CMAT will not be playing live in 2027

CMAT has revealed that she will not be performing live in 2027, saying she is “literally losing [her] mind” after touring non-stop for six years.

Speaking on this week’s episode of the Sidetracked podcast, the Irish singer-songwriter told host Annie MacManus about how her busy touring schedule had taken its toll.

The artist later confirmed she would be fully stepping back from any working commitments, including recording new music, in 2027.

“I’d love the concept of a holiday to be introduced to me at some point in my life,” she explained.

“You are in control of your own career, but unfortunately you also, as a musician, make a lot of plans about one-and-a-half years ahead of time that you can’t get out of.

“I have a month off in October now, because I’m so close to burnout that we decided to just do one week of Austin City Limits. So I get the whole month of October off, so I’m thinking of going somewhere.”

CMAT reiterated that she would be “off, off” next year. “I’m not doing any live music next year. The next calendar year, of 2027, I’m not performing any live music at all,” she added.

“I don’t know if I was supposed to say that, but that’s what’s happening. And I don’t care – you can come fight me if you want.”

The singer reasoned that she’d “been on tour for six years”, adding: “I’m literally losing my mind – and I don’t stop.” She explained that in any “three-to-four-month period off” in the past six years, she had used this downtime to make a new record.

“I was like a gremlin chained to the mixing desk being like, ‘I have to make a good album!’” CMAT told MacManus. You can watch the interview in full above.

CMAT live at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME

The singer has been playing some of her “biggest shows ever” this year in support of her acclaimed third album, 2025’s ‘Euro-Country’.

These included a huge headline concert at Dublin’s St Anne’s Park this May, and a show at London’s Alexandra Palace in March, as well as some major festival appearances at Coachella, TRNSMT, Mad Cool, Bilbao BBK Live (where she performed with Robbie Williams) and more.

She took to the stage at the Eden Sessions earlier this week, and will play The Piece Hall in Halifax tonight (Friday July 17), before heading to Scarborough Open Air Theatre tomorrow (Saturday July 18). Two performances in Belfast are lined up for August 31 and September 1. Find any remaining tickets here.

CMAT’s final scheduled live show for 2026 is a slot at Primavera Sound Sao Paolo in December. Her other upcoming dates include sets at Electric Picnic, Rock En Seine, End Of The Road and Lollapalooza.

In May, CMAT took home the Best Album award for ‘Euro-Country’ at the Ivors 2026. The record was also shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize, and landed at Number Four on NME‘s best albums of the year list. She was nominated for Best International Artist at the BRIT Awards 2026, too.

Earlier this year, the singer shared her “deep sadness” over being subjected to body-shaming abuse online, following a performance at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026.

She has also called out fascism, Nigel Farage and “anybody who decides to make life more difficult for people who are just trying to live”.