The Format at Nile Theater: 2026 dates, tickets, prices

Christmas came early for local fans of one of Arizona’s most beloved bands. The Format is playing two unplugged concerts at The Nile Theater in Mesa on Thursday, Dec. 10, and Friday, Dec. 11.

It’s the latest hometown shows by the Arizona-born band co-founded by Nate Ruess and Sam Means, and another chance for fans to see them go acoustic.

The Format’s Nile Theater shows will feature stripped-down performances similar to a pair of acoustic gigs the band played in January celebrating the release of “Boycott Heaven,” its first album in nearly two decades.

One of the unplugged performances took place at a Zia Records location in Phoenix, while the other packed the Crescent Ballroom. Both featured The Format playing songs off their recent album and older tunes from throughout their catalog.

The Format’s two concerts at Nile Theater in December will take place less than a month after they co-headline a show at the Hollywood Bowl with fellow local icons Jimmy Eat World on Nov. 7.

The performance marks the 20th anniversary of The Format’s “Dog Problems” and the 25th anniversary of Jimmy Eat World’s “Bleed American.”

How to get tickets to The Format’s Phoenix unplugged shows

Tickets for The Format’s two December concerts at The Nile Theater go on sale to the public at noon on Friday, Oct. 16, via theformat.com and psykosteve.com. Advance prices are $41.50 per person, plus fees. The day-of-show price is $47 per person, plus fees.

A limited number of fee-free tickets will be available in person at Nile Records, 40 N. Macdonald, Suite 3N, in Mesa starting at noon on Friday, Oct. 16.

If you’d like to feel good about your purchase, The Format will donate $2 from each ticket sold to help fight food insecurity, fund local animal shelters and support marginalized communities through the nonprofit Catalyst Philanthropy Fund.

Here’s the complete schedule for The Format’s unplugged December tour:

• Dec. 1, Orlando, Fla., The Social
• Dec. 2, Savannah, Ga., Victory North
• Dec. 4, Memphis, Tenn., 1884 Lounge
• Dec. 6, Birmingham, Ala., Workplay
• Dec. 7, Oklahoma City, Beer City Music Hall
• Dec. 10, Mesa, The Nile Theater
• Dec. 11, Mesa, The Nile Theater