Live review: Riding in on their Chariot and Flying Without Wings! Westlife mark 25th anniversary with dazzling Royal Albert Hall show
Legendary Irish boyband Westlife delivered an epic performance at the Royal Albert Hall last night (27.10.25) as they celebrated their 25th anniversary.
On Monday night (27.10.25), the Royal Albert Hall in London witnessed a celebration of love, legacy and harmony as Westlife marked an extraordinary 25 years in music.
Kicking off their 25th anniversary in glittering style, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne - minus bandmate Mark Feehily, who stepped back due to health concerns - delivered a show brimming with nostalgia, emotion, and pure showmanship
Channelling, the glamour of the roaring ’20s, it was a Great Gatsby-inspired, black-tie affair: sequins shimmered, tuxedos gleamed, and fireworks cascaded across the stage in a display worthy of the Hall’s storied history.
Backed by the world-renowned Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Westlife’s performance was both timeless and electrifying. Opening with World of Our Own, the trio set the tone for an evening that celebrated every era of their remarkable career.
Speaking to the crowd, lead singer Shane said: “Thank you all so much for making such a big effort to dress up. This is certainly a very special moment for us in Westlife. Tonight really is the start of the celebration of 25 years of Westlife. We’ve been talking about this gig for quite a while actually - our manager Sonny Takhar came up with the idea of kicking off the 25th anniversary with this special show tonight. Thank you so much for 25 years of Westlife - this is just the beginning. The big tour is next year.”
Blending 17 signature hits and a handful of golden oldies, Westlife delivered a show that shimmered with pure nostalgia and effortless old-world charm. From the infectious energy of Bop Bop Baby and Uptown Girl to the soulful sweep of When You're Looking Like That and Queen of My Heart, each song was met with thunderous applause.
Midway through, the band took a stylish detour, channelling the spirit of the Rat Pack era with polished renditions of Ain’t That a Kick in the Head and Mack the Knife. A playful, old-school interlude that felt right at home beneath the Albert Hall’s domed ceiling.
Shane added: “We never would have thought that we would be performing here in the Royal Albert Hall. It’s really, really incredible. It’s seeped in so much history. I was looking to see the legends and the people of notoriety, the list is endless. From kings and queens to bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Frank Sinatra… and now it’s Westlife.”
Westlife wowing fans at the iconic London venue / Credit: Louisa Eagle
Though Mark’s absence was felt deeply, it only added to the poignancy of the night. In a heartfelt tribute to Mark, the boys dedicated his favourite song Flying Without Wings, with Clean Bandit’s Kristen Joy stepping in beautifully to sing his iconic lines. Their harmonies echoed through the hall with the audience singing every lyric in unison. It became one of the most moving moments of the night.
Shane said: “I want to take a minute to talk about Mark, who unfortunately is not with us tonight. But we love him, we miss him, and we cannot wait to have him back on this stage with us.
The good news is he's obviously on the new music, which you've heard already, Chariot, And, the next album as well, we have a new album coming out in February.
So this next song, I want to dedicate it to Mark because it's Mark's favourite song. That might give you a hint. It's a beautiful song. So tonight we'd like to dedicate it to him and I'd like to invite Kirsten Joy down to sing it with us."
That new music took centre stage as they performed Chariot - their latest single penned by Ed Sheeran - from their upcoming 25 - The Ultimate Collection, due February 13, 2026. While celebrating everything that made them icons, this moment offered a confident glimpse of what’s still to come.
He said: “We knew we had to come back with something special. When we heard this song, we knew this was the one.”
The group also confirmed details of Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour, a global celebration set to run for two years and reach fans across every continent.
Nicky said: "It’s just incredible what it feels like to be up here. We’re gonna have multiple special nights because we’re going on tour next year. We’re going all over the world for two years - it’s gonna take us to every continent. Were not allowed to say that but I just did.
We love to tour, we love to be with our fans, we love singing, we love hearing you sing back to us. It means the world to us.”
As the night’s emotion gave way to laughter, the band took a moment to honour the man who helped shape their journey from the very beginning from 1998-2012 - former manager and long-time mentor, Louis Walsh.
Shane said: “I want to thank Mr Louis Walsh - we love you, Louis. He’s picked one of the best songs that’s coming on the album next year. You guys are going to absolutely love it - it’s a Louis special.”
As the orchestra swelled behind them, You Raise Me Up brought the Royal Albert Hall to its feet in a moment of pure collective emotion. But the night wasn’t over yet. The final word fittingly belonged to Swear It Again - the song that started it all - closing the show with the same heart and harmony that have defined the Irish Boy Band for over two decades.
Fireworks erupted as confetti drifted from the ceiling whilst the boys stood arm in arm visibly touched.
25 years later, Westlife aren’t just flying without wings, they’re still soaring higher than ever.
Tickets for Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour go on sale this Friday (31.10.25) at 10am.
WESTLIFE UK and IRELAND TOUR DATES
15 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
16 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
18 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
19 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
20 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
22 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
23 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
24 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
25 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
26 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
29 September 2026 – Aberdeen – P&J Live
30 September 2026 – Glasgow – OVO Hydro
3 October 2026 – Newcastle – Utilita Arena
6 October 2026 – Leeds – First Direct Bank Arena
7 October – Sheffield – Utilita Arena
9 October – London – The O2
13 October – Brighton – Centre
14 October – Bournemouth – International Centre
16 October – Birmingham – Utilita Arena
19 October – Cardiff – Utilita Arena
23 October – Manchester – Co-op Live
27 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
28 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
29 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
30 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
31 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
15 November – Paris, France – Zenith
17 November – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
19 November – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
20 November – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
21 November – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum
23 November – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
24 November – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena
25 November – Cologne, Germany – LanxessArena
26 November – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
