British virtual band Gorillaz will perform in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, on 1 December 2026. The band returns as part of their global “The Mountain” Tour. The show will take place at the Jockey Club, a large outdoor events venue in the city. The occasion is the band’s first return to the country in eight years. For a band with an unusually personal connection to Paraguay, the wait has been long.
A band unlike any other
For those unfamiliar with the project, Gorillaz are unlike almost anything else in popular music. The band was created in 2001 by British musician Damon Albarn. Albarn is the frontman of Blur and one of the most restless creative minds of his generation. Gorillaz exists thanks to the artist Jamie Hewlett, too. The band consists of four animated characters: singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle, and drummer Russel Hobbs. Behind the cartoon façade, Albarn writes and performs the music live, surrounded by a rotating cast of guest artists and a full band on stage.
Over 25 years, Gorillaz have released nine studio albums and won Grammy and Brit Awards. At the same time, it been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the most successful virtual act in history. Their catalogue refuses to sit still, spanning hip-hop, electronic, pop, funk, and post-punk. Gorillaz includes songs that have outlasted genres: “Clint Eastwood”, “Feel Good Inc.”, “DARE”, “On Melancholy Hill”, and dozens more.
A special relationship with Paraguay
Albarn’s connection to this South American country goes beyond a concert booking. At a Blur performance at the Coachella music festival in California, he told the crowd he loved Paraguay. He encouraged the audience to search for the country online, pointing specifically to the devastating history of the War of the Triple Alliance, a 19th-century conflict in which a significant portion of Paraguay’s male population was killed.
When Gorillaz first visited Paraguay for the Asunciónico music festival in 2018, Albarn went further than most touring musicians ever do. He met the children of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a world-famous youth orchestra from a neighbourhood built on a landfill on the outskirts of Asunción. Recycled Orchestra of Cateura’s instruments are handcrafted entirely from recycled waste. The encounter left a mark: the young musicians gifted him a violin made from recycled materials, which he accepted and took home.
Why Gorillaz in Paraguay is a big deal
The December concert comes in support of The Mountain, the band’s ninth studio album, released on 27 February 2026 through their own label, KONG. It is an expansive record built on collaboration, featuring Argentine producer Bizarrap, British punk band IDLES, rapper Yasiin Bey, Indian classical musician Anoushka Shankar, and Argentine rapper Trueno, among others.
The Mountain Tour is one of the largest live operations the band has ever mounted. It opened with two sold-out warm-up nights in Bradford, England, before the official launch in Manchester in March 2026. A headline slot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in June, the biggest show the band has ever played in the United Kingdom, is followed by European summer festivals. The South American leg begins in September in Orlando, Florida, before Gorillaz in Paraguay close out what promises to be an extraordinary year on the road.
Animation, guests, and 25 years of hits
A Gorillaz concert is not simply a band playing songs. The live show weaves together animation, large-scale video projection, and live performance into a single, immersive experience. Albarn performs alongside a full band, and guest artists regularly join him on stage. Audiences can expect material from the new album alongside the deep back catalogue of tracks that have defined the project’s quarter-century run.
Tickets: prices and dates
Tickets are available through Ticketea, both at physical sales points and online at the Ticketea Website. A presale phase exclusive to Ueno bank card holders starts on 3 March 2026 at noon, with prices from ₲324,000 (approximately US$50). General sale began on 9 March at noon, with prices from ₲360,000 guaraníes (approximately US$55). Ueno cardholders retain access to benefits during the general sale period as well. The concert is open to all ages. Adults holding a ticket may bring children aged eight and under free of charge.
December is not the only month worth marking in your calendar. Asunción is already gearing up for a landmark year of live music.
