Amy Macdonald today adds a new chapter to her already storied career with the release of her new album ‘Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?’. It builds upon a remarkably successful career, with highlights including five Top 5 albums across Europe (including a #1 in the UK and two in Germany), over 12 million sales, 12 international Platinum certifications, and over a billion streams. She’s a consistently huge draw in the live arena too, having played to more than 5 million people worldwide.
‘Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?’ encapsulates everything that makes Amy such a captivating and authentic artist. It bristles with the same urgency that fired up her first breakthrough, but it’s informed by wisdom born from experience. And while it’s primarily full of first-hand stories, its songs explore universal emotions that each fan can translate through the prism of their own life. Listen HERE.
Teased with a selection of singles which have heightened anticipation and earned radio support including Radio 2 and Absolute, the album is released alongside its new focus track ‘I’m Done (Games That You Play)’. Its acoustically-driven pop energy is led by Amy’s deep, expressive voice which shares another of her relatable lyrical themes. In this case, it’s the uplifting liberation that comes when you realise that you can cut a fake friend out of your life. It was inspired by her early experiences in the music industry, but everyone has gone through something similar: that toxic person who you gradually know is only there for what they can get out of you.
Amy says, “As I’ve grown older, I’ve found that I’ve got a lot better at just saying ‘no’. Thinking back to when I first got into the music industry – I was only 17 when I started – I’d find myself in situations that I really wasn’t comfortable with, but I felt like I just had to go along with. Now, I say ‘no’ without even worrying about it, whereas before I might have been guilt-tripped into it. And there’s also an element in that where you realise that certain acquaintances in your life don’t serve you – they can be toxic and quite draining. Ending them, all I’ve felt was relief, like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Sometimes we spend so long with these friendships out of habit, and it’s not until you’re away from it that you ask yourself, ‘Why did I put up with that?’”
The album introduces some future fan favourites. She questions the darker side of her countrymen and women’s party-loving culture on ‘We Survive’, which feels like a thematic sequel to her big hit ‘This Is The Life’. Perhaps from the narrator’s perspective a decade later, jaded and washed out. ‘The Hope’ is a dramatic highlight that’s sure to be a showstopper, with lyrics that celebrate keeping the faith even when the odds are stacked against you: an idea she had after seeing Scotlandfans party on despite their Euro ‘24 defeat to Germany. There are also moments inspired by touring life, with ‘One More Shot’ a tribute to the fans she keeps meeting at multiple shows. It ends on ‘It’s All So Long Ago’, a nostalgic trip through the touring highlights she has shared with long-term drummer Adam Falkner.
Production on the album was split between Nicolas Rebscher (AURORA, Louis Tomlinson) and the Grammy winning Jim Abbiss (Adele, Arctic Monkeys).
Physical copies of ‘Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?’ are available to buy HERE.
Amy will celebrate the release of ‘Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?’ by completing her intimate record store tour with two sets at Fat Sams in Dundee, hosted by Assai. The coming weeks bring European festivals and headline shows, before her full UK and Ireland headline tour commences in November. It culminates with two nights at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, where Amy will play to a combined total of 28,000 fans. 2026 then starts with a full European tour. Many of the shows are sold out already as her live business continues to go from strength-to- strength with ticket sales stronger than they’ve ever been. Remaining tickets for the shows are available HERE.
JULY
11th – Dundee, Assai at Fat Sams (matinee, SOLD OUT)
11th – Dundee, Assai at Fat Sams (evening, SOLD OUT)
16th – Switzerland, Locarno, Moon & Stars Festival
24th – Germany, Rottweil, Kraftwerk (SOLD OUT)
26th – Germany, Creuzberg, Musiksommer (SOLD OUT)
27th – Germany, Karlsruhe, Das Fest
29th – Germany, Bremen, Seebuhne (SOLD OUT)
31st – Germany, Jena, Kulturarena (SOLD OUT)
AUGUST
2nd- Germany, Saarbrücken, Saarlandhalle
3rd – Germany, Freiburg, Zelt Music Festival (SOLD OUT)
8th – France, Landerneau, Festival Fête du Bruit
NOVEMBER
20th – London, Eventim Apollo
21st – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
22nd – Sheffield, City Hall (SOLD OUT)
24th – Newcastle, O2 City Hall (SOLD OUT)
26th – Portsmouth, Guildhall
27th – Swansea, Arena
28th – Bath, Forum (SOLD OUT)
30th – Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre (SOLD OUT)
DECEMBER
1st – Belfast, Telegraph
3rd – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
4th – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
5th – Manchester, O2 Apollo
11th – Glasgow, OVO Hydro (ADDED DATE)
12th – Glasgow, OVO Hydro (SOLD OUT)
FEBRUARY 2026
8th – Germany, Munich, Zenith
9th – Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Den Atelier
11th – Germany, Berlin, Tempodrom
12th – Germany, Hamburg, Sporthalle
13th – Germany, Leipzig, Haus Auensee
16th – Austria, Vienna, Gasometer
17th – Italy, Milan, Fabrique
18th – Switzerland, Zurich, the Hall
20th – Germany, Wiesbaden, Schlachthof (SOLD OUT)
21st – Belgium, Antwerp, De Roma
22nd – Belgium, Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
24th – The Netherlands, Utrecht, Tivoli Vredenburg (SOLD OUT)
25th – The Netherlands, Groningen, De Oosterpoort
26th – Germany, Cologne, Palladium
