Ghost announce April 2025 UK arena tour
They play four headline shows
Fiendishly ecclesial Swedish rockers Ghost have lined up a fresh UK arena tour for April 2025.
Papa Emeritus IV - aka Tobias Forge – and his band of Nameless Ghouls will play a total of four headline concerts on these shores, which are the opening dates of Ghost’s biggest ever world tour.
Ghost’s UK tour opens at Manchester AO Arena on Tuesday 15th April 2025, and they then play Glasgow OVO Hydro (Wed 16th April), London The O2 (Sat 19th April), and Birmingham Utilita Arena (Sun 20th April).
Tickets go on sale from Planet Rock Tickets at 10am on Friday 1st November 2024.
The World Tour visits 55 arenas across the North America, Europe, and Mexico next year, and it includes Ghost’s first-ever concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Ghost last performed in the UK in June 2023 when they rocked The Opus Stage at Download Festival’s 20th anniversary extravaganza. They also played a short run of arena dates back in April 2022.
Over the summer, Ghost released their feature film Rite Here Rite Now, which combines concert footage from their two shows at Los Angeles Kia Forum in 2023 with a narrative story based on the Swedish band’s ongoing webisode series.
Mobile phones were strictly prohibited at Ghost’s two Los Angeles concerts, and Tobias Forge later hailed them as Ghost’s “best” live shows of their entire career.
Hinting that phones aren't welcome at the 2025 shows, a statement from the band reads: 'The Ghost live ritual experience has seen audiences all over the world turning off their phones and living in the moment - completely spellbound and in the thrall of Ghost.'
Many Ghost fans are speculating whether a new incarnation of Tobias Forge’s Papa Emeritus will be unveiled to coincide with the 2025 shows.
Ghost’s UK tour dates:
APRIL 2025
Manchester AO Arena – Tue 15th
Glasgow OVO Hydro – Wed 16th
London The O2 – Sat 19th
Birmingham Utilita Arena – Sun 20th
A guide to Ghost's characters through the years:
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Tobias Forge's Papa Emeritus, later known as Papa Emeritus I, was the Ghost frontman from 2008 to 2012 during the cycle for the band's debut album 'Opus Eponymous.' Pictured is Papa Emeritus backstage at Download Festival 2011. This is the first of two Papa Emeritus looks and features a red and black chasuble with upside-down crosses and a mitre with the black crucifix.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Papa Emeritus I – aka Tobias Forge – in his imperious live glory at Download Festival 2011. Ghost performed on the third stage (then known as the Pepsi Max Stage) on the Saturday.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A blank-faced Nameless Ghoul dressed in black robes in 2011 during Ghost's European tour.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Towards the end of the 'Opus Eponymous' touring cycle in 2012, Papa Emeritus was tweaked significantly. Tobias Forge now wore white robes and mitre featuring an upside-down gold crucifix.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
In keeping with their leader's image change, the Nameless Ghouls also wore all-white costumes with new Bauta masks.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I and his Nameless Ghouls
Ghost leader Papa Emeritus I and his Nameless Ghouls band mates flaunt their new all-white guise in 2012.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
In late 2012, Ghost welcomed their second frontman Papa Emeritus II. Featuring more realistic skull face paint than his predecessor, Tobias Forge's second Papa wore black and green robes on stage with a silver and white mitre.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
In keeping with the all-new Papa Emeritus II, the Nameless Ghouls also wore all black with Bauta masks.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
A close-up at Papa Emeritus II's proper horrorshow face at Lollapalooza 2013.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
Papa Emeritus II at Rock in Rio Festival, September 2013.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II ‘unmasked’
The identity of Papa Emeritus II himself Tobias Forge was still shrouded in mystery in 2014. However, for a 'Papaganda' interview with Vice magazine that year, Forge hilariously 'unmasked' himself as a bald Telly Savalas-like businessman with shades and a moustache. For some unbeknownst reason he also spoke in Italian. Comedy gold.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
Coinciding with Ghost's third studio album 'Meliora', in 2015 Tobias Forge unveiled his third Papa to the world - Papa Emeritus III.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
Tobias Forge tweaked his make-up for Ghost's Papa Emeritus III. His papal gown was pure black with a white mitre featuring a gold inverted cross.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
Ghost's Nameless Ghouls wore chilling silver devil masks for the 'Meliora' era.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A close-up of one of Ghost's Nameless Ghouls in 2015.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
In early 2016, Tobias Forge introduced a second more stripped back version of Papa Emeritus III. Appearing at certain events and performances, the look featured a different outfit, white gloves and no mitre. Only the trademark make-up remained the same.
Ghost’s Papa Nihil
On 30th September 2017, Ghost leader Papa Emeritus III was killed off on stage at Gothenburg venue Liseberg and his apparent elderly replacement Papa Zero (later known as Papa Nihil) shuffled on stage with a walking stick and breathing equipment. Ultimately, however, Papa Nihil wasn't the band's new frontman - he was actually the band's anointer (and a killer saxophonist to boot). However, in 2019, a young version of Papa Nihil appeared as Ghost's frontman in the 'Kiss the Go-Goat' music video, which was set in the 1960s.
Ghost’s Sister Imperator
Sister Imperator is the head of the satanic clergy of Ghost and is the former lover of Papa Nihil. She was first introduced in the Meliora cycle and the 'older' version of Sister Imperator has been played by two actresses.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia
In April 2018, Papa Nihil anointed Cardinal Copia as Ghost's new frontman to mark the 'Prequelle' era of the band. Unlike his three predecessors, Cardinal Copia wasn't part of the Papa Emeritus lineage.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia
Wearing a latex mask, a variety of sharp suits and gloves, Tobias Forge was a lot more agile on stage as Cardinal Copia.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia and his Nameless Ghouls
A publicity shot of Ghost leader Cardinal Copia and his Nameless Ghouls in 2018.
Ghost’s Tobias Forge unmasked
A rare photo of an Tobias Forge without his mask at the 2019 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A Nameless Ghoul in a black devil mask on stage in 2019.
Ghost’s Sister Imperator
A young version of Sister Imperator in Ghost's retro 'Kiss the Go-Goat' music video in 2019. She's played by actress Liz Fenning.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV
On March 3rd 2020, at the last show of the Pale Tour Named Death, Cardinal Copia was anointed as Papa Emeritus IV. Note the subtle change to his face makeup. Pictured is Papa Emeritus IV in a publicity shot for Ghost's 'Impera' album in 2022.
Ghost's Nameless Ghouls
The 2022 incarnation of the Nameless Ghouls sees them don Star Wars-esque steampunk helmets and military uniforms.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV
Tobias Forge's 'stripped back' version of Papa Emeritus IV on stage in North America in February 2022.
Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst
Following the final arena date of Ghost's European Imperatour in Hungary on 18th May, English guitarist Chris Catalyst shared a group photo backstage of the entire Ghost crew including himself standing next to Tobias Forge. Outing himself as a Nameless Ghoul, he wrote: "Amaaaazing tour with our wonderful Ghost family," Catalyst wrote. "I suppose that's that particular cat out of the bag. So great to be doing this again. Playing this fantastic music with these brilliant people makes me run out of superlatives. X"
Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst
Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst masked.