Harry Styles and Shania Twain take Wembley by storm

Harry Styles began the UK run of his 'Together Together' tour last Friday, June 12th, in Wembley Stadium, accompanied by country icon Shania Twain, as support for his recently released album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. The residency will span 12 nights at Wembley, concluding on the 4th of July, and the tour has already been a major hit amongst fans, marking the beginning of Wembley's packed summer of concerts.

Before the tour moved over to the UK, following its beginning in Amsterdam in May, fans had been complaining about the layout of the stage, where it spans almost the entire ground of Wembley, almost the size of a football pitch. Previously, there had been multiple 'bridges' which raised the stage up slightly in certain areas, allowing fans to pass under them into separate zones of differing ticket prices. This prohibited the clear views promised from the standing area, so fans were avid to voice their complaints due to the stage's design.

However, these complaints were embraced by Styles' team, adapting the stage to improve the visibility for fans, perfect for fans attending across the 12 nights. It is estimated that more than one million fans will attend the concerts in total, generating a huge £1 billion boom to the local London economy, as well as breaking the record for the most nights at Wembley in a single year (surpassing Coldplay), and a single tour (surpassing Taylor Swift), according to Barclays. 

Tickets are still available, so grab your them quickly if you endeavour to join Styles and Twain on their record-breaking residency!

Video courtesy of @HarryStylesVEVO on Youtube

Some unexpected returns to pop music

Along with Harry Styles returning to the music scene, there have also been a couple other veterans who have teased their long-awaited return to the industry.

Lil Nas X rose to fame following the success of the 'Old Town Rown (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) - remix', released in 2019 and propelled by TikTok during lockdown in 2020, topping the UK singles chart for two weeks, and the Billboard Hot 100 for a groundbreaking nineteen. His follow up album, MONTERO, cemented him as one to watch, spawning his second UK number one single with 'MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name), as well as landing the album in the top 10 of the UK charts.

Since this success, Lil Nas X has been laying low in the industry, but it wasn't until Wednesday that he revealed that new music is finally on the way. He detailed how he's been struggling with bipolar disorder, joking that he has been super unlucky due to being black and gay on top of that, but that he has been in rehab and is feeling "much better". The video on Instagram is a heartwarming, comedic insight into what the singer has been up to, and that we can only hope that new music is imminent, but it is great that Lil Nas X has made a return to social media with such a warm welcome, amongst fans and celebrities alike. 

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Video courtesy of @lilnasx on Instagram

Furthermore, Katy Perry has announced the start of her new era with the single 'Watch It Burn' out next Thursday, June 25th. This follows a rough couple of years for Perry, especially with the lack of success coinciding with her most recent era, 143, and the failure of 'Bandaids' late last year. Additionally, the internet have not been avid fans of Perry's performances on her tour, as well as her random new relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since July last 2025. 

So, with the dwindling hype behind Perry's career in recent years, it will be interesting to see if this single will continue to fuel the internet's dislike for her, or if it will spark something new to revitalise her once gargantuan dominance of the industry.

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Image courtesy of @katyperry on Instagram

Shrek 5 teaser revealed... to continued disappointment

Dreamworks have also just unveiled the official teaser trailer for the highly anticipated Shrek 5, set to release in cinemas next summer. This new trailer comes after the film's delay from its original date in December 2026, as well as a previous teaser trailer which fans deemed as far detached from the original art style of the franchise.

Thus, fans assumed that the team had pushed back the release date for the new film due to this backlash, but the new trailer contradicts just that, adopting this new animation style, and with no intention to revert it back to its original form. 

The teaser trailer outlines the film's plot as characters Shrek and Donkey travelling to the land of Further, Further Away on a "whirlwind, big city adventure". The trailer itself, plot wise, looks fun and interesting, but it is hard to see beyond the complete overhaul of the animation style for the franchise, especially as it is so beloved by its fans.

The film will feature returning actors Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey), with the addition of newly-wed actress sensation Zendaya, as daughter Felicia. Only time will tell if the film will deliver in summer next year, but it is without a doubt that the hype is still there, despite the controversies arising with the teaser's release.

Video courtesy of @UniversalPictures on Youtube

Changes to the Grammys' 'best new artist' category

The Recording Academy have announced changes to the 'best new artist' category at the most prestigious music awards: The Grammys. 'Best new artist' is perhaps the most controversial category of the award show as it identifies the best new artist who has broken through into the mainstream, which can often happen years after their debut, rather than the actual newest and most current artist.

An example of this is Sabrina Carpenter's win in 2025, following the success of her breakthrough album Short n' Sweet, in 2024. This was highly controversial because Carpenter has been making music since 2015, following her departure from Disney Channel, but the Academy awarded this to her due to her impact on mainstream pop. It is without a doubt that Carpenter was hugely influential at this time, especially with her chart-topper 'Espresso', but fans often criticise the Academy for their leniency in nominating, and awarding, this prestigious title to older artists.

From 2027, the Academy will allow for artists to nominate themselves for the award up to four times in total, an increase from three in previous years, allowing for this issue to persist. For example, Billboard chart-topper Ella Langley has submitted herself for the past three years, but this new change will allow for her to submit herself once again to the board, potentially allowing for her to be nominated for the award, according to Variety.

Therefore, this change comes with its controversies, but it is still quite early on to predict who will take the award at next year's ceremony, set to take place on February 7th. 

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Images courtesy of @sabrinacarpenter on Instagram

The World Cup kicks off

The FIFA World Cup opened last Thursday in Mexico City, and it has been an invigorating week of great games, with several unexpected upsets, and many triumphant wins.

As detailed in our article, England stormed ahead against Croatia to achieve their first win from their first game after a tricky match, but it was a much deserved victory. England still has two more games to play before (hopefully) advancing beyond the group stages, with these being:

• England vs Ghana (23/06 @ 21:00)
• England vs Panama (27/06 @ 22:00)

In other pop culture news...

• Strictly Come Dancing have continued to announce their cast ahead of its newest season at the end of this year, now including Australian Eurovision star Delta Goodrem joining the dancers
• Role Model has announced his 'Chuck On Tour' tour, visiting London's OVO Arena Wembley next February - tickets go on sale next week

This week may not have been the most jam-packed, but there have certainly been some unexpected (and some unwelcome) surprises, of course accompanied by England's triumphant win to kick off the beginning of their World Cup journey.

Album cover image courtesy of Harry Styles / Columbia Records via Wikipedia

A week of controversy for Ariana Grande 

On Saturday, Ariana Grande kicked off her highly anticipated Eternal Sunshine World Tour in Oakland, USA, after a seven year gap since her previous Sweetener World Tour shows. The tour has been received differently across the internet, with many raising concerns about the setlist, Grande's actual performance, and her as a role model to younger girls.

What has sparked these concerns, especially, is the internet's attitude to Grande's physical appearance, where fans have noticed a considerable decline since her participation in the Wicked franchise, beginning in 2023. The photos which have been surfacing on the internet have garnered attention from Arianators due to concern about the fragility of her body, where videos display her struggles to maintain high energy throughout the show, and how the choreography is designed to allow for her to rest more easily. 

The majority of the concerns about Grande's appearance that I've seen on TikTok have arose from fellow Arianators raising genuine concern from a fan's perspective, yet Grande is continuously being criticised for embarking on this 'mini stadium tour' in her current state due to the exposure to younger girls who constitute a large proportion of her fanbase. Where this perspective is absolutely valid, Grande has emphasised in the past to not "comment on my body, do not reply" (as by the lyrics of her number one single 'yes, and?'), so she is yet to address any of these concerns, but it is harrowing that the most major takeaway from what should been a celebration of Grande's return to live music is the comments on her body. 

On top of this, BBC News earlier this week confirmed Grande's split from long-term boyfriend of almost three years, Ethan Slater. The two met on the set of Wicked back in 2023, and revealed they were dating in 2024. This news has also fuelled Grande's criticism this week, where she had previously been named a "homewrecker" by the internet, following Slater splitting from his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, to pursue their relationship. Therefore, the combination of this news and Grande's tour concerns has meant this has been a week abundant with controversy, despite what should have been one of celebration, especially as she achieved number one last week on both the UK charts and Billboard Hot 100 with 'hate that i made you love me'. 

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Images courtesy of @arianagrande on Instagram

Primavera Sound suffers from bad weather

The annual Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona faced numerous cancellations last minute following severe weather warnings which threatened the safety of the performances. Acts affected include:

• Massive Attack
• Doja Cat
• Bad Gyal
• Alex G
• Mac DeMarco

The festival organisers have apologised to fans, with refunds being issued for tickets from last Thursday, but are still being criticised for the lack of communication, despite being warned that bad weather was incoming, as well as refunds being only applicable for those with solely Thursday only tickets, so owners of weekend passes were not entitled to any compensation. The festival is extremely popular for tourists due to its guaranteed worthy line-up, similar to the UK's Glastonbury Festival, yet the management of Primavera's reaction to the cancellations has left fans with a distaste to the festival's organisation. 

For now, there have been no updates since the initial compensation announcement, so we can only assume that the organisers are finished with their addressing of this issue, much to the dismay of fans. 

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Images courtesy of @primavera_sound on Instagram

Madonna has something to Confess

With less than a month to go until she releases her highly anticipated follow-up to her 2005 hit album Confessions on a Dance Floor with Confessions II, Madonna has had a busy week promoting the new era.

Starting from last Thursday, Madonna announced a secret 15-minute pop up set in Times Square, New York, performing a medley of both Confessions and Confessions II tracks, some for the first time in nearly twenty years. Additionally, Madonna debuted her latest single 'Love Sensation', an electric dance hit destined for the charts, and definitely her best single released so far for her 15th studio album. The setlist in full included:

• I Feel So Free (Confessions II)
• Bring Your Love (Confessions II)
• Love Sensation (Confessions II)
• Get Together (Confessions) (First time since 2006)
• I Love New York (Confessions) (First time since 2006)
• Hung Up (Confessions)

Madonna has also been alluding to a second part of the Confessions Tour, initially beginning in 2006 as support for the release of Confessions on a Dance Floor, where it was the highest grossing tour world-wide of that year. A couple weeks ago, Madonna celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the tour in a now-deleted Instagram post, naming the tour as 'part one', so hopefully an announcement is imminent to coincide with the release of her new album on July 3rd.

Additionally, Madonna released the Confessions II movie this week, featuring a star-studded cast, ranging from fellow singers, to football players and actors, as a visual accompaniment centred around the album's first six songs. Fans are applauding Madonna as continuously raising the bar and as asserting herself as disco-pop royalty, where this era continues to deliver great visuals and music, over twenty years after the original album was released.

To round it up, Madonna will also be appearing on BBC One on Friday 26th June at 22:40 in an interview with Graham Norton for an "in-depth discussion about her incredible life and career", so we can only anticipate more content surrounding the release of her new album, out very soon!

Video courtesy of @Madonna on Youtube

Dua Lipa's three-day Sicilian celebration controversy

Over the weekend, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner celebrated their wedding with a three-day gathering in Sicily's capital Palermo, staying at the Villa Valguarnera with hundreds of guests. The villa is a luscious retreat, charging just over £5000 a night, with estimates predicting that the couple's getaway generated around £230 million for the local economy. 

The wedding is said to have included golden bracelets for each attendee, embedded with a microchip which enabled access to other venues, such as a private tour of the city's Galleria d'Arte Moderna. As you can imagine, the extravagance of the celebrations may seem absolutely unfathomably incredible, but it didn't commence without backlash from locals.

Ahead of the celebrations, protesters displayed signs reading "Palermo is not for the rich", insisting that the gathering would tarnish the reputation of Palermo, and inhibit locals. However, with the predicted economic boost, accompanied by the attention Sicily has received in the last week, it is safe to say that the country has only benefitted from this exposure. 

The Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, commented on the ceremony, expressing his apologies for the inconvenience, but also how residents "must not forget the image boost Palermo receives from occasions like this." It has also been reported that Lipa and Turner are set to donate a gargantuan gift to the residents of Palermo for the trouble, with talks detailing numbers of around £1.5 million, following Lipa donating £5000 to residents immediately following the wedding to compensate for any inconvenience.

Overall, Lipa and Turner may have caused some backlash for their luxurious celebrations, but there is no doubt in mind that the inconveniences will be compensated for, especially with the amount of money they're offering.

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Images courtesy of @voguemagazine on Instagram

Chaka Khan and Simple Minds to headline Radio 2 'In the Park'

BBC Radio 2 have just announced the line up for their 'In the Park' festival commencing in Stirling, from September 11th to 13th this year. Friday is for the 'pre-party', with DJ sets from various celebrities taking the stage, such as Michelle Visage and her 'Handbag Hits', as well as Rylan Clark and his 'Rybiza Anthems'. 

Saturday and Sunday are where the acts deliver, with Chaka Khan headlining for day two, and Simple Minds for day three. Accompanying Chaka Khan is:

• The Script
• ABC
• Emeli Sande
• Jack Savoretti
• Lulu
• Texas

Whereas accompanying Simple Minds is:

• Level 42
• James Blunt
• Blue
• Cast
• Appleton
• Deacon Blue

The festival is perfect for all ages, but is mainly focused for an 80s-loving audience, with both the headliners from this era. Tickets were released on Wednesday, with prices ranging from £43 for the pre-party, to £84 for Saturday and Sunday, with VIP tickets available for £146 for the weekend dates, and also 'bring your own chair' tickets. 'In the Park' is yet to sell out, so jump in the Ticketmaster queue if the festival sounds of any interest to you!

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Image courtesy of @bbcradio2 on Instagram

A big week for the BBC

Now shifting over to recapping television, the BBC has announced updates to two of its major franchises: Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who. 

Beginning on Wednesday, EastEnders Lacey Turner was announced as part of the Strictly cast, as well as Love Islander Danny Dyer joining her, and re-joining the cast, with Thursday's announcement. Strictly is confirmed to return this Autumn, with specific dates yet to be announced, beginning a new era for the show with the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly last season. Replacing the iconic duo is presenter Emma Davis, ex-Strictly professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and comedian Josh Widdicombe, where fans will have to wait until later this year to see what this means for the running of the show.

On another note, the BBC also put out a statement regarding the future of beloved tv series Doctor Who. Last year it was confirmed that there would be a festive special this year, yet Wednesday's announcement confirmed how it would no longer be released. Additionally, Rusell T Davis, the showrunner of Doctor Who, announced his leave from the show in an Instagram post, leaving fans uncertain as for the future of the show. For now, the BBC seem to be focusing less attention on the main series, but rather directing efforts into producing the new Doctor Who animated series for CBeebies, which seems concerning for hardcore fans of the show. 

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Courtesy of @russelltdavis63 on Instagram

In other pop culture news...

• The 79th annual Tony Awards were held on Sunday, 7th June, celebrating Broadway excellence for the 2025-26 season
• Charli XCX announces her US tour to accompany her new album Music, Fashion, Film, and alludes to a UK tour to be announced soon
• Phoebe Bridgers returns to the music scene with 'The Lost Tour' in the US and UK, playing in various arenas this November and December.
• Download Festival began on Wednesday in Donington Park, with headliners Limpbizkit, Guns N' Roses, and Linkin Park 

It is without doubt that this week has been packed with drama in pop culture, with both highs and lows which have made for certainly an entertaining recap. As for next week, we will have to see - so stay tuned!

Cover image courtesy of BBC Radio 2 'In the Park' Festival / User Raph_PH on Wikipedia under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

Taylor Swift collaborates with Toy Story 5

After dropping her most recent album 'The Life of a Showgirl' in October last year to overwhelming disapproval, Swift has been pretty much silent since the era, other than releasing a couple new music videos for Opalite and Elizabeth Taylor, but nothing major has been reported about her for a while now. 

This being said, Swifties (Taylor Swift fans) have been keen to notice a trend of 'easter eggs' set by Swift, notably a countdown on her website, which occurred twice, depicting a cartoonish background with lots of clouds, where fans drew similarities to Toy Story. Additionally, billboards denoting the initials 'TS' with thirteen clouds, notoriously Swift's lucky number and a hint to many of her 'easter eggs', started popping up around the globe.

This eventually culminated in the announcement of her involvement on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, with her new song I Knew it, I Knew you out today, ahead of the film's release on June 19th. Swift describes this opportunity as something she has "always dreamed of" since she fell in love with the characters at a young age, where she wrote the song following an early screening of the film.

However, fans were eager to notice that the photo accompanying the song's announcement could be a hint to a possible new era, or re-recording, from Taylor Swift. It has been just over a year since Swift re-acquired her masters from Scooter Braun after years of turmoil, so fans are anticipating the release of the two albums yet to be re-recorded in her discography: 'Reputation' and 'Taylor Swift'. Perhaps the thumbnail photo of her post may be alluding to this possibility, where fans have been right in their speculation of Swift's involvement in Toy Story, so anything is possible.

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Images courtesy of @taylorswift on Instagram

Dua Lipa marries Callum Turner in London

Last Sunday, May 31st, marked the 'secret' marriage ceremony between pop sensation Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner at the Old Marylebone Town Hall in London, following the announcement of their engagement in June 2025 via Lipa's British Vogue cover story. Lipa confirmed their marriage with a simple Instagram post captioned "31.05.2026", following the abundance of tabloids reporting on the two being seen outside the building, with Lipa adorning a spectacular white skirt suit, and Turner wearing a smart navy suit. Many fans have drawn comparisons of the wedding photos to those of royalty, where there are certainly parallels with their outfits and Dua Lipa's overall infatuation by her fans - it is absolutely impossible not to admire her joy in these photos. 

Lipa's latest album, 'Radical Optimism', turned two years old last month, and she has just recently released a live album from her accompanying tour, recorded in Mexico, to celebrate the release. Although the album didn't perform as well as her career-defining lockdown album 'Future Nostalgia' from 2020, it is evident that Lipa seems incredibly happy and that she has undoubtedly asserted herself as a British icon, in both the music world and with what she does for charity.

It is also speculated that sometime this month there will be a larger ceremony in Italy, so keep your eyes peeled for any additional photos to celebrate this jubilant surprise!

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Images courtesy of @dualipa on Instagram

Ariana Grande returns with i hate that i made you love me

Last Friday saw Ariana Grande's return to the music scene with the first single from her upcoming album 'Petal', out July 31st, titled i hate that i made you love me. The song is a mellow pop track, with involvement from long time collaborators Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, encompassing the theme of regret over a relationship where the other party fell much harder than she did. Grande hasn't explicitly alluded to who the track may have been inspired by, and it may be that fans will have to wait until the album is released to piece the song's ambiguity together, but she has stated how it is "one of her favourite songs" she's ever written.

For now, the song has been received well by fans, debuting at number one on Spotify's 'Global Top 50' chart to become Grande's fourth biggest debut ever, and being steadily on track to debut within the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for next week. The song has also been accompanied by a music video, premiering on Monday, as well as multiple new versions of the songs, in hopes to boost the song to debuting at the number one spot.

Additionally, Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' tour is set to kick off this Saturday in Oakland, USA, with Grande hinting at the show on Instagram, confirming the inclusion of songs Break Free, Dangerous Woman, and, of course, i hate that i made you love me, on the setlist, as well as an announcement of new tour merchandise on her website. With this, it is certain to be a packed week for Arianators keeping track on everything to do with the new tour, as well as enjoying her new single, with hopefully more to follow soon.

Video courtesy of ArianaGrandeVevo on Youtube

Charli XCX announces new album 'Music, Fashion, Film'

Following the release of two singles and two b-sides, Charli XCX has announced her new album 'Music, Fashion, Film', out July 24th. The album cover features music legend John Cale from The Velvet Underground, fashion icon Marc Jacobs, and film director Martin Scorsese in the same room; Charli even expressed how she couldn't wait to share the image because it was "such a special day" when the album cover was shot, with each of these giants from their respective industries being together. 

Charli has recently traversed the industries as well herself, with her involvement in the film industry with The Moment, released in February this year, as a satire to her own 'Brat' moment in 2024. Additionally, her British Vogue cover story alluded to making Rock Music, albeit through the song itself rather than a fully physical rock album, and her newest single SS26 features a music video depicting her walking down a runway. As for now the tracklist hasn't been revealed, but it is imminent we will see some kind of 'Film' related song soon, as by Rock Music being the 'Music', and SS26 being the 'Fashion' of this exciting project. 

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Image courtesy of @charli_xcx on Instagram

Role Model announces new album 'Chuck Timely & The Hourglass'

Role Model, best known for his viral hit Sally, When The Wine Runs Out, has also announced his newest album 'Chuck Timely & The Hourglass', set for release on August 7th. The album follows his folk breakthrough album 'Kansas Anymore', where his newest single High Hopes 3000 follows this genre of upbeat folk music. He is also set to perform at Reading and Leeds Festival later this Summer as a special guest, so rest assured fans will be getting some live performances following the release of his new album, as well as potentially some more 'Sally's' to continue his iHeart Radio award-nominated tour tradition. 

Video courtesy of ROLEMODELVEVO on Youtube

Kim Petras releases new album 'Detour' amongst label conflict

After months of struggle with her previous label Republic Records, Kim Petras finally released her newest album 'Detour' on her own label, BunHead Records, last Friday. The album follows the restriction of her single releases to certain platforms, lack of promotion of any material, and the reinvention of her art as deeming this once again her "debut album", a joke amongst her fans due to her plethora of other debuts. 

However, with all the delays and controversy behind the album's release, it is certain that it was worth the wait to redefine Kim Petras as one to look out for in the EDM scene. The combination of upbeat, catchy singles, notably Freak it and I like your Look, accompanied with the addressing of growing up transgender in standout track Brutalist has asserted this project as one worthy to listen to, especially with the beginning of summer on the horizon. 

Rolling Stone acknowledge Petras' "detour" from her previous record label and give emphasis to the power of this album in a live scene, awarding it a respectable three and a half stars. The album is curated to be a perfect recommendation to anyone fond of Y2K-inspired electronic music, with Petras' diva pop-star reinvention alike that of Charli XCX's 'Brat'. 

Video courtesy of Kim Petras on Youtube

In other pop culture news...

•        Euphoria finally wrapped up its third and final season on Sunday, with the show having no plans to return after its seven year run.
•        Ellie Goulding announced her new album 'I Know Too Much' out September 4th, following her performance last week at BBC's Big Weekend festival.
•        Paul McCartney featured on Amelia Dimoldenberg's 'Chicken Shop Date' series on Youtube last Friday, alongside the release of his new album 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane'. 

This week has been laden with pop culture updates, and hopefully this is just the beginning of what more there is to come this summer. 

Album cover image courtesy of Charli XCX / Atlantic Records

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Image courtesy of @bbcradio1 on Instagram

Friday was dedicated to the disco-goers and rave-lovers, throwing it back to the 90s with headliner Fatboy Slim delivering Big Weekend's 'Dance Party'. Whereas Saturday was dominated by viral star Zara Larsson, accompanied by returning sensation Lola Young debuting her latest single From Down Here, kicking off a new era and delivering a pop-packed day to Saturday's audience. Sunday saw multi-BRIT award winning powerhouse Olivia Dean take the stage to close out the Big Weekend, cementing once again her pertinence in the music scene, and the reason for her continued success in recent years. 

Video courtesy of BBC Radio 1 on Youtube

Although, I must say, the line up for this year certainly had its impressive acts, but Big Weekend has gradually waned in its appeal over the past couple years. Compared to that of 2024, which I was lucky enough to attend in Luton, headliners included Charli XCX on her breakthrough with the 'Brat' era, as well as Beabadoobee, Coldplay, Raye, and Sabrina Carpenter, just following the release of her hit Espresso. Hence, when the lineup for this year was revealed, it was somewhat an indicator of the decline of the festival's status.

Albeit, Big Weekend is still a go-to for fans seeking a cheap and cheerful weekend of guaranteed great music, where this year certainly had a few great acts for everyone to enjoy, and nobody can complain about its affordability.

Image courtesy of Me (Big Weekend 2024)

In other live music news, this past week also saw the start of multiple tours in the UK, as well as some exciting new tour announcements. 

Doja Cat began the UK run of her Tour Ma Vie World Tour in Glasgow last Thursday, and An Evening with Pinkpantheress continued from its initial start in September 2025 last Saturday, also in Glasgow. Both of these tours I was fortunate enough to attend, and both delivered an unforgettable night which reminded me of the upcoming joys of live music soon to come this summer. 

Image courtesy of Me (Doja Cat - Tour Ma Vie 2026)

Additionally, there have been a range of recently announced upcoming live music events.

Nothing but Thieves announced their awaited return to music with a tour to accompany their new album 'Stray Dogs', set to release on September 25th. The tour will commence in the UK next February, with presale beginning on Tuesday, 2nd June, and general onsale Friday, 5th June, for interested fans. 

Furthermore, Gracie Abrams has announced her The Look at My Life Tour in support of her new album 'Daughter From Hell', set to release on July 17th. Although I'm not personally a fan of her music, Abrams has selected a cohort of openers which fans should be looking forward to seeing live, including Holly Humberstone, The Japanese House, Del Water Gap, and Rachel Chinouriri. Presale begins next Tuesday, 2nd June, and general onsale Friday, 5th June, with the tour kicking off next April. 

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Image courtesy of @gracieabrams on Instagram

So, not only were we lucky with this week's lovely weather, but we have also been treated with the abundance of live music performances, with loads more to come this summer; who are you most eagerly anticipating to see?

BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend image courtesy of BBC and Jscarr8 on Wikipedia under Creative Commons license

Austria constructed a beautifully unique stage for the competition, with 2025's winner JJ performing his operatic hit Wasted Love to accompany the flag parade. The opening of the night was a gorgeous display of what Eurovision is - 'United by Music' - and it is without question that Europe is in desperate need for a sense of unity amongst these uncertain times.

Video courtesy of Eurovision Song Contest on Youtube

Prior to this year's commencement, Eurovision was plagued with controversies, with the most significant being Israel's continued participation in the competition, despite their ongoing war with Palestine. These oppositions arose from the hypocrisy of removing Russia from the competition in 2022 following their invasion of Ukraine, yet nothing has been done to prevent Israel from partaking in the contest. Thus, five countries pulled out of the competition to demonstrate their solidarity with Palestine, being:

• Iceland
• Ireland
• The Netherlands
• Slovenia
• Spain

All of which participated in the 2025 contest, and most notably Spain being a part of the 'Big Five' countries who primarily fund the competition. It is reported that Spain contributed almost €600,000 in participation fees alone in 2024, with that being a significant decrease from their previous funding, so it is apparent that the contest would have lost a large proportion of funding from Spain pulling out of the competition. Furthermore, Spain's entries are always highly regarded, with one of the most recent example's being Chanel's SloMo in 2022 (which should have won in my opinion), so fans were equally disappointed yet understanding of the decision of Spain leaving for justified reasons. 

Video courtesy of Eurovision Song Contest on Youtube

The boycotting of the competition has seemed to work though, with numbers in the UK reporting the lowest audience viewership has been since 2010 with just 5.2 million. This may have been accompanied by the UK's entry this year, where LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER's Eins, Zwei, Drei was widely reprimanded, achieving a single jury point, and 'nil pois' from the public televote, continuing the UK's streak of being Eurovision's laughing stock, despite our major involvement in the competition as part of the 'Big Five'. 

However, apart from the UK, 2026 proved to be one of the best years for Eurovision in a while. There was a noticeable more upbeat tone to the competition, where ballads were few and far between, but still often enough to appeal to the masses, accompanied by a large amount of danceable tunes. It is inarguable that this year's running order was greatly curated so the show didn't appear elongated or boring to the viewers, allowing for each participant to have their time to shine, compared to 2025's acts sometimes blurring into one ballad-centred mess.

In particular, Saturday's winner was indisputably the star of the night, with Dara's Bangaranga, achieving 516 points overall, and marking Bulgaria's first ever win in the competition. The song came as an underdog in the competition, where it unexpectedly cruised its way through the semi-finals and qualified into the grand final with ease. Dara's performance was absolutely electrifying, with a catchy chorus, engaging set design, and an ode to her Bulgarian heritage, where Bangaranga represents "this inner feeling that everything is gonna be alright and that everything is possible", as Dara revealed to BBC Radio 2. 

Video courtesy of Eurovision Song Contest on Youtube

Eurovision this year may have begun surrounded by controversy and scepticism, but it is without a doubt that it will continue to prevail for years to come, especially with the introduction of Asiavision on the horizon, kicking off in Thailand this November. For now, we can only wait another year to witness who is going to be crowned the next winner of the competition in Bulgaria, 2027. 

Image banner courtesy of Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Wikipedia under Fair Use - used for visual identification purposes

Pinkpantheress and Zara Larsson

On January 16th, Pinkpantheress unveiled the Stateside remix featuring Zara Larsson as a reworked track from her 2025 mixtape 'Fancy That', leading the pursuit of embracing the 2016 fascination. This followed Zara Larsson resurgence in pop culture following the release of her fifth studio album 'Midnight Sun' in September, spawning the title track as dominating TikTok for its associated trend, visual appeal of Larsson's ocean-aesthetic brand, and commendation for its vocal performance.

Combined with Pinkpantheress' renown as a prestigious producer, the pair created an electrifyingly different arrangement to the original song, but the accompaniment of its rise on TikTok and music video boosted the song's trajectory to landing on the Billboard Hot 100: peaking at number 6 and currently at number 13.

For two artists not typically dominating the charts, the success of Stateside lends itself to capitalising on trending topics, and the success of integrating two similar fan bases to skyrocket the duo's industry presence. With Larsson's recently released 'Girl's Trip', a similarly remixed addition to her newest album containing a collaboration with Pinkpantheress on its title track, the traction the duo are garnering is super promising for their potential as summer's big stars.

With London's All Points East Festival landing in August, where both Pinkpantheress and Zara Larsson are supporting New-Zealand star Lorde, fans can only anticipate an extension to the duo's dominance into the summer, and beyond. 

Video courtesy of Pinkpantheress on Youtube

USA and its country music obsession

On the other hand, the US charts have been overrun by an invasion of country music, not just in recent weeks but for quite some time now. On observing this week's Billboard Hot 100, three songs out of the top ten are country, all in which by Ella Langley. Prior to writing this article, I personally had never heard of Langley's commercial success on the charts, yet it is evident that her music has taken the country music scene by storm. 

Accompanying her sits Noah Kahan with his newly released album 'The Great Divide' which draws majorly on folk influences, equally gaining traction on the charts through its number one debut in both the UK and the US. In comparison, Kahan is much more pertinent in British pop culture, where he headlined Weekend Two of American Express' annual BST Hyde Park festival last year, with Gracie Abrams. 

Although country is such a prominent feature in the US music scene, it's difficult to predict whether the presence of even the biggest country stars is potent enough to deliver the same level of hype into the UK, and internationally. In the current state of the industry, it's pretty safe to say it's not very probable we'll see a global country singer this summer who has that star appeal across multiple generations and countries, but regardless the country music obsession is here to stay, even if just in the US.  

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Image courtesy of @noahkahanmusic on Instagram

Charli XCX's legacy

When thinking of the latest cultural phenomenon arising from a breakthrough in the music industry, most people would cast their minds to Charli XCX's iconic 'BRAT' summer which took the world by storm in 2024. The album's tone set deep in the club, accompanied by its simplistic aesthetic, skyrocketed Charli's popularity and finally allowed for her success to reach commercial mainstream. 

Alike Charli's musical landscape, Slayyyter has proven herself to assert a similar retro, club sound piercing into 2026's industry. Her new album 'Wor$t Girl in America' has been widely critically acclaimed following its string of singles garnering attention across music fans dedicated to all genres, where Pitchfork awarded it an astounding 8.2 rating.

Her performance at Coachella attracted a gigantic crowd, where TikTok erupted with seeing her performances being uploaded to the platform, further propelling her exposure in cementing herself as electropop's newest star to look out for. It is absolutely indisputable that Slayyyter's newest album is one to watch, and her upcoming tour later this year, selling out instantly, will only confirm her stardom in the industry; she has the performing skills and the insanely addictive music necessary to grade her as summer's one to look out for.

Video courtesy of SlayyyterVEVO on Youtube

A return to the music scene

In other news, many familiar faces are returning to the scene, whether that be with upcoming releases, or surrounded by speculation. 

Pop powerhouse Olivia Rodrigo is set to release her third studio album 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love' on June 12th, as well as Madonna following up her iconic disco-pop 2005 album 'Confessions on a Dancefloor' with 'Confessions II' on July 3rd, and Ariana Grande's 'Petal' at the peak of summer, out July 31st. All three of these releases will undoubtedly leave their mark on shaping this year's summer, especially with the combination of veterans and newer artists returning, so mainstream fans will be more than fulfilled in the coming months.

Fans are further speculating other veterans to return just in time for the summer, drawing from artist 'hints' to sudden performances with brand new music. Beyonce is expected to release her 'Act III' of the 'Renaissance' trilogy this year, but we are yet to receive any confirmation of the project's progress or date, except that conspired by the Beyhive - predicting for the album to release on March 29th, following the release pattern of her two previous albums ('Renaissance' - 29th July 2022 and 'Cowboy Carter - 29th March 2024). If Beyonce makes a return to the industry, especially after her showstopping entrance at the Met Gala earlier this month, summer will be dominated once again with her impact on the music scene.

In the indie music scene, Phoebe Bridgers' return to music is hopefully imminent for fans who have been waiting years to even hear any update about new material. Last Friday, Bridgers performed her first live solo show in over three years in New Mexico, USA, showcasing three new songs and performing some of her biggest hits with no phones allowed. This abrupt, but very welcome, reintroduction of Phoebe Bridgers to the indie music scene is inexplicably exciting after all these years, and whilst she might not be mainstream's biggest star for the summer, I'm certain that alternative fans will be anticipating her long-awaited return, hopefully this year.

Video courtesy of PhoebeBridgersVEVO on Youtube

In conclusion...

All in all, this summer is stacked with both imminent and speculated releases, so rest assured that it will not be one of disappointment. Personally, Slayyyter's continuous hype gathering around her electrifyingly fresh music, along with a new TikTok trend centring around her song Dance..., deems her as my 2026 summer star to watch - but in no way am I less excited about any other potential star making their mark.

Album cover montage courtesy of Slayyyter / Columbia Records; Madonna / Warner Records; Zara Larsson / Sommer House and Epic Records; Noah Kahan / Mercury Records

The album comes amongst Grande's upcoming sold-out fourth arena tour across North America and the UK, beginning next month on June 6th in Oakland, California, and concluding with an unfathomable ten nights in London's O2 arena, from August 15th to September 1st. Interestingly, 'Petal' is set to release just before the tour's UK leg, where many Arianators had speculated new music incoming following the tour's conclusion. Yet, Grande's abrupt announcement of the new album has been an unexpected but welcome surprise to fans around the world.

Preceding 'Petal' being revealed on Grande's Instagram page, Arianators had been quick to notice a plethora of photos of Grande actively in the studio, accompanied by new Instagram account @teamariana posting a polaroid photo of two flowers on April 21st. These teasers suggested an end to Grande's break from the industry, where the past couple of years centred around her role as Glinda Upland in Jon M. Chu's blockbuster film-duo Wicked and Wicked: For Good, adapted from the Broadway musical. 

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Image courtesy of @teamariana on Instagram

Grande has undoubtedly had a hectic schedule between her last album release (especially with its deluxe expansion), Wicked's success, and preparation for her world tour, which poses the question of the direction that 'Petal' will take in redefining her position in the industry. 'eternal sunshine' was an exploration of Grande's love for house music, where 'yes, and?' was heavily compared to Madonna's 1990 career-defining hit 'Vogue', coinciding with a luscious R&B backdrop well-suited to her discography. Contrastingly, the Wicked soundtrack showcased Grande's ability to turn iconic musical songs adored by fans for over twenty years into her own, showcasing her ability to traverse genres with ease.

As for the release of 'Petal', it is certain that we can expect Grande's return to appeasing her fans with an eclectic range of genres, perhaps returning to R&B once again due to the success of 'eternal sunshine', or pursuing her adaptability into something completely different, all whilst maintaining her dominance in the pop music landscape. Without the announcement of a lead single or track listing, it is difficult to decipher the direction that 'Petal' will take, but I, amongst other fans, will be interested to see whether Grande acknowledges her involvement in pop culture over the past couple of years.

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Image courtesy of @arianagrande on Instagram

Notably, her relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater stirred debate on the internet, deeming Grande as a 'homewrecker' after his split from wife Lilly Jay. 'eternal sunshine' encompassed her divorce from Dalton Gomez in 2023; Grande is no stranger to curating material detailing her personal life which can only be more highly anticipated and appreciated with the attention that her relationships have garnered in recent years, and throughout her career. Combined with the relentless controversy surrounding the Wicked press tour criticising Grande's appearance, there is an abundance of topics that 'Petal' may address as a reaction to her involvement, whether purposeful or not, in pop culture.

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Image courtesy of @ethanslater on Instagram

Nevertheless, there is indisputable demand for Grande's music, where her website's signed CDs and vinyl sold out in less than five minutes, and with 'Petal' just over the horizon, it is certain that "there are always brighter days ahead" for those who have eagerly awaited Grande's return to the music scene.

Album cover image courtesy of Ariana Grande / Republic Records