities
The Catharsis on the Road tour will see FOLA perform across five cities in the UK and Ireland.
The schedule includes:
- April 19, 2026: London | Indigo at The O2
- April 24, 2026: Dublin | Soho
- April 26, 2026: Birmingham | Forum Digbeth
- May 1, 2026: Glasgow | SWG3
- May 3, 2026: Manchester | Albert Hall
Tickets for the shows are currently on sale.
The venues chosen for the tour reflect the growing demand for African music across Europe, particularly within cities known for strong African and diaspora communities. In recent years, Afrobeats artists have steadily expanded their touring footprint across the UK, with audiences embracing both established stars and emerging voices.
A Breakthrough Debut
The tour announcement arrives on the heels of the remarkable success of Catharsis, FOLA’s debut album released in September 2025.
The project made an immediate impact on the Nigerian streaming landscape, recording 10.66 million streams in its first week, a milestone that set a new record for a Nigerian debut album on Spotify.
The album also spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on Nigeria’s Official Albums Chart, further cementing its position as one of the most impactful debut projects of the year.
By early 2026, Catharsis had surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify, driven by standout tracks and FOLA’s distinctive vocal style, which combines introspective storytelling with melodic Afrobeats production.
The album’s themes of love, vulnerability, ambition, and personal growth have resonated strongly with listeners, helping the singer cultivate a rapidly growing fan base both locally and internationally.
Before announcing the international tour, FOLA had already been building momentum through a series of high-energy live performances in Nigeria.
Earlier this year, the singer concluded several Live Experience shows across the country, including a sold-out Valentine’s Day concert at The Lekki Coliseum in Lagos and a headline performance at the ThisDay Dome in Abuja.
Those performances helped demonstrate the artist’s ability to translate the emotional intensity of Catharsis into a compelling live format, a quality that fans in the UK will soon experience firsthand.
The upcoming tour is expected to feature live renditions of some of the album’s most popular songs, alongside fan favorites that helped establish FOLA’s early buzz online.
A New Phase for a Rising Star
For many emerging artists, the transition from streaming success to international touring represents a crucial stage of growth. While digital platforms help build global audiences, touring allows artists to connect directly with fans and solidify their presence beyond the internet.
With Catharsis on the Road, FOLA takes that next step.
As Afrobeats continues to expand its influence across global music markets, the tour positions the Nigerian singer as part of a new wave of artists carrying the genre forward, blending emotional storytelling with modern African soundscapes.
For FOLA, the road ahead is not just about performing songs from a successful debut album. It’s about turning momentum into a lasting international presence.
