From Lily Allen’s internet-breaking return to Lewis Capaldi out-selling rap’s biggest heavyweights, a new report has revealed the defining live music moments of 2025 — and British artists are leading the charge.
Leading ticket marketplace viagogo has unveiled its third annual Year in Live Experiences Report, spotlighting the most in-demand artists, viral moments and unforgettable performances that shaped the UK’s live music landscape this year.
Coldplay Crowned UK’s Most In-Demand Live Act
Topping the list as viagogo’s best-selling artist in the UK for 2025 is Coldplay, with Oasis following closely behind. The band behind Yellow and Fix You also attracted the highest number of international fans, with overseas demand alone capable of filling half of London’s O2 Arena.
Lewis Capaldi’s Comeback Beats Beyoncé, Drake and Kendrick Lamar
Joining Coldplay and Oasis in the top three British acts is Lewis Capaldi, who made a powerful return to the spotlight after two years away with his UK and Ireland tour.
Thanks to overwhelming demand, additional tour dates were added — pushing Capaldi ahead of global superstars including Beyoncé, Drake and Kendrick Lamar in viagogo’s rankings.
Despite Kendrick Lamar’s viral Not Like Us phenomenon — which scooped five Grammy Awards and topped charts in at least nine countries — Drake remained a firm favourite with UK fans throughout the summer.
Drake’s Wireless Festival Set Sends Demand Soaring
Following the announcement of Drake’s partnership with Wireless Festival in North London, demand for his Wireless 2025 performance surged dramatically compared to the previous year.
Clips of Drake’s curated festival set quickly went viral, sending fans into a frenzy over surprise guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, Vanessa Carlton, Central Cee, Dave and Vybz Kartel — cementing the performance as one of the summer’s most talked-about live moments.
Jess Glynne and Jet2 Take Over Social Media
Another viral highlight came courtesy of Jess Glynne, whose Jet2-fuelled resurgence of Hold My Hand lit up social media feeds across the UK. The unexpected trend sparked a huge spike in viagogo searches between June and July, proving once again how online moments can directly impact live ticket demand.
Katy Perry’s Space Trip Fuels Tour Demand
In one of the year’s most unexpected pop culture crossovers, Katy Perry’s Blue Origin space trip resulted in a 59% month-on-month increase in demand for tickets to her Lifetimes Tour on viagogo.
The moment highlighted how off-stage headlines can translate into real-world excitement — and ticket sales — for global pop stars.
Lily Allen’s Diss Album and Tour Spark UK Frenzy
Flying the flag for homegrown talent, Lily Allen delivered one of 2025’s most talked-about returns with the release of West End Girl. The album’s sharp, internet-breaking rollout sent UK fans into overdrive.
After announcing her first UK tour in seven years, general sale tickets significantly outperformed pre-sale volumes — a pattern that repeated again ahead of the album’s 27 November 2025 release, where demand once more eclipsed earlier sales by a wide margin.
UK’s Most In-Demand Artists for 2025
According to viagogo, these were the top 10 most in-demand artists in the UK for 2025:
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Coldplay
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Oasis
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Billie Eilish
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Sabrina Carpenter
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Lewis Capaldi
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Lana Del Rey
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Dua Lipa
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Teddy Swims
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Lady Gaga
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Beyoncé
Looking Ahead: The Biggest Live Acts of 2026
Demand shows no signs of slowing as fans already look ahead to next year. viagogo’s most sought-after UK artists for 2026 include:
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Bon Jovi
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Luke Combs
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Bad Bunny
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My Chemical Romance
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Metallica
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The Weeknd
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Olivia Dean
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Billy Joel
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Florence + The Machine
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The Neighbourhood
“The Enthusiasm for Live Music Shows No Signs of Slowing”
Commenting on the findings, Hayley DiNaso from viagogo said:
“At viagogo, we’ve loved seeing fans respond to some truly iconic live music moments this year — from UK stars like Lily Allen and Jess Glynne taking over social media to global powerhouses like Drake and Katy Perry lighting up stages around the world. The enthusiasm for live music shows no signs of slowing, and with 2026 shaping up to be a monumental year, it’s exciting to see such a diverse mix of artists paving the way for unforgettable experiences.”
About viagogo
viagogo is the world’s leading marketplace for buying and selling tickets to live events. Operating internationally alongside StubHub in North America, the platform serves fans in 200+ countries and territories, across 33 languages and 48 currencies.
With over 300 million tickets available annually — spanning music, sport, comedy, theatre and festivals — viagogo provides a safe and regulated marketplace that helps fans experience the events they love.
