Deep Purple is returning with a new album, Splat!, and an extensive world tour that will bring the band back to Southern California in September 2026. The band revealed Splat! as its 24th studio album and premiered the lead single Arrogant Boy, which Deep Purple members describe as a Highway Star-style rocker. According to NME, the album is produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin and aims to channel the dynamics of the group’s early material.
Frontman Ian Gillan says the new music captures “the dynamics, the balance and the fun” of classic Purple, while Roger Glover calls the single “my favourite track on the album,” as Louder Sound reports. The release will be available in multiple formats, including double black, transparent yellow and purple vinyl, plus a limited box set with bonus discs and a non-album track, Guinnesis. Pre-orders are already open.
Tour Dates and What’s on the Album
Deep Purple’s 2026–2027 itinerary swings from Europe to North America and back again. According to Louder Sound’s listing, the first run of European dates begins June 11, 2026, in Finland, followed by summer festivals across France, Germany and Spain. North American shows are scheduled from August 4, 2026, in Raleigh through September 12, 2026, in Nevada, including two California performances: Sept. 8, 2026, at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista and Sept. 11, 2026, at Long Beach Amphitheater. The band then returns to Europe for a fall run that culminates in UK shows in late November 2026.
Splat!‘s tracklist includes Arrogant Boy, Diablo, Sacred Land, Jessica’s Bra, and the title track Splat!, among others. The single Arrogant Boy tells the story of a character named Billy who, as Gillan puts it to NME, “speaks up” and “finds a way of irritating, one way or another, the elite.” Gillan adds, “I can’t think of anything more fun than irritating the elite,” signaling a cheeky, defiant tone that aligns with the band’s long history of guitar-driven commentary.
Why This Matters to SoCal Fans
For Southern California rock fans, this announcement matters for two reasons. First, it locks in two major outdoor shows on the same week: Chula Vista’s large amphitheater and the bayside Long Beach venue, giving fans both a big-stage production and a slightly more intimate setting. With these dates confirmed, local ticket buyers can start planning early and compare sightlines and sound at each stop.
Second, the region has deep historical ties to the classic rock era that Deep Purple helped define. While the new album and tour are forward-looking, the band’s legacy here—from heavy radio play to past arena appearances—means many local fans will treat Splat! as both a continuation and a capstone to a decades-long relationship with the group’s catalog.
What Comes Next
With the album and tour dates now public, expect several waves of ticketing information and local promotions. As the tour approaches, watch for setlist previews and any special editions or box sets tied to the shows. In the meantime, Deep Purple’s calendar shows additional activity, including appearances by Ritchie Blackmore and Christopher Cross at separate dates, such as Cross’s June 7, 2026, show at Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater, giving SoCal fans a chance to trace the threads of Purple’s history beyond the main band’s current lineup.
For now, Deep Purple’s message is clear: Splat! is not a nostalgic farewell but a new chapter with plenty of bite. With the album’s release date set and California dates locked in, local fans have a firm target to circle on their 2026 calendars.
Last updated May 15, 2026.
Sources: NME, Louder Sound
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