Eden Sessions to celebrate landmark 150th show this summer

The Eden Sessions will mark a major milestone this summer as the iconic live music series celebrates its 150th Eden Session, in a year that also sees the Eden Project celebrate its 25th anniversary as an education charity and global botanic garden.

The opening run of the Eden Sessions brings together artists spanning genres and generations, highlighted by Eden Sessions debuts from North London quartet Wolf Alice and chart-topper Becky Hill, and the return of alt-rock giants Snow Patrol. The milestone year also features the biggest Eden Sessions line-up to date, with 10 dates and more than 20 artists, including special guests, such as MEEK, American Hi-Fi, Alfie Templeman and Everything Everything. 

Since launching in 2002, the Eden Sessions have become one of the UK’s most distinctive live music experiences, with more than 900,000 people having witnessed around 190 world-class artists perform in front of the Eden Project’s famous Biomes, with the experience remaining intentionally intimate. As a charity, the Eden Project created the Sessions not only as live music events but as an extension of its purpose to reconnect people with nature. 

The 150th Session will welcome back indie-pop heroes Bastille on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The band previously played an unforgettable sold-out show at the Eden Project in 2017, with coverage later broadcast on BBC Four as part of the Live at Eden series.  

John Empson has been involved in booking artists for the Sessions since the beginning; he recalls: “The first Eden Session was actually a one-off experiment featuring three bands: Six by Seven, Natacha Atlas and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, playing to just 1,000 people, and we grew it from there, only ever thinking about the year ahead, not trying to predict the long term – this was at a point when hosting major concerts inside an environmental project was still considered a pretty unconventional idea.” 

John added: “The Sessions have always stood for more than just music. We were early pioneers of environmentally conscious touring, championing greener approaches at a time when sustainability was still seen as a fringe concern within the music industry. 

“For many artists, the combination of Eden’s environmental ethos, dramatic natural setting and close audience connection remains a defining reason for returning.” 

Over the years, the reclaimed clay pit has played host to artists such as Elton John, Oasis, Diana Ross, Pulp, Kylie Minogue, The Who, Bryan Adams, Muse, Lionel Richie and Kasabian. The Eden Sessions also held Live 8: Africa Calling, part of Bob Geldof’s Live 8, a series of benefit concerts to support the Make Poverty History campaign. 

In 2019, the Eden Project partnered with global live events company AEG Presents to deliver the Eden Sessions. This pivotal moment in the Session’s history expanded its national and international reach, enabling the booking of more major artists and helping spread Eden’s mission even further. In January 2025, Volvo Car UK extended its partnership as the Presenting Partner of the Eden Sessions and Official Electric Car Partner of the Eden Project. 

Reaching 150 Eden Sessions also reflects the wider economic role the Eden Project plays in Cornwall and beyond. More than 25 million people have visited the site, creating an economic impact measured at £6.8 million over 25 years, much of which would not otherwise have occurred. With most visitors staying several nights, supporting local businesses and jobs, and the majority of Eden’s workforce and supply chain based locally, the Sessions form part of a broader ‘Eden Effect’: a cultural impact that not only attracts audiences but sustains employment, strengthens regional supply chains and contributes to long-term economic growth. 

Thinking about highlights, John says: “One of the most significant moments came when Elton John brought two full-scale shows to Eden – it changed our perspective about what we could achieve. 

“Artists often don’t realise until they arrive what a special location it is. We’ve had Eddie Izzard arrive with 12 articulated lorries, and Blink-182 bring a full stadium production with 25 trucks navigating Cornwall’s narrow roads, but the minute anyone sees Eden, they just get it.” 

Highlights also include Motörhead’s 2015 appearance, the band’s final UK show following the death of Lemmy Kilmister, which took place just a day after their performance on Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage.  

In the wake of Covid, the Eden Sessions staged six performances in a single week in September 2021 to make up for cancelled shows, featuring Ben Howard, McFly, Royal Blood, Snow Patrol, The Script and IDLES.  

In 2022, My Chemical Romance began their reunion tour at Eden - their first UK performance in over a decade - after the show had been postponed the previous year due to the pandemic. 

Simon Townsend, Eden Sessions director, said: “What began as an experiment has grown into something genuinely special, without ever losing its soul.  

“Celebrating 150 Sessions in the same year as Eden’s 25th anniversary is an extraordinary moment. This year sees us put on our biggest ever Sessions line-up and will bring together artists spanning generations, bringing people together in a truly special place. 

“None of this would be possible without the huge team behind the scenes. On a show day alone, it takes over 100 people - from production crews and artists to stewards, technical teams and Eden staff - all working together to make each Session happen. Beyond the stage, the Sessions also play a real role in supporting Cornwall’s wider economy, bringing visitors into the region and helping sustain local jobs and businesses. 

“As we look ahead, we will continue to host world-class artists while protecting the intimacy, ethos and excitement that have defined the Sessions since the beginning.” 

John added: “In the future? Who knows, but we’d still love to get Radiohead – that would be over 25 years in the making!” 

The Eden Project is a unique cultural venue, combining world-class horticulture and show-stopping artists. As part of the Eden Sessions experience, all ticket holders also get free two-day access to the gardens and Biomes - on the day of the show and the day after.  

During its 25th year, visitors are invited to experience the Eden Project at its very best with bursting horticultural displays, jaw-dropping seasonal programmes and brand-new exhibits, including the new Giant Marble Runs, featuring more than 100 metres of weaving wooden marble runs across eight unique locations.  

Tickets for all of the Eden Sessions are available through www.edensessions.com.