Busted and McFly team up for 'ultimate battle of the bands' with huge UK tour - including Manchester date

00s pop-punk legends Busted and McFly have announced they are heading on tour together next year in what has already been billed as the ‘ultimate battle of the bands’.

The two groups will team up for the Busted Vs McFly tour for 17 big arena shows next September and October. And, of course, they’ll be bringing the spectacle to Manchester - with a show at the AO Arena on October 17, 2025.

Teasing the stakes involved on the tour, Busted said: “The whole tour is to find out who's a better band. Fans can decide. They can come and support their band and they might change their mind. It's going to be a fight to the death."

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Busted first broke out onto the scene in 2002 and are behind hits including Year 3000, Crashed the Wedding and What I Go to School For. Their debut self-titled album has sold more than two million copies worldwide.

McFly arrived a little later in 2004 with their debut album Room on the 3rd Floor. To date, they have released eight albums, including 2023's Power to Play, and have released singles including All About You, 5 Colours in Her Hair, and Obviously.

The news of the new tour was announced during McFly’s gig at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday night (October 9) when Busted crashed the stage. Speaking of the tour, McFly said: “Busted gatecrashed our show last night (not cool), and challenged us to a VS tour next year.

"They’re old men now, and we are gonna blow them and their carers off the stage next year. We’ve had a great time celebrating our 21st birthday this week and next year is going to be even better – P.S Busted Suck.“

Busted added: “There’s been a lot of talk recently…. This is where the talking ends….! We are ready to show who is the better band once and for all. McFly suck and Busted Rock!“

The tour will begin in Birmingham on September 16, 2025, before finishing up at Belfast's SSE Arena on October 21. Tickets will go on sale next Friday (October 18) at 9am via Ticketmaster. Pre-sale will be available from Wednesday (October 16) at 9am and fans can sign up for access here.

The full list of Busted VS McFly tour dates are:

September 16, 2025 - bp pulse Live, Birmingham

September 19, 2025 - OVO Arena Wembley, London

September 20, 2025 - The O2, London

September 23, 2025 - Utilita Arena, Cardiff

September 26, 2025 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield

September 27, 2025 - First Direct Arena, Leeds

September 30, 2025 - P&J Live, Aberdeen

October 2, 2025 - OVO Hydro, Glasgow

October 7, 2025 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

October 10, 2025 - Utilita Arena, Newcastle

October 14, 2025 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

October 17, 2025 - AO Arena, Manchester

October 20, 2025 - 3Arena, Dublin

October 21, 2025 - 3Arena, Belfast