Muse Debut The Wow! Signal Songs at North American Tour Opener

Muse debuted new material from their 10th studio album, The Wow! Signal, during the opening night of their North American tour at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 2, 2026. The performance marked the first live appearances of songs “Hexagons” and “Nightshift Superstar,” alongside tracks from the newly released album, including “Cryogen,” “Be With You,” and “Unravelling,” which was temporarily halted due to a power outage during its first verse.

The tour, named after the album, follows the release of The Wow! Signal on June 26, 2026, and includes dates across North America through August. The band’s setlist featured a mix of new and classic tracks, with “Unravelling” later resuming after the technical issue. According to a post from Muse’s official account, the show also included “Interlude,” “Hysteria,” and “Supermassive Black Hole,” alongside fan favorites like “Uprising” and “Knights Of Cydonia.”

Matt Bellamy, Muse’s lead vocalist and guitarist, described the album as a return to “the unknown” following a challenging personal period, stating, “I can’t live without music – that feeling came back to me on this album.” NME, which reviewed the album, praised it as “their most consistent and satisfying release since Black Holes & Revelations,” noting its “knowing gift to the fans” and its role in reaffirming the band’s relevance.

The North American leg of the tour will feature The Temper Trap as a supporting act for all dates, with Bloc Party and Portugal. The Man joining on select shows. The tour concludes at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on August 31. Tickets for remaining dates are available through official channels.

Bellamy also outlined differences between the North American and European legs of the tour, noting that the U.S. dates would have a “similar production to what we used last summer, but with a few step-ups and customisations.” In contrast, the UK and European shows, set for autumn 2026, will include a more ambitious stage design. “We’re trying to build a spaceship – as you do,” Bellamy said, adding that the production would feature “new stuff with lasers that’s never been done before.”

The album The Wow! Signal draws its name from a 1977 radio burst detected by astronomer Jerry R. Ehman, which some speculate could have originated from extraterrestrial sources. Bellamy has previously described the project as an exploration of “the unknown,” a theme reflected in both the album’s lyrics and its visual aesthetics.

The Summerfest performance followed an intimate April show at London’s O2 Academy Brixton, where Muse debuted “Cryogen” and “Be With You” live. The band’s current tour coincides with a broader resurgence in their career, marked by critical acclaim and a renewed focus on live performance.

Muse’s setlist for the Summerfest opener included:

• Hexagons (Live debut)
• Interlude + Hysteria
• Cryogen
• Supermassive Black Hole
• Resistance
• Unravelling
• Intro
• Stockholm Syndrome
• Kill Or Be Killed
• Be With You
• Drill Sergeant
• Psycho
• Madness
• Plug In Baby
• Time Is Running Out
• JFK
• Uprising
• Knights Of Cydonia
  Encore:
• The 2nd Law: Isolated System
• Nightshift Superstar
• Algorithm
• Undisclosed Desires
• Prelude
• Starlight
  Encore two:
• Take A Bow

The band’s upcoming UK and European dates, including two nights at Manchester’s Co-op Live on November 12 and 13, and two London shows at The O2 on November 15 and 16, will be supported by ticket sales platforms.

Bellamy’s comments on the tour’s scale and ambition highlight Muse’s commitment to evolving their live experience. While the North American dates will feature a “restrained” production due to venue limitations, the European leg promises a more elaborate spectacle. “It’ll be a classic. It’s going to be more in the space, sci-fi realm, which I think is cool for us,” Bellamy said, acknowledging the challenges of “building a spaceship” for the stage.

The tour’s name and album title reflect a thematic connection to cosmic mystery, a motif that has permeated Muse’s work since their early career. The “Wow! Signal” itself remains one of the most intriguing unexplained phenomena in astronomy, and Bellamy’s reference to it underscores the band’s ongoing fascination with the intersection of science, art, and imagination.

As Muse continues their North American tour, fans and critics alike are anticipating how the band will translate the album’s themes into their live performances. With a setlist blending new material and established hits, the tour represents both a celebration of the band’s legacy and a bold step into uncharted territory.