The Script and James Morrison at The O2 Belfast

The Script are bringing The Man in the Arena Tour to Belfast's O2 on Monday 2 November, with doors opening at 18:30. James Morrison is the special guest for the night, so it shapes up as a full evening of live music rather than a quick in-and-out. The O2 sits at 2 Queens Quay, on the east bank of the River Lagan in the Laganside development, which is worth keeping in mind when you're planning how to get there and back.

For anyone who only knows the hits, it's worth a bit of background on the band. The Script formed in Dublin in 2001 around vocalist and keyboardist Danny O'Donoghue, guitarist Mark Sheehan and drummer Glen Power, and they've gone on to sell more than 20 million albums worldwide. There's a sadder chapter to that history, though: Mark Sheehan, the guitarist and co-founder, died on 14 April 2023 at the age of 46. The current line-up carries on with Danny O'Donoghue and Glen Power, joined by Benjamin Sargeant on bass and Ben Weaver on guitar.

The tour takes its name from the band's latest album, The User's Guide To Being Human, which came out on 14 August 2026. It's an 11-track pop-rock record that runs to 39 minutes and was released under BMG Rights Management. The lead single, Man In The Arena, dropped on 22 May 2026 and takes its inspiration from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt, while The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall is another track from the same album. It's the new material that's driving this run, so expect a set that leans on the latest record alongside the older songs that built their following.

A few practical notes before you commit. The O2 is Northern Ireland's biggest entertainment venue and has been putting on world-class shows for more than twenty years, so it's a well-oiled machine. Getting there is straightforward: it's about ten minutes from Central Station by train, and the Metro 26, 26a and 26b services, plus the Airport Express 600, all stop nearby. The box office opens an hour before doors on the day, but there's a catch you can't ignore: all tickets must be booked online, and none are sold at the box office. If you're collecting will-call, the credit card holder has to turn up in person and sign for the tickets, showing the card and the Ticketmaster reference number.

On the ticket front, there's a bit of choice. General admission standing is for over-14s, and anyone under 14 needs to be with an adult aged 18 or over. If you want something more, there are VIP options: a Standing Ticket Upgrade, which pairs a general admission standing ticket with a merchandise bundle, and a Premium Seat Package, which gives you a reserved seat and that same bundle. With James Morrison opening and a new album to work from, it's a solid shout for a Monday night in the city.