A Night of Emotion, Surprise and Perfect Pop at Wembley
Dua Lipa Wembley marked a major milestone in her career on Friday night, delivering a sensational debut at Wembley Stadium in front of 70,000 fans as part of her Radical Optimism Tour. In a memorable surprise, she was joined on stage by Jay Kay of Jamiroquai for a special rendition of the 1996 hit Virtual Insanity.
“He’s a massive trailblazer for British music,” Dua Lipa told the ecstatic crowd before their unexpected duet. Their performance came halfway through a stunning two-hour set, packed with many of Lipa’s biggest hits, including Physical, One Kiss, New Rules, and Levitating.
“A Massive Milestone” for Dua Lipa
From the moment the show began, Dua Lipa was visibly emotional. “This is such a massive, massive milestone for me,” she told the crowd. “I’ve had a lump in my throat from the moment this show started.”
Many fans had been camped out at Wembley since Thursday, braving soaring temperatures above 31°C to secure the best views for Lipa’s first ever UK stadium headline show.
“It means the absolute world to me that you’re here tonight. It feels like I’ve waited my whole life for this moment,” she continued, reflecting on her journey from playing to 350 people a decade ago to headlining one of the world’s most iconic venues.
The Radical Optimism Tour Brings Powerful Simplicity
Opening with her 2024 hit Training Season, Lipa’s show immediately set the tone—a vibrant fusion of disco, dance-pop, and futuristic beats. Backed by 12 dancers and multiple costume changes, she maintained high energy throughout the night, showcasing pin-sharp choreography and sleek production.
Her strong, flexible voice shone on songs like Falling Forever and the Flamenco-flavored Maria. Lipa’s Albanian rock roots—her father Dukajin Lipa was a singer himself—were evident in her rich vocals.
Before performing Hotter Than Hell, she shared its personal significance as the song that secured her first recording contract.
Jay Kay’s Show-Stopping Appearance
The biggest surprise of the night came when Jay Kay, frontman of British funk legends Jamiroquai, joined Dua on stage. The crowd erupted as the pair launched into Virtual Insanity, delighting both longtime Jamiroquai fans and younger concertgoers.
“What a privilege and an honour to be on stage with you,” Jay Kay said before the iconic performance, wearing a tasseled white cowboy jacket and pink jeans that only he could pull off with such style.
Personal Moments with Fans
Between songs, Dua Lipa shared several candid moments with her fans—borrowing phones for selfies, signing vinyl records, and even incorporating a fan’s scarf into her stage outfit. These interactions offered a glimpse into her warm and down-to-earth personality.
The evening concluded with a flawless encore featuring New Rules, Dance The Night, Don’t Start Now, and her recent psychedelic smash Houdini. As fireworks lit up the night sky, Lipa vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving the crowd in awe.
Simple but Effective Stadium Spectacle
Unlike many stadium tours that rely heavily on mechanical props and cutting-edge visuals, Dua Lipa’s show focused on the music, choreography, and pure feel-good energy. This approach also kept ticket prices relatively affordable, with the most expensive seats costing £155, significantly lower than many other major stadium tours this year.
With her Wembley debut complete, Lipa continues her Radical Optimism tour with another show at Wembley, followed by performances in Liverpool and London before heading to North America in September.
Dua Lipa’s Full Wembley Setlist:
- Training Season
- End of an Era
- Break My Heart
- One Kiss
- Whatcha Doing
- Levitating
- These Walls
- Hotter Than Hell
- Virtual Insanity (with Jamiroquai)
- Maria
- Physical
- Electricity
- Hallucinate
- Illusion
- Falling Forever
- Happy for You
- Love Again
- Anything For Love
- Be the One
- Encore:
- New Rules
- Dance the Night
- Don’t Start Now
- Houdini
