08.09.2026: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has welcomed London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s statement hailing a record-breaking summer of music for the capital.
The Mayor of London celebrated London’s position as the music capital of the world after millions of people from across the globe gathered at stadiums, parks and grassroots music venues in what proved to be a record-breaking summer.
Music fans travelled to London to experience incredible shows from some of the world’s biggest stars, including Jay-Z and Bad Bunny performing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Harry Styles’s record-breaking 12-date run at Wembley Stadium and Ariana Grande’s 10-night residency at The O2, all providing a major economic boost to the capital.
UK Music data revealed that London’s music scene drew 9.1m music tourists across the year, generating £3.4bn in revenue to the capital – up more than 27 per cent on the previous year. And, according to the Mayor’s Office, it has been predicted that Harry Styles’s record run at Wembley Stadium would inject £1.1 billion into the economy alone.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It has been another incredible summer for our capital’s music scene, showing once again why we are the best in the world. With record-breaking stadium runs, parks and arenas welcoming tens of thousands of people a night and crowds filling up grassroots music-venues, this summer has had it all. I’m proud that no other city in the world can boast such an incredible line-up and it’s why our music industry’s impact on our economy continues to grow, as we build a better London for everyone.”
UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: “London has once again proved its status as one of the most exciting and vibrant cities for music on earth. UK Music data revealed that in 2025, a record 24.7 million music tourists flocked to concerts and festivals in the UK, spending an all-time high of £11.2 billion and supporting 74,000 full-time equivalent jobs along the way.
“After last year’s barnstorming summer of shows from the likes of Oasis, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Kendrick Lamar, 2026 has served up another incredible and eclectic array of performances delighting fans from across the globe. From Harry Styles, Lily Allen, and Olivia Dean to BTS, Kasabian, Gorillaz and The Weeknd, London has once again hosted some of the biggest and best acts in the world.
“And the global appeal of our amazing capital looks set to continue, with the legendary Blue Note jazz club opening its first UK venue in Covent Garden and the Government’s Music Plan pledging to invest in the future of our sector and ensure its world leading status for generations to come.”
You can read more on UK Music’s 2025 music tourism stats here.
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