By: Estefany Rial
Photo Credit: Cameron Brisbane
On a windy Sunday evening in Cardiff, fans packed into the Utilita Arena to see 5 Seconds of Summer Cardiff 2026, a show that marked the final night of the UK leg of their “Everyone’s A Star” tour. With rising act Haiden Henderson and South Arcade kicking things off. The venue buzzed with excitement as fans filled the space, many wearing merch or custom designs with stars all over their jeans and shirts, not to forget the spectacular makeup most of them created to symbolise the EVERYONE’S A STAR! World Tour.
After a nearly two-year break to focus on their solo projects, fans expected a night full of surprises from 5SOS. On their previous tour, The 5 Seconds of Summer Show, they included a giant dice with song titles, throws into the crowd and returned to the stage to determine the “surprise song” on the night.
With the band’s reputation for energetic live shows and the hype surrounding their latest tour, not to mention that this was the final show of the UK leg. Expectations were high for a memorable night.
Before 5 Seconds Of Summer took the stage, emerging pop-rock artist Haiden Henderson opened the night, immediately capturing the crowd’s attention. His songs, a mix of high-energy pop hooks and gritty rock edges, translated effortlessly from the album to the arena stage, with fan favourites like Hell of a Good Time, Love Sucker, and Good Side sparking sing-alongs and cheers throughout. Henderson’s confident vocals and playful stage presence, dancing with the bassist and engaging the crowd, made the set feel intimate despite the size of the venue, winning over fans and leaving jaws dropped in surprise and delight.
Fresh off his first headline run, The Tension Tour, across North America, the UK, and Europe, Henderson has already built a devoted following, affectionately known as “Haider Nation,” and amassed over 100 million streams. His live shows are praised for blending stadium-sized pop energy with DIY rock grit, and opening for 5SOS marked a milestone in bringing that raw, emotional intensity to arena stages. Henderson himself acknowledged his connection to the band, saying, “I learned how to sing and play guitar by watching these guys on YouTube…”
Henderson’s energetic performance and magnetic stage presence had the crowd buzzing and set the perfect tone for the night ahead. For anyone who wants to dive deeper into his music, his latest work can be heard here.
Photo Credits: Haiden Henderson
The show featured a second opener, South Arcade, whose rock-driven performance added a dynamic contrast to the night. Performing songs like “So What,” “Superman,” and “Blood Run Warm,” they had fans singing and jumping, perfectly priming the crowd for 5SOS.
As anticipation built for 5 Seconds of Summer Cardiff 2026, the energy inside the arena reached a fever pitch. The lights dimmed, a hush fell over the arena, and the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. Moments later, 5 Seconds Of Summer appeared on screen, kicking off the Everyone’s A Star! tour in Cardiff with full force. The night began with a clip of 5SOS presented like a documentary, showcasing the tour as if it had happened years ago.
On the screen appeared: “On April 5, 2026, 5 Seconds Of Summer performed to a massive crowd on their Everyone’s A Star! tour at Utilita Arena, Cardiff, Wales… They were the biggest band in the world at the time… Fresh off their hit album Everyone’s A Star.” The footage showed fans jumping and singing along at promo performances in LA, NYC, and London. Suddenly, the words “IT WOULD BE THEIR FINAL PERFORMANCE” flashed across the screen.
Photo Credit: Taz Paterson
The limo’s engine roared to life, smoke billowing from beneath it, and “ACT I: THE PEAK” appeared. 5SOS performed NOT OK from inside a pink limousine, holding a Welsh flag and a rugby ball, a gesture that sent fans into a frenzy, celebrating their culture.
Then, after the lyrics “Let’s ride,” everything went black. Luke, Ashton, Calum, and Michael appeared at the tip of the limousine. The arena erupted; fans screamed so loudly the entire venue seemed to vibrate. The band seamlessly continued NOT OK on stage, carrying the intensity from the limo straight into their live performance.
Photo Credit: Taz Paterson
When it was Ashton’s turn to sing, he changed the lyrics to: “One in the Morning, these wheels are rolling, I live in this city and we say we love you WALES, we’ll always come back here, so come with us, just come with us, LET’S GO!” Confetti exploded to the beat, shaped like stars, while flashing white and red lights made it a key moment nobody will ever forget.
Meanwhile, Michael took a solo on guitar, as Luke playfully joined in with Calum and Michael, creating a fun, spontaneous moment on stage. The mood was set for the rest of the show, and the energy continued to rise with every song.
Photo Credit: Taz Paterson
After that, they performed a mix of songs from all their albums, featuring No. 1 Obsession, iStillFeelTheSame, Boyband, Telephone Busy, Evolve, and I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again from the Everyone’s A Star album.
A fan favourite was Evolve. During a previous Q&A on the tour, the band shared that they had been surprised by the audience’s reaction to this song, describing the energy as indescribable. They also mentioned that they had considered it as a potential single, and the fans proved them right, choosing to perform Evolve with even more intensity than some of the album’s official singles.
The boys also performed one song each from their individual projects, giving many fans the chance to hear them live for the first time: Starting Line (Luke Hemmings), Have U Found What Ur Looking For? (Ashton Irwin), Don’t Forget You Love Me (Calum Hood), and Enough (Michael Clifford).
Photo Credit: Cameron Brisbane
Before closing the night they performed She Looks So Perfect and tossed giant dark pink balls with black stars into the crowd. Fans eagerly reached out to touch them as they bounced across the arena, adding another playful, interactive moment to the show.
The night closed with Everyone’s a Star! and Youngblood, a song that has consistently ended their tours and is a band favourite because it gets everyone jumping and dancing, even fans in the seats, creating pure joy throughout the arena. During a Q&A, the band even wondered if Evolve should have been the closing song for this tour, leaving fans curious for the next leg.
The production for 5 Seconds of Summer Cardiff 2026 was one of their most ambitious yet. We highly recommend catching 5 Seconds Of Summer in your city or even traveling to see them. Their show is energetic, emotional, and full of natural humor, carefully crafted to give fans a sense of what it means to be part of the 5SOS experience. This tour was designed specifically for the fans, not for press or views, even though the visuals, lights, and production are on a grand scale. The concert reminded everyone that, for a few hours, fans can come together, forget their worries, and just enjoy the moment.
Photo Credit: Taz Paterson
As Michael Clifford put it: “Real bands save fans, real fans save bands.”