Brighton Centre – 13th October 2026
25 years of Irish charm, soaring vocals and enough romantic anthems to make even the most hardened cynic reach for a tissue, Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour is a spectacular celebration of one of Ireland’s best-loved pop groups, bringing a quarter of a century of hits to the stage with stunning visuals, impressive production and plenty of nostalgic moments.
At the Brighton Centre, the Irish band proved that their music still has the power to bring people together, turning the venue into one enormous sing-along and reminding everyone why they fell in love with Westlife in the first place.
From the moment the show gets going, there’s a real sense that this is a special occasion. 25 years is a huge milestone for any band, and Westlife makes the most of it by celebrating the songs that define their career rather than relying on nostalgia alone. The result is a concert that feels both like a trip down memory lane and a reminder that Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne remain a formidable pop act, even without their fourth member, Mark Feehily, who can’t attend the tour due to health reasons. Though, of course, there were moments when his powerhouse vocals were missed.
A Westlife Setlist Packed With Favourites
The biggest challenge for a band with a back catalogue as extensive as Westlife’s must surely be deciding which songs make the cut. With so many chart toppers, romantic ballads and feel-good pop anthems to choose from, there’s enough material here to keep fans singing for hours. Thankfully, the anniversary tour delivers a generous helping of the tracks that have accompanied weddings, first dances, teenage crushes and countless karaoke sessions over the years.
Things got off to a lively start with World of Our Own before Uptown Girl and Bop Bop Baby kept the feel-good pop coming. It was a great way to open the show with a bang and get the crowd on their feet.
What About Now brought a more powerful, emotional moment, before When You’re Looking Like That injected some serious pop star swagger into the proceedings with the added bonis of a guitar solo from Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine, which gave the song an unexpected rock twist.
The set then took a trip through some of Westlife’s most beloved ballads, with What Makes a Man, I Have a Dream and I Lay My Love on You showcasing the group’s knack for delivering heartfelt vocals and memorable melodies. ‘Starlight’ offered a more contemporary moment, while Queen of My Heart brought another huge sing-along opportunity.
Fan favourite, Flying Without Wings was a highlight but did suffer without Mark’s incredible vocals, with the backing singers taking over his parts of the song. Hello My Love provided a more recent hit before the main set drew to a close, leaving the audience buzzing for more.
Of course, there was no way the evening was going to finish without an encore. The band finished with Swear It Again, bringing the concert to a fitting close with one of the tracks that helped launch Westlife’s remarkable career. With so many hits packed into one show, the setlist was a reminder of just how many songs the Irish group had given fans over the years.
A Spectacular Stage Show
While the songs are undoubtedly the main attraction, the production gives this anniversary celebration plenty of extra sparkle. The Brighton Centre stage was extended horizontally, creating a much broader performance space that helped the show feel bigger and more immersive. There was loads of room for the band to move around, interact with the audience and make the most of the stage, rather than simply standing in one spot and delivering song after song.
The lighting deserved particular attention. An impressive array of lights transforms the stage throughout the performance, shifting the atmosphere to suit each song. The more emotional numbers benefit from a softer, more atmospheric look, while the bigger anthems receive the full visual treatment. Add in the laser show, and the production had so many spectacular moments.
It’s a clever balance. Westlife’s songs are familiar enough to speak for themselves, but the staging gave them a fresh presentation, scale and drama that felt appropriate for a major anniversary tour.
The Vocals Still Deliver
For all the impressive staging, it’s the singing that makes this concert memorable. Westlife’s ability to deliver an emotional ballad is a huge part of their appeal, and the anniversary show gave the three lads’ vocals plenty of room to shine. Shane, Nicky and Kian brought their own personalities to the performance, while the backing singers provided welcome support, helping the group recreate the huge sound fans know and love.
Mark Feehily’s absence from the touring lineup is noticeable, particularly for longtime fans who associate his distinctive voice with so many of the band’s biggest songs. However, the performance handles this change with care, and the additional vocal support helps maintain the richness of the arrangements.
There are some genuinely moving moments, particularly when the band slows things down and allows the lyrics to take centre stage. You Raise Me Up remained a standout, delivering a crescendo that made you really understand why this song continues to mean so much to so many people.
It was also lovely to see the group sharing personal moments throughout the evening. Their Irish roots feature in a particularly heartfelt section, with images from their childhoods helping to connect the people on stage with the fans watching them. After 25 years in the spotlight, there’s a genuine appreciation for the audience and the support that has carried them through their career.
The Songs That Bring Everyone Together
One of the best things about a Westlife concert is watching the audience react to songs that have been part of their lives for decades. Uptown Girl brought a welcome dose of fun, while My Love, Queen of My Heart and Swear It Again provided familiar moments when the entire room seemed to know every single word.
There was a lovely mix of emotion and entertainment throughout the set. One minute, you’re singing along to a romantic ballad, and the next, you’re enjoying the cheekier pop side of the band’s catalogue. ‘When You’re Looking Like That helped keep things moving, while newer material such as Chariot demonstrated that the group isn’t only looking backwards.
That balance is important for an anniversary tour. A greatest hits concert can sometimes feel like a museum exhibition with a backing track, but Westlife gives the songs enough personality and visual flair to make them feel fresh.
And let’s be honest, there’s something wonderfully entertaining about an arena full of adults singing love songs from their childhood at the top of their lungs. Whatever your age, relationship status or ability to hold a tune, there was no judgement here.
Is Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Worth Seeing?
Absolutely. Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour delivered what fans want from a celebration of the band’s career: a fantastic collection of familiar songs, heartfelt performances and a production that made everything feel genuinely special.
The Brighton Centre provided an excellent setting for the show, and the extended stage, huge video screens, confetti, impressive lighting and lasers gave the performance a scale that feels far bigger than a standard concert. Every element was designed to celebrate the music, from the intimate moments that let the lyrics breathe to the spectacular numbers that filled the room with colour and sound.
The biggest appeal, though, is the way Westlife connected with its audience. These aren’t simply songs from the charts of years gone by. They’re tracks associated with first loves, school discos, weddings, family memories and nights spent singing along with friends. Hearing them performed live brings those memories back and helps to create new ones.
The show also demonstrated why the band’s appeal has endured for a quarter of a century. Their music combines memorable melodies, powerful choruses and heartfelt lyrics that continue to resonate with audiences. You don’t need to be a devoted fan to appreciate the craftsmanship behind the songs, although knowing the words certainly makes the experience even better.
Westlife’s anniversary tour is a heartfelt, visually impressive celebration of a remarkable pop career. There are huge singalong moments, beautiful ballads and enough nostalgia to keep the longtime fans smiling. You leave with the tunes stuck in your head, a renewed appreciation for the band’s catalogue and a strong urge to revisit your old playlists.
Westlife 25 Tour review – 5 stars
Westlife 25 Tour Setlist:
- World of Our Own
- Uptown Girl
- Bop Bop Baby
- What About Now
- When You’re Looking Like That (with Sweet Child O’ Mine guitar solo)
- What Makes a Man
- I Have a Dream
- I Lay My Love on You
- Starlight
- Queen of My Heart
- Chariot
- Fool Again
- If I Let You Go
- My Love
- Unbreakable
- Mandy
- Flying Without Wings
- Hello My Love
Encore:
- You Raise Me Up
- Swear It Again
