Thousands of music fans who are heading to see Harry Styles, BTS, Metallica and My Chemical Romance in London this upcoming week are being urged to prepare for hay fever, as several of the capital’s biggest July concerts coincide with very high grass pollen levels.
The Met Office’s regional pollen forecast for London & South East England currently lists “Very High grass pollen, High weed pollen,” with high levels forecast from Thursday 2 July through Sunday 5 July.
The pollen is expected to affect thousands, with Superbreak’s Gig Trip Value 2026 research showing 10 high-profile London shows taking place between 2 and 8 July. Eight of these are outdoor stadium shows, including Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium, Metallica at London Stadium, BTS at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and My Chemical Romance at Wembley Stadium.
According to the Met Office, pollen from grass is the type most people are allergic to, with the season typically lasting from mid-May until July. The Met Office also states that, across England and Wales, grass pollen usually peaks in the first two weeks of June, with a second lower peak in the first two weeks of July.
The University of Worcester’s National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit also identifies late May to mid-July as the very high risk peak period for grass pollen in Southeast England.
The concerts analyzed are part of Superbreak’s Gig Trip Value 2026 research, which estimates how much major UK concerts contribute to local visitor economies through accommodation, food and drink, travel, parking, merchandise and other non-ticket spending.
London concerts included in the 2 to 8 July analysis:
Date
Artist
Venue
Venue type
Estimated attendance
Estimated Gig Trip Value
2 July
Def Leppard
The O2
Arena
18,000
£2.5m
3 July
Harry Styles
Wembley Stadium
Stadium
81,000
£11.0m
3 July
Metallica
London Stadium
Stadium
72,000
£9.8m
3 July
Robyn
The O2
Arena
18,000
£2.5m
4 July
Harry Styles
Wembley Stadium
Stadium
81,000
£11.0m
5 July
Metallica
London Stadium
Stadium
72,000
£9.8m
6 July
BTS
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Stadium
56,565
£7.7m
7 July
BTS
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Stadium
56,565
£7.7m
8 July
My Chemical Romance
Wembley Stadium
Stadium
81,000
£11.0m
Across the 10 London dates, the shows are estimated to attract more than 617,000 potential attendances, generate around £84 million in direct non-ticket Gig Trip Value and create more than 46,000 estimated room nights.
The findings are based on Superbreak’s Gig Trip Value 2026 research, which analyzed 196 major UK shows across 36 artists to estimate how much direct non-ticket spending major concerts generate for cities across Britain.
What concertgoers can do to reduce hay fever symptoms
While pollen levels cannot be avoided completely, there are simple steps concertgoers can take to reduce symptoms before and after outdoor events.
NHS advice recommends wearing wraparound sunglasses to help stop pollen getting into the eyes, putting petroleum jelly around the nostrils to trap pollen, and showering and changing clothes after spending time outside.
Fans heading to outdoor concerts may also want to check the Met Office pollen forecast before travelling, pack tissues and any usual hay fever medication, and speak to a pharmacist if they are unsure which treatments may be suitable.
For those attending park or stadium shows, it may also help to avoid sitting directly on grass where possible, keep car windows closed when travelling to the venue, and wash hands and face after long periods outdoors.