Following an extraordinary year of music in Wales for 2024, which saw pop sensation Taylor Swift fall so in love with Cardiff that she now carries a picture of Cardiff Bay everywhere, and performances from legends like Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, it's hard to envision how 2025 could surpass it. However, the lead-up to this year has been filled with exciting gig announcements for 2025, and there are undoubtedly more on the horizon.
With iconic venues such as the Principality Stadium and the historic Cardiff Castle, Cardiff continues to attract a plethora of top-tier artists, and 2025 is shaping up to follow suit. International stars including Lana Del Rey, Oasis, Kings of Leon and others are all performing in the Welsh capital.
They will perform across different venues in the city including the new Blackweir Live gig series in Cardiff, which you can read more about here, and will bring fans from across the world with them. It can be a bit tricky to keep up with who is performing where and when, so here is our nifty guide to make sure you don't miss out on your favourites coming to Wales.
Principality Stadium
After a disappointing rugby season in the Six Nations, the mood is set to be lifted in the Principality Stadium with some very impressive acts coming to Cardiff's biggest venue.
Lana Del Rey
American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, renowned for her cinematic and lyrically rich music, will be launching her UK tour in Cardiff on Monday, June 23. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster, with the cheapest ones, priced at £106.
Tickets can also be purchased from Live Nation.
Oasis
For many Oasis enthusiasts, securing tickets has been a struggle since the notorious Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, announced their reunion tour. Like Lana, they too will be launching their UK tour in Cardiff, with shows scheduled for Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5.
Resale appears to be one of the best avenues for fans seeking Oasis tickets. Resale tickets can be found on Viagogo, starting at £127 for a restricted view, available here, and VividSeats, where prices begin at £363, accessible here.
Sites such as Viagogo and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that many event promoters say tickets should not be resold after initial purchase and will not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans attending live events with tickets acquired through resale websites are advised to double-check the ticket terms and conditions at the point of sale - such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation - to ensure a smooth live event experience. Tickets could be voided if they were found to be bought second-hand. As a result, fans are buying at their own risk.
Stereophonics
Welsh rockers Stereophonics are also gearing up to return to the Principality Stadium this year. Marking their first tour in over three years, Stadium Anthems promises a nostalgic journey through the band's illustrious career, leaving no hit unplayed.
Blossoms has been confirmed as a special guest, set to perform on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13. Tickets are still up for grabs, with prices kicking off at £67.25 on Ticketmaster, available here, and starting from £57 on MyTicket, purchasable here.
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Welsh group Catfish and the Bottlemen have two major Cardiff gigs lined up for 2025. They're set to take the stage at the Principality Stadium on Friday, August 1 and Sunday, August 3.
Tickets remain available beginning at £75.10 on Ticketmaster, available here.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Kendrick Lamar put his fans on high-alert earlier this month with the confirmation that he'll be bringing his Grand National Tour, with SZA, to the UK in July. Once he's here, Kendrick will be playing five stadium shows up and down the country.
Just like Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar will be bringing his tour to the Principality Stadium where he'll be playing to more than 74,000 people on Saturday, July 19. As the gig sold out in minutes, resale sites might be your best chance for tickets.
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Cardiff Castle
The historic sight of Cardiff Castle is used for more than just history lessons and many famous artists have performed in the castle grounds. This year is no different with a stella lineup taking place at Cardiff Castle.
Elbow
British music heavyweights Elbow are also set to grace the stage at Cardiff Castle in 2025. They will be performing on Friday, June 13. Tickets can be secured via Ticketmaster, with prices commencing at £63.80. You can secure your tickets, here.
The Script
Irish rock ensemble The Script, comprising frontman Danny O'Donoghue, Glen Power on drums, Ben Sargeant on bass and Ben Weaver on guitar, are scheduled to perform in Cardiff on Thursday, June 26. The Script will be joined by singer-songwriter Tom Walker, celebrated for chart-topping hits like Leave a Light On and Just You and I.
Tickets are still available for purchase from Ticketmaster, with prices starting at £61.60, here.
Sting
English musician Sting, the former lead singer of The Police, is set to perform at Cardiff Castle in the summer of 2025. His performance is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, and tickets are still up for grabs on Live Nation and Ticketmaster, with prices starting from £77.85.
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell
The iconic British reggae band UB40, fronted by Ali Campbell, will be making their debut at Cardiff Castle next summer. With the distinctive voice that drove UB40 to over 70 million record sales and 51 UK chart hits, Ali Campbell is set to bring his reggae charm to the Welsh landmark on Sunday, June 29.
Joining them will be Bitty McLean and Pato Banton. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster, with prices beginning at £50.40.
The Human League
British synth-pop trailblazers The Human League are set to electrify Cardiff with their signature electronic sound in 2025, headlining a show at the historic Cardiff Castle. The BRIT award-winning group will take centre stage on Sunday, July 6, joined by Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey and Blancmange for an unforgettable night of music.
Tickets remain available, starting from £65.55, on Ticketmaster. Purchase them here.
James
Also gracing Cardiff Castle in 2025 is British rock outfit James. They are scheduled to perform on Thursday, July 10, with support acts Shed Seven and Jamie Webster.
Tickets continue to be on sale on Ticketmaster, with prices commencing at £61.60. Secure your spot, here.
Jess Glynne
Jess Glynne is slated to headline the Cardiff day festival Depot in the Castle, alongside other yet-to-be-announced acts, on Saturday, July 25. Tickets are priced from £16.80 for children and £66.65 for adults, available from Ticketmaster, here.
Fontaines D. C.
Cardiff Castle will play host to another marquee summer 2025 event featuring Grammy-nominated, BRIT Award-winning Irish band Fontaines D. C. who will bring their renowned live energy to Welsh fans. The evening's support will include BRIT and Mercury-nominated hip-hop poet and playwright Kae Tempest and London punk outfit High Vis.
The band is scheduled to perform at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday, July 30. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster, starting at £55.45, available here.
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are performing at Cardiff Castle this summer. The chart-topping Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe will bring their Dreamworld - The Greatest Hits Live show on Thursday, July 31.
The duo are are listed in The Guinness Book of Records as the most successful duo in UK music history. Since signing to Parlophone Records in 1985, they have achieved 44 top 30 singles in the UK, including 22 top 10 hits and four number ones.
You can buy tickets from depotlive.co.uk and ticketmaster.co.uk.
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol have announced they will be putting on a huge gig in Cardiff later this year. The Ivor Novello Award winners will headline Cardiff Castle on Thursday June 12.
Fronted by Gary Lightbody with long-time members Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, the band has been a fixture of the British alternative rock scene for more than 20 years, with iconic tracks like Chasing Cars, Run, and Open Your Eyes. Tickets are on general sale at 9am Friday from depotlive.co.uk and ticketmaster.co.uk.
Jamie Jones
Globally respected house music icon Jamie Jones is heading to the Welsh capital this summer for a very special dance party at Cardiff Castle. The Welsh superstar will head to the city on Friday, June 20. Support will come from Dutch DJ and producer Chris Stussy.
You can buy tickets at depotlive.co.uk and ticketmaster.co.uk.
Rag 'n' Bone Man
Multi-award winning artist Rag’n’Bone Man will be performing on the iconic castle stage, bringing great vibes and chart topping hits on Sunday, July 13. Tickets start at £57.15 and you can buy them, here.
Rock the Castle: Funeral for a Friend
Get ready to rock as on Saturday, July 19, Cardiff Castle will play host to an extraordinary lineup of talent at a brand new event, Rock The Castle. This one-day festival celebrates the best of Welsh music, headlined by some of the most iconic and innovative bands from the region.
The line-up includes Funeral for a Friend, The Blackout, Punk Rock Factory, Casey, Dream State and Kill The Lights. You can buy your tickets, starting at £61.60, here.
Faithless
Faithless will be joined by Chicane and Kosheen at Cardiff Castle on Friday, August 1. Tickets start at £50.40 and you can buy them, here.
Blackweir Live
A new gig series is coming to Cardiff for 2025. It will be the city’s largest greenfield gig site and will be able to host up to 35,000 people.
Named Blackweir Live the iconic green space at Blackweir Fields alongside the River Taff will be used for concerts and will continue to be used for other purposes. The launch of Blackweir Live is a partnership between Cardiff-based DEPOT Live (the live-events arm of Cardiff music venue, DEPOT) and UK promoters Cuffe and Taylor.
Over the past two years DEPOT and Cuffe and Taylor have presented almost 30 huge headlining shows at Cardiff Castle, and in 2024 alone they welcomed 170,000 people to a series of concerts from headliners including Manic Street Preachers, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Avril Lavigne, Smashing Pumpkins, IDLES and Tom Grennan.
Kings of Leon
The inaugural act for the newly launched Blackweir Live concert series is none other than Kings of Leon. The American rock band, famed for chart-toppers like Closer, Revelry and Sex On Fire, will be gracing Cardiff on Sunday, June 29.
Tickets are still up for grabs on Ticketmaster, starting at £72.80, available here, as well as through Live Nation, accessible here.
Alanis Morissette
Acclaimed indie rock sensation Alanis Morissette, celebrated for her hits such as Ironic, Hand in My Pocket and Head Over Feet, is set to perform at Blackweir Live on Wednesday, July 2. Tickets remain available on Ticketmaster, purchase them here, with prices commencing at £72.80.
Stevie Wonder
The legendary Stevie Wonder will be performing in Cardiff this summer. The Superstition singer will be headlining the brand new music series Blackweir Live.
It has been confirmed that 25-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, musician and producer will be bringing his Love, Light & Song show to the Welsh capital on Wednesday, July 9, which will mark one of only three outdoor dates for the global superstar in the UK in 2025. You can buy tickets, here.
Slayer
Legendary thrash metal band Slayer have announced they will be performing in Cardiff as one of only two UK shows. For more than four decades, Slayer has defined thrash metal and now, as they celebrate more than 40 years of chaos, they're making history once again, announcing two massive headline shows including a date at Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on Thursday, July 3.
These will be the biggest shows they have ever played in the UK and the only headline shows Slayer will play in Europe in 2025. You can buy your tickets at Blackweir Live, here, or the Slayer website, here. You can also buy your tickets at Ticketmaster, here.
Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan is to headline a big Cardiff's outdoor live music event this summer. The two-time Grammy nominated American singer will hit the Welsh capital in June for his third big outdoor headline show at Blackweir Fields, having already sold out his gig in Dublin's Marlay Park and London's Hyde Park for the summer.
The singer saw his hit single Stick Season grace the top of the UK singles chart for seven weeks and remained 2024's biggest song of the year too. Noah Kahan will be performing on Friday, June 27, with tickets on sale at Ticketmaster, or on Blackweir Live website, which you can find out here.
Live at Bute Park
Another new gig series for Cardiff for summer 2025 is Live at Bute Park. Live at Bute Park will be taking place on Coopers Field over the August Bank Holiday weekend and will see headline artists and special guests perform for a series of outdoor concerts.
The Live at Bute Park concert series is promoted in a partnership between Cardiff-based DEPOT Live, which is the live-events arm of Cardiff music venue, DEPOT, as well as UK promoters Cuffe and Taylor. According to its organisers, with a capacity of up to 15,000 people, Live at Bute Park aims to "enhance the offer of outdoor concerts in the city towards the end of summer."
Tom Jones
Sir Tom Jones is making his return to Wales this year for an almighty show at Coopers Field, Bute Park on Wednesday, August 20. The 84-year-old Welshman will no doubt be playing some of his biggest hits from over the decades, including Sexbomb, What's New Pussycat?, She's A Lady, It's Not Unusual and plenty more.
Tom Jones fans can buy tickets to the star's Cardiff show at Bute Park right now. These tickets are available from a number of retailers, including the likes of viagogo, Vivid Seats, StubHub and even Ticketmaster.
Here's the links for Tom Jones tickets:
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Will Smith
Will Smith is performing in Cardiff this August as part of his upcoming Based on a True Story Summer Tour. The global superstar will headline Live at Bute Park on Monday, August 25, joined by very special guests disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
The Based on a True Story Tour announcement comes on the heels of Will Smith’s first full-length album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, which is set for release on Friday, March 28. These live shows will see him performing songs from the new album along with his classic hits including Jiggy Wit It, Miami, Summertime and more. Buy tickets, here.
Basement Jaxx and Ezra Collective
Ezra Collective have announced a huge Welsh gig for summer 2025. They will be coming to Cardiff to support the electronic music duo Basement Jaxx.
Ezra Collective will support Basement Jaxx when they headline Cardiff's Live at Bute Park on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Opening the show will be Bristol-born DJ and record producer Eats Everything.
Tickets for the gig are currently on sale now and you can buy them at TicketMaster, here. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
