Billy Ocean and Pete Tong will headline next year’s TK Maxx Presents Southampton Summer Sessions, as the city-centre concert series returns to Guildhall Square for its third outing in June 2026.
The much-loved festival, set in the heart of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter, has become a fixture for music lovers across the region, bringing world-class acts to the city’s doorstep. Next summer’s Sessions kick off on 14 June, when Pete Tong brings his acclaimed Ibiza Classics show—featuring The Essential Orchestra—to the stage. A week later, on 21 June, the legendary Billy Ocean will step into the spotlight, treating fans to a set packed with his biggest hits.
Billy Ocean’s influence on British music is hard to overstate. With over 30 million records sold, a GRAMMY Award, an Ivor Novello, and a MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award, Ocean’s five-decade career has spanned continents and generations. His blend of pop and soul has produced tracks like “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run),” “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going,” and “Red Light Spells Danger”—timeless anthems that are sure to ignite Guildhall Square. Born in Trinidad and raised in London’s East End, Ocean credits soul legends like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, along with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as early inspirations. Today, he remains one of the most sought-after live vocalists, captivating audiences worldwide with his dynamic performances.
Joining Billy Ocean in Southampton will be very special guest Marti Pellow, best known as the frontman of Wet Wet Wet and a successful solo artist. With more than 15 million albums sold and a string of chart-topping singles including “Love Is All Around” and “Goodnight Girl,” Pellow’s enduring appeal promises another highlight for festivalgoers.
For fans of electronic music, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics show has become a phenomenon, seamlessly blending dancefloor anthems with live orchestral power. Since its viral debut at the BBC Proms in 2015, the show has wowed audiences from The Hollywood Bowl to London’s O2 Arena, while Tong’s status as a DJ, producer, broadcaster, and A&R guru remains unmatched. Celebrating a decade of Ibiza Classics with four sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, Tong continues to set the standard for arena-scale dance music, collaborating with industry icons and championing new talent. His contributions were formally recognised with the Music Industry Trusts Award in 2021.
Tickets for Billy Ocean, Pete Tong, and the full Summer Sessions line-up will be available from 10am on Friday 17 October 2025 at ticketmaster.co.uk. With previous years selling out fast, organisers are urging fans to secure their spots early for what promises to be a landmark summer of music at the heart of the city.
