Wembley Stadium holds a special place in the history of Bon Jovi. It has been seven years since the band last played the venue, and more than two decades since they famously performed the final concert weekends at the original Wembley Stadium in 2000, before it was torn down and rebuilt. Before that, there was the unforgettable three-night residency in 1995. This was never going to be just another stadium show.
Bon Jovi
Wembley Stadium, London – 4 September 2026
Words: Aggie Anthimidou
Photography: David Bergman
The highly anticipated return was announced last October at a special press conference at Wembley, attended by Jon Bon Jovi himself.
The band’s 2026 global concert dates marked their long-awaited return to live touring, beginning at New York’s Madison Square Garden in July and taking in Dublin and Edinburgh and three sold-out nights in London.
Jon had undergone major vocal cord surgery in 2022, followed by years of rehabilitation, so getting back on tour meant a great deal personally. Paired with the release of the widely praised Forever album, this tour felt like a new chapter for one of rock’s most enduring frontmen.
That emotional weight was palpable on this first London night as Jon Bon Jovi walked onto the stage wearing a blue military-style jacket, his unmistakable presence seemingly little changed through the decades.
He was joined by core members David Bryan on keyboards, drummer Tico Torres, bassist Hugh McDonald and lead guitarist Phil X, alongside touring musicians John Shanks (rhythm guitar) and Everett Bradley (vocals).
For the fans, it was a moment many had waited years to experience. For Jon, the significance of being back was evident in every greeting, every smile and every moment he took to absorb the packed, sold-out crowd’s response.
The production was suitably grandiose, with spectacular visuals framing the enormous stage. But underneath the spectacle, this was arena rock in its purest form. Bon Jovi and their catalogue of anthems were more than enough to generate the high-octane, larger-than-life atmosphere.
For a generation of fans who “weren’t there the first time round”, the sound of roaring guitars shaking the upper rafters of a stadium is the very definition of a rock concert. We are lucky to have experienced a night that lived up to it.
Across two and a half hours, Bon Jovi delivered a gloriously indulgent evening spanning the band’s many eras, with a setlist heavily weighted towards the ’80s and ’90s.
Four decades on, the pull of these classics remains extraordinary. Songs that became the soundtrack of generations still feel fresh, current and capable of drawing fans of all ages into the same euphoric moment.
Their longevity is not simply a matter of nostalgia. It is a testament to the strength of the songwriting and the enduring connection these anthems continue to create.
They opened with a nod to their hosts, a cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends, before sliding into Beautiful Drug, from Forever. We Weren’t Born To Follow, and Lost Highway came next, striking a balance between recent material and old favourites that held for the rest of the night.
“I have too many memories of this place,” Jon told the crowd before counting the audience down into the ’80s. The first notes of You Give Love A Bad Name sent Wembley into a frenzy, and from there it was one highlight after another. Born to Be My Baby followed, lifting the energy even higher.
“It’s good to be in 1986,” he said, and the stadium roared in agreement.
Legendary, from the new album, came with a striking starry visual backdrop, but the crowd was just as much a part of the show as anything on stage. Jon acted as a real-time conductor, orchestrating extended choruses and inviting thousands of voices to take over.
Many of the classics were treated to longer renditions, allowing the crowd to participate while the band delivered stunning instrumental solos, with Phil X’s performance being a particular highlight of the evening. His explosive guitar work added another dimension to the stadium-sized sound.
Bed Of Roses was one of the evening’s most moving moments, with Jon’s vocals shining through. Between songs, he kept pausing to greet the crowd, clearly moved to be back on a UK stage.
“1995 was the first time we played Wembley Stadium,” he said. “Came back in 2019. Forgot how much I missed this place.”
These Days offered a breather from the anthems, letting Jon’s vocal take centre stage again. This House Is Not For Sale gave Phil X room for a standout solo, and Fame landed as another highlight thanks to the interplay between Shanks and Phil X’s guitars.
It’s My Life stole the show outright, its chorus bouncing off every corner of the stadium. Livin’ On A Prayer brought the kind of mass singalong only a song of its size can pull off, topped with a huge vocal performance and an extended solo from David Bryan.
“Are there any cowboys in London?” Jon asked, leaving little doubt that Wanted Dead Or Alive was about to follow. The song brought another wave of nostalgia, while Bad Medicine turned the whole stadium into one big party.
As the evening drew to a close, the band gathered in a circle, embraced and closed things out with Always. It was perhaps the most magical moment of the night. An emotional finale filled with powerful vocals, extended guitar solos and the unmistakable connection between a band and its audience.
Jon Bon Jovi looked genuinely moved by the response. This was not simply about returning to a famous venue, but about returning to the stage itself and sharing these songs once again with the fans who have carried them through the decades.
A triumphant first night at Wembley, with Jon’s vocal comeback proving every bit as meaningful as the band’s return to the stage, and a performance that promises even more to come.
