Full Breakdown
Harry Styles Opens Record-Breaking Wembley Residency, Honouring David Hockney and One Direction Roots
6/13/2026, 8:53:42 PM
Opening Night Highlights
On 12 June 2026, Harry Styles launched a 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium, billed “Together, Together”. The concert opened with an Elvis-styled rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” before the first song of his new album, “Are You Listening Yet?”. A large screen displayed a quote from the late painter David Hockney, after which Styles performed “Aperture”. The setlist combined tracks from all four solo albums with a surprise encore of “Little Freak”. Guest performer Shania Twain opened the show with hits from her catalogue.
Background & Context
David Hockney, who painted a portrait of Styles for the National Portrait Gallery’s 2023 “Drawing from Life” exhibition, died on 11 June 2026 at age 88. Styles’ tribute followed the announcement of Hockney’s death. The residency follows the “Together, Together” world tour that began in Amsterdam and aims to surpass previous Wembley records held by Coldplay (10 shows in 2025) and Taylor Swift (8 shows in 2024).
Key Figures & Groups
- Harry Styles – solo artist, former One Direction member.
- Shania Twain – opening act for the London dates.
- David Hockney – late British artist whose quote was displayed.
- Wembley Stadium – venue for the residency.
- LIVE’s levy – receives £1 per ticket to support UK grassroots venues.
- Music Venues Trust – promoted on the stadium’s screens.
Data & Statistics
- Planned 12 consecutive shows, breaking the single-artist Wembley record.
- Reported attendance: 80,000 (BBC) versus 90,000 (StreamlineFeed).
- £1 per ticket donated to LIVE’s levy.
- Economic impact projected in the “hundreds of millions of pounds” for London’s hospitality sector.
- Setlist comprised 20 songs, including five from the new album “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.”
Official Statements & Responses
Styles repeatedly emphasized his role as entertainer, urging the audience to “be whoever you want to be tonight”. He thanked his sister Gemma for accompanying him and his mother Anne for signing him up for *The X Factor* at age 16, noting the audition’s proximity to Wembley Arena. He highlighted the community aspect of the shows, describing the crowd’s energy as “hopeful for the future”. Venue officials promoted ticket-sale contributions to LIVE’s levy and displayed the Music Venues Trust message.
Criticism & Opposition
Critical reception of “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” has been mixed. Reviewers described the album as “unremarkable”, “obtuse” and “lacking in depth”, suggesting the studio recordings fall short of the live energy demonstrated at Wembley.
On-the-Ground Reports
Fans in sequins, waistcoats and feather boas filled the stadium, holding signs such as “Welcome home”. Audience members engaged in spontaneous moments, including a conga line during “Treat People With Kindness” and a brief exchange about favourite eggs.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact attendance figure (80,000 vs 90,000). No further verification is provided within the available material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them closer to something, because of course art is about sharing,” — David Hockney (displayed on screen)
- “Your job is to have as much fun as you possibly can.” — Harry Styles, opening remarks
- “I wouldn't be here today if she hadn't done that,” — Harry Styles, thanking his mother Anne
- “Remember – respect your mother.” — Harry Styles, referencing a lyric in “Dance No More.”
- “But for two brief hours, we abandoned our worries, made new friends, and felt a little joy.” — Harry Styles, closing reflection
What’s Next
The residency continues on 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 29 June and 1, 3, 4 July. Subsequent legs of the “Together, Together” tour will visit São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne and Sydney.
