Westlife has opened an exceptional residency in Dublin that will go down in 3Arena history. To celebrate 25 years of their career, the Irish group will play thirteen concerts in the capital between 10 and 26 September 2026. The run surpasses their own record at the venue and officially launches an extensive global anniversary tour.
Thirteen Westlife concerts in Dublin: a 3Arena record
Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan kicked off their residency at Dublin’s 3Arena on 10 September. Until 26 September 2026, Westlife are set to perform there thirteen times, an unprecedented number for both the group and the venue.
Westlife already held the record for the most concerts in a single run at the 3Arena, with twelve dates. This new residency now raises the bar to thirteen nights. By the end of the Dublin run, the group will have played 82 times at the 3Arena during their career, according to RTÉ.
The symbolism is particularly strong for a group whose story is so closely tied to Ireland. Located in Dublin’s Docklands, the venue has become one of the capital’s leading music stages over the years and an almost essential stop on international tours.
A residency celebrating 25 years of their career
These concerts mark the starting point of Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour, a tour conceived to celebrate a quarter-century of success. The programme naturally draws on the songs that made the group famous around the world, from Flying Without Wings to You Raise Me Up, alongside the many ballads that shaped Irish pop in the 2000s.
Westlife now claim more than 55 million records sold, over six million concert tickets sold and several billion streams. In Ireland, the group has notably achieved sixteen number-one singles.
A true celebration of Irish music in Dublin
The residency is not simply a succession of Westlife concerts. Several Irish artists are also invited to appear throughout the run, giving the event a distinctly local character.
Garron Noone is among the guests on the opening dates, while Paddy Keyes is also due to appear at several concerts. Dublin rock group Aslan are announced from 18 to 22 September, before Irish folk group BIIRD join the final four nights, from 23 to 26 September.
Westlife had in fact presented the residency as a major Irish celebration. A few days before opening at the 3Arena, the group had already performed at Croke Park as part of boxer Katie Taylor’s farewell night, in front of more than 80,000 people.
A story that extends far beyond Dublin
After Dublin, the anniversary tour is set to continue through the United Kingdom and Europe. Belfast will also have an important place in the programme, with several concerts planned for the autumn.
The tour also marks Westlife’s return to numerous European stages after several years without a continental tour on this scale. France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian countries and Switzerland are among the announced stops.
Mark Feehily will not, however, take part in the anniversary concerts. The singer is continuing his recovery and remains away from the stage. He has nevertheless contributed to new recordings by the group, notably for the compilation 25 – The Ultimate Collection.
Westlife remains one of the groups most closely associated with Ireland
For international visitors, Westlife has long belonged to a generation of artists who have helped to project a certain image of Ireland through popular culture. The group formed in the late 1990s around musicians mainly from Sligo and Dublin, before achieving spectacular international success.
Their longevity is all the more remarkable given how profoundly the pop market has changed since their early days. While many boy bands from the same era have disappeared or now confine themselves to occasional nostalgia tours, Westlife continue to fill major venues and release new songs.
This Dublin residency also reflects a broader shift in the organisation of major tours. Rather than adding stops in a large number of cities, some artists now favour several consecutive concerts in the same metropolis, inviting audiences to travel to them. Here, Dublin becomes a destination in its own right for Westlife fans.
Westlife dates at Dublin’s 3Arena in September 2026
The thirteen concerts are scheduled for 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 September 2026. Prices announced when tickets went on sale started at around €80 and could reach €140 for standard seats, with some premium packages priced higher.
For travellers in Dublin during this period, crowds around the Docklands and the 3Arena may be significant on concert nights. Public transport remains the most practical way to reach the venue, particularly the Luas Red Line, which serves the area directly.
A record that confirms Westlife’s place in Irish pop culture
With this thirteen-date residency and an expected total of 82 concerts at the 3Arena, Westlife add a new record to an already exceptionally prolific career. More than a simple anniversary tour, these concerts place Dublin back at the heart of the group’s story and show just how loyal their audience remains, twenty-five years after their first major successes.
