Last September, Capaldi announced his biggest ever tour, confirming a series of gigs in Ireland and the UK for summer 2026.

The Scottish singer kicked off a series of eight outdoor headline shows at Dublin's Marlay Park on Wednesday, and will play Limerick's Thomond Park tomorrow night. He will also play Belfast's Boucher Road on August 20, before heading to Stradbally on August 28.

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice that Capaldi’s merchandise, which was available to purchase at his Marlay Park gig on Wednesday, had given away the news that he was set to play Electric Picnic this summer.

The tour t-shirt, which reads ‘Now servicing Europe and the UK’, included ‘Electric Picnic, Laois, IE’ on the list of 2026 concert dates on the back.

This forced festival organisers to announce the news officially on Thursday, confirming the news on social media.

“You heard it here first (or second). ‘We’re exactly 2 months away from the greatest weekend of the year! Let the planning begin!,” they captioned the post.

Welcoming the news, fans went into a frenzy.

“Worst kept secret in history but class all the same,” one fan wrote.

“I am deceased,” another wrote.

“Omg I’m so happy,” another wrote in the comments.

The news was also met with some disappointment, with some of the opinion that festivals should not headline artists who have already played multiple gigs in the same country over the summer.

The news that Capaldi will join the festival line-up comes three years after he was set to take to the stage at Stradbally, but withdrew from being in the public eye to focus on his health.

This year’s festival is set to welcome 80,000 music fans to the 600-acre Stradbally Estate, with festival favourites such as Provedencia, Croí, Trailer Park, Fish Town, Salty Dog and Mindfield set to return.

In April, more than 40 new acts were announced, joining those already confirmed in December. Stranger Things actor Joe Keery, known by the stage name Djo, and End of Beginning viral hitmaker, will take to the Electric Picnic stage, as well as Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, who will also make her Electric Picnic debut.

Also performing will be Wolf Alice, The Mary Wallopers, The Saw Doctors, Men I Trust, Rose Gray, Audrey Hobert, Ben Hemsley, Duke Dumont, and Obskür.

Electric Picnic takes place from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30. Visit www.electricpicnic.ie.