Live Review: Garth Brooks – Saturday 27 June 2026 – BST Hyde Park, London

There are concerts, and then there are events. Garth Brooks’ long-awaited return to the UK after a 28-year absence firmly belonged in the latter category. As one of the biggest-selling solo artists in music history and the man widely credited with taking country music from its Nashville roots to stadiums across the globe, Brooks’ BST Hyde Park headline show on Saturday night carried an undeniable sense of occasion. This wasn’t simply another festival booking – it was the return of a genuine music icon whose influence continues to shape modern country music.

Long before artists like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton were filling arenas worldwide, Brooks redefined what a country concert could be. By blending traditional country storytelling with rock showmanship, he transformed the genre into a stadium spectacle, breaking attendance records and selling more than 160 million records in the United States alone. For British fans, many of who had waited almost three decades to see him perform again in the country, Saturday evening felt like history in the making. Fittingly, Brooks also became the first artist to perform under BST Hyde Park’s newly expanded 69,999-capacity configuration, making it the biggest crowd in the festival’s history.

The day itself had already established a celebratory, country mood. Zac Brown Band proved worthy special guests, delivering crowd favourites including Toes and an explosive take on The Devil Went Down to Georgia, while Ashley McBryde brought gritty country-rock swagger to the Great Oak Stage. Jackson Dean, The Shires, Alexandra Kay and a strong supporting bill ensured Hyde Park felt like a genuine celebration of contemporary country music ahead of the headliner.

Walking onto the Great Oak Stage to an eruption of cheers, Brooks wasted no time getting straight to business. The opening pairing of Rodeo and Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House immediately transformed Hyde Park into one enormous country party. Tens of thousands of fans sang every word back with astonishing enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere that rarely dipped across the next two hours.

At 64, Brooks remains one of live music’s great entertainers. Rarely standing still for more than a few moments, he sprinted across the vast stage, interacted constantly with fans and somehow maintained the same infectious energy from first song to last. His charisma remains effortless, his enthusiasm completely genuine.

Early highlights came thick and fast. Introducing The Beaches of Cheyenne, Brooks promised “a lot of cowboy songs” before an impromptu rendition of Bob Seger’s Night Moves – initiated by a fan’s sign and Brooks asking the fan “you do realise you are at a Garth Brooks show” – demonstrated both his spontaneity and his willingness to let the audience shape the evening. Even his affectionate take on the classic felt perfectly placed, reflecting the rock influences that have always sat comfortably alongside his country roots. Two Piña Coladas delivered the first truly euphoric singalong of the evening, with Brooks visibly delighted as Hyde Park roared every word back.

The atmosphere shifted beautifully during The River, one of the defining songs of Brooks’ career and a reminder of why his catalogue has become woven into American musical culture. Thousands of voices carried the chorus back towards the stage, prompting Brooks to laugh, “Whoa, listen to you,” before raising the intensity with Papa Loved Mama and the dramatic The Thunder Rolls, both sounding as powerful today as when they first dominated country radio.

The emotional heart of the evening arrived through Unanswered Prayers, If Tomorrow Never Comes and That Summer. Brooks has never relied on vocal gymnastics or elaborate theatrics to sell a ballad; instead, his sincerity remains his greatest strength. During If Tomorrow Never Comes, he repeatedly stepped away from the microphone as Hyde Park effortlessly sang entire verses back to him, creating one of the night’s most unforgettable moments.

Momentum returned almost instantly with the frantic pace of Callin’ Baton Rouge, before Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up) injected another shot of adrenaline into the set. A soulful rendition of Billy Joel’s Shameless highlighted Brooks’ versatility, while one of the evening’s most unexpected moments came when songwriter Gordon Kennedy joined the show to perform Change the World, the Grammy-winning song he co-wrote before it became a worldwide hit for Eric Clapton. It was a generous gesture from Brooks, happily stepping aside to shine a spotlight on a fellow songwriter.

The party atmosphere reached fever pitch during a joyous rendition of Shout, with Brooks encouraging every corner of Hyde Park to join in before bringing the main set to an emotional close with The Dance. Few songs carry the same emotional weight within country music, and judging by the sea of lights illuminating the park, its impact remains undiminished.

The encore was everything fans hoped for. A heartfelt performance of Billy Joel’s Piano Man transformed Hyde Park into one enormous choir before Brooks delivered the inevitable finale. As Friends in Low Places rang out across the park, strangers linked arms, drinks were raised and every remaining voice joined together for one final celebration.

Despite a career built on astonishing statistics – including 20 Billboard Country number one singles, record-breaking stadium tours and historic performances such as his million-plus audience in New York’s Central Park – Brooks has never lost the humility that has endeared him to audiences for decades. Throughout the evening, he repeatedly thanked fans for their patience, acknowledging just how much this long-overdue return meant to both himself and the audience gathered before him.

BST Hyde Park has hosted countless legendary performers, but few concerts have carried quite the same emotional significance as this one. More than simply revisiting a remarkable catalogue of songs, Brooks reminded everyone why he changed the landscape of country music forever. His fusion of heartfelt songwriting, rock-and-roll ambition and genuine connection with an audience remains as compelling today as it was during the peak of his career. Twenty-eight years after his last UK appearance, Garth Brooks didn’t simply return – he reminded London exactly why he’s regarded as one of the greatest live performers of any genre.