Ed Sheeran and NPR’s Tiny Desk team up in intimate livestream concert on YouTube timed with ’Play’ album release

Hours after album release, listeners worldwide will experience Sheeran’s newest music from NPR’s offices—live on YouTube September 12 at noon ET

Four-time Grammy Award winner Ed Sheeran will join NPR’s iconic Tiny Desk for an intimate, live-streamed concert following the release of his new album ’Play’ earlier that day. Sheeran will perform a selection of new music on his loop station in the first-ever livestreamed Tiny Desk concert of this scale. The concert will reach more than 60 million subscribers across NPR and Sheeran’s YouTube channels.

The concert airs live at noon ET on NPR Music’s YouTube channel and will be available following the show on Ed Sheeran’s channel and NPR Music’s channel.

NPR’s Tiny Desk has become known for its authenticity, and this livestream takes that experience to the next level by bringing listeners in the room, in the moment.

Since launching in 2008, NPR’s Tiny Desk series has become one of the most celebrated and influential concert series in the world. From rising stars to global icons, artists perform stripped-down sets behind the Desk at the NPR headquarters. By focusing on raw, unfiltered artistry, Tiny Desk has redefined what live performance can be. With millions of subscribers across YouTube and social media, NPR’s Tiny Desk reaches more than 20 million viewers each month and generated more than 62 million views across platforms in the past year.

This marks Sheeran’s second collaboration with NPR. He first appeared in a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert in 2021, filmed during the work-from-home era of the global pandemic. Now, with ’Play,’ Sheeran’s eight studio album, Sheeran returns to bring never-before-performed music to the Tiny Desk through a rare livestream.

How to Watch:

• Subscribe to NPR Music on YouTube
• Set a reminder for September 12 at noon/12pm ET
• Join the conversation using #TinyDeskLIVE

About Ed Sheeran: 

Ed Sheeran is an era-defining artist, responsible for some of the biggest songs of this decade, selling nearly 200 million records across the globe, and amassing over 100 billion streams worldwide. One of the most influential singer-songwriters of his generation, the 4x-GRAMMY award winner was also one of the first artists to earn three RIAA-Diamond certified singles, with "Thinking Out Loud" "Shape of You" and "Perfect" all achieving sales equivalents exceeding 10 million in the US alone. Widely regarded for his incredible live performances, Sheeran is currently in the midst of his record-breaking Mathematics Tour, smashing attendance records at stadiums all around the world. His acclaimed Mathematics series of albums - which began with his debut full length (plus) in 2011 and includes (multiply), (divide), (equals), and (subtract) - came to a close in 2025. Sheeran is stepping boldly into a new chapter, exploring fresh musical territory while staying true to his classic, songwriting roots with singles "Azizam" "Old Phone" "Sapphire" and, most recently, "A Little More" all from his much anticipated album Play, set for release on September 12.

About NPR:

NPR’s rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 16 international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), downloading the NPR App or asking Alexa to "Play NPR" The NPR mobile app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram.