Katy Perry performed at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, delivering what audience member Indigo Jones described as one of the best live performances ever seen. The concert featured hits from her entire career, from 2008's One of the Boys to her latest single, Watch it Burn.
Support Acts and Crowd Energy
The evening began with support act Bea, who brought high energy to an already full crowd. Next up was Mimi Webb, whose blend of country and pop resonated well, especially during her cover of Miley Cyrus's The Climb, which sparked nostalgia for the Hannah Montana era. Jones noted the crowd included many children, some born after the release of Perry's early hits, showing the singer's cross-generational appeal.
Between acts, the crowd sang along to songs by Robyn, Charli XCX, The Cure, and Catfish and the Bottlemen, creating an incredible atmosphere that built anticipation for Perry's 9pm stage time.
Main Performance: A Journey Through Hits
Perry opened with a humorous video of herself running to the stage before launching into high-energy classics: California Gurls, Teenage Dream, and Last Friday Night (TGIF). The stage featured elaborate props and graphics, including affirmations, videos of her daughter Daisy, and an interactive game where she asked the crowd to pose. Jones noted that Perry used the word "c**t" several times during the game, which may require explanations from parents to children.
Perry's stage presence was a highlight, with consistent audience interaction. She remarked, "I bet a thousand years ago, they didn’t think this would be done in this castle. But it probably isn’t the weirdest thing to happen in this castle." She also expressed, "I’ve waited all summer for this festival in Cardiff," and incorporated Welsh elements, such as bringing Welsh astronaut dancers on stage and asking the crowd to teach her Welsh words like "Cwrw" and the lyrics to Roar.
Nostalgic Moments and Personal Touches
The setlist included ET, Part of Me, Chained to the Rhythm, Roar, Firework, and a cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Heads Will Roll. A standout moment was an acoustic version of Thinking of You, where Perry played guitar and reminisced about writing the song at age 20. Jones, who first discovered Perry at age 8, found this deeply emotional.
Perry also referenced her ex-partners and current boyfriend Justin Trudeau, showing off a Canadian cufflink. She shared a voice message and home videos from her daughter Daisy. Dedicated fans may have recognized outfits from her 2008 tours, as Perry announced plans to donate tour costumes to her charity, The Firework Foundation, which empowers children in underserved communities.
Overall Impression
The concert included bizarre elements like aliens, sunscreen cannons, and Perry getting into a plastic bottle, but these added to the showmanship. Jones concluded, "The songs, the performance and the stage presence really made for a 10/10 concert, and it just shows that 15 years later Katy Perry still has it."
