Bruno Mars began the first of six nights at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, with the venue awash in crimson as fans dressed in red and waved hand fans reading “Hot for Bruno.” The tour supports his 2026 album The Romantic, and the Saturday night crowd was eager to be romanced.
The show opened with a kitschy video prayer, where Mars asked for a hand in giving the audience an unforgettable show, before emerging in dry ice. With stained glass behind him and twinkling fairy lights, the atmosphere blended a seedy club with a church service as he launched into “Risk It All.” The production evoked a spaghetti western and a 50s high school prom simultaneously.
Stadium Show Without the Frills
In a summer of inventive stadium productions—Metallica’s 360-degree stage, BTS’s X-shaped setup, Harry Styles’ themed quadrants—Mars’ set kept the audience at arm’s length. There was no B-stage, catwalk, or flying rigs; just a classic proscenium arch. The show relied heavily on Mars’ stage presence rather than pyro and pageantry.
Mars sang every line as if it were his big solo, throwing his head back with neck veins popping. His voice is strong and supple, but delivering every vocal as a knockout dulled the effect. His stage patter felt dated: he dedicated the crooning ode “God Was Showing Off” to the ladies and “Why You Wanna Fight?” to the lads, with a joke about women being great to look at but having pesky thoughts and feelings.
Silk Sonic Segment and Crowd Favorites
The women of Wembley seemed unfazed, and Mars’ showmanship turned even tossing the mic from hand to hand into a moment. Anderson .Paak joined for a Silk Sonic segment, bringing a welcome change of pace and downing a pint in deference to British culture. The highlight was “Locked Out of Heaven,” Mars’ 2012 hit, delivered with as much enthusiasm as if brand new.
Overall, the show was fun but not unforgettable. As one critic noted, “That prayer went unanswered.” Various dates at Wembley Stadium continue until 28 July.
