Multi-awarded and platinum-selling Irish band THE SCRIPT are set to return to Manila with their highly anticipated “MAN IN THE ARENA TOUR” on 18 March 2027 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. With over 14 billion global streams, more than 5 million album sales, six UK No. 1 albums, two US Platinum singles, two US Top 10 albums, and countless international Platinum certifications, The Script continue to cement their status as one of the world’s biggest bands. The Manila concert is presented by Wilbros Live in partnership with Midas Promotions. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 29 May, at 9:30 AM via SMTickets.com and all SM Tickets outlets nationwide.
The announcement comes as The Script enter a brand-new era with the release of their latest single, “Man In The Arena,” the first preview of their upcoming album, The User’s Guide To Being Human, scheduled for release on 14 August 2026. The band will support the album with a major UK and Ireland arena tour beginning this October, alongside additional global tour dates already confirmed, adding to the more than 4.5 million tickets they have sold throughout their career.
The User’s Guide To Being Human follows the band’s 2024 album Satellites, a deeply personal record that saw frontman Danny O’Donoghue processing the grief following the tragic passing of his bandmate and close friend Mark Sheehan in 2023. The album was followed by a global arena tour in which every performance paid tribute to Mark’s memory.
Following the tour, Danny found himself creatively re-energized and inspired. Within weeks, he returned to the studio to write and record new material with longtime collaborators Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, and Jimbo Barry, who previously worked on some of The Script’s biggest hits, including “Hall Of Fame,” “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” and “Breakeven.”
Recorded in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, the new album reflects a renewed sense of purpose and direction for the band while delivering the emotional honesty and soul-deep connection that fans around the world have come to love.
Speaking about the album, Danny shares, “The title is what this album is about. If you need something to remind you of the spectrum of feelings and emotions that make you feel human, this is it.”
Living up to its title, “Man In TheArena” combines a hard-hitting R&B groove with a soaring, arena-ready chorus that showcases The Script’s signature sound. Danny O’Donoghue delivers a powerful vocal performance driven by lyrics inspired in part by a famous speech by former US President Theodore Roosevelt, celebrating those brave enough to step into the spotlight despite criticism from the sidelines.
Danny explains, “He talks about how honours don’t belong to the critics. They don’t belong to the people sitting on the couch, laughing at the person in the ring stumbling and falling around. The honours belong to the one who gets in there and whose face is marred with dust and blood. I remember reading it and thinking: that needs to be in a song, the energy in it is beautiful.”
‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’ is now available to pre-order / pre-save HERE. It will be available on CD and limited transparent vinyl with the artist store also stocking exclusive merch bundles, extremely limited test pressing vinyls and a cassette.
