On Sunday, The National made what is billed as their only 2026 appearance at San Sebastian, Spain’s Teatro Kursaal. Part of the two-day AB100 event celebrating twin brothers, and National guitarists, Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s 50th birthday, the event was also their first show since 2024 and featured a mix of friends as well as a few unexpected song selections.
During the early portion of the night, Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist and close National collaborator Richard Reed Parry emerged for “Lemonworld” and, a few songs later, “Bloodbuzz Ohio.” Soon after, The National brought out Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, who collaborated with the group on the 2013 art piece and video installation A Lot of Sorrow. As a nod to that unique event, during which The National played their 2010 song “Sorrow” live for six hours straight—105 times—they performed the High Voilet track twice in a row, accompanied by the project’s visuals. In addition, singers Lisa Hannigan, Kate Stables and Mina Tindle—who is married to Bryce—joined in on “Oblivions” while a slew of friends and family members in town for AB100 filtered on stage for a sing-along version of the High Violet staple “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.” Also, during the show, The National busted out the rarely played cut “90-Mile Water Wall,” from 2003’s Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, for the first time since July 23, 2014.
The National concert wasn’t the only collaborative moment from AB100. During the first part of the two-country happening, in Biarritz, France, the Dessners hosted an event dubbed Mixtape. During the event, the brothers performed with friends like Ben Howard, Kevin Morby and Jon Hopkins. They also invited out surprise guest Michael Stipe to sing on his 1996 New Adventures in Hi‐Fi R.E.M. track ”E-Bow the Letter” and “No Time for Love Like Now,” Stipes’ 2020 collaboration with Aaron’s Big Red Machine project.
“E-Bow the Letter” has a deep history with all the acts involved. Aaron mentioned from the stage that he and his band “begged” R.E.M. to play it when they opened for the alt-rock legends in 2008—to no avail—and noted that the tune was written in San Sebastián, where the second part of AB100 was held. Stipe last played “E-Bow the Letter” live in 2009 during R.E.M.’s last public performance before disbanding, at a tribute show held at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Patti Smith, who contributed to the original recording, joined in on that version as well.
While in Europe, the full National lineup minus frontman Matt Berninger also took part a National Mixtape set at Berlin, Germany’s Funkhaus during Aaron’s PEOPLE festival. They ran through a slew of National tunes with different guests, including Bartees Strange (“Lemonworld”), Angie McMahon (“Pink Rabbit”), Ben Howard (“Humiliation”), Tindle (“Oblivions”) and Tommy WÁ (“Fake Empire”), among others.
The National currently have no confirmed tour dates on the books.
