The best concerts to attend in a football stadium

While the attention of the football world is focused on the United States for the Club World Cup, what's happening in Europe? Simple: stadiums are turning into concert arenas. It's a natural evolution, especially for next-generation stadiums, venues designed to be operational seven days a week, hosting events beyond football and match day activities.

And so, during the summer, all the major stadiums in Europe forget about football to embrace music and millions of people who choose to dedicate a night to their favorite artist. Among these millions are, of course, football fans who experience the strange feeling of returning "home" without the stress of a match, perhaps even using the occasion to reinterpret in their own way a historic moment for their beloved team.

Obviously, when choosing a concert, and whether or not to buy a ticket costing hundreds of euros, liking the artist plays the biggest role, but sometimes the venue can also influence the decision. Because some stadiums are special, even when there’s no match being played.

Dualipa - Anfield

More than a football stadium, Anfield retains its cathedral-like aesthetic, increasingly rare in the European scene. So it's no surprise that the Rolling Stones, for instance, chose to perform here in the past, a natural pairing between the longest-running rock band and one of the oldest stadiums in the world.

What is surprising is that Dualipa chose this venue for her Radical Optimism Tour on June 24 and 25. Anfield isn’t a real arena; even on concert days, it maintains its football stadium aura, steeped in history and glory. So it’ll be interesting to see Dualipa perform in front of the Kop.

Kendrick Lamar - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Unlike Anfield, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the most American-style stadium in all of European football. The venue was built with the sole purpose of generating revenue for the Spurs and owner Daniel Levy through a continuous stream of international-level events, both sporting and musical.

Beyoncé performed here in the summer of 2025, but the real highlight is Kendrick Lamar’s show with SZA scheduled for July 22 and 23. The duo will also stop in Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, but considering Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, we can expect something truly special in what is an NFL-style arena repurposed for the Premier League.

Marracash - San Siro

No one is denied a date at San Siro, and in Italy, the hot topic is the trend of fake stadium sellouts, with tickets being pre-sold at much lower prices than listed to fill empty seats. However, there are artists for whom a San Siro concert remains a special moment, if only because of a local connection.

This is the case for Marracash, who has never hidden his bond with Milan and has always portrayed his relationship with the city’s suburbs and neighborhoods honestly and faithfully. His San Siro show on June 26 marks the peak of his career and proves that the Italian hip hop scene has reached a new level.

Post Malone - Lluís Companys

The Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona isn’t exactly the most glamorous football stadium, with a track separating the field from the stands. In fact, it’s not even a true football stadium, it’s a multipurpose facility that Barcelona is using while the Camp Nou is under renovation. It’s set to fade from the football world, so Post Malone’s concert on September 12 is one of the last chances to experience this stadium outside of Barça matches.

Side note: if you're looking for an even more surprising football-related venue, know that Post Malone will also perform in Lisbon on September 14—not at Da Luz or Estádio do Dragão, home to Benfica and Porto, respectively, but at the Estádio do Restelo, the home ground of Belenenses, and Malone might wear their jersey given his tradition of wearing a jersey of the team from the city where he plays. 

Linkin Park - Deutsche Bank Park

Linkin Park didn’t exactly thrill during their pre-match performance before the Champions League final between PSG and Inter. But if you want to give them a second chance, or simply find out how well new singer Emily Armstrong has blended with the band, then check out their shows in Germany on July 8 and 9.

The Deutsche Bank Park Arena in Frankfurt is an architectural gem, a state-of-the-art stadium despite its last renovation being in 2006. It’s a stunning venue, located in a park, with a jumbotron suspended at the center of the pitch by cables connected to the stadium’s structure. It’s a scenic setup that enhances the visual experience.

Oasis - Mas Monumental

Let’s not beat around the bush: the musical event of summer 2025 is the Oasis reunion. The tour will start in Cardiff and then head to Manchester, of course, and London at Wembley Stadium. Tickets sold out instantly, so let’s look at what happens when the tour leaves Europe.

They’re scheduled to perform in South America as well, and the most hyped stop is on November 15 and 16 at Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, home of River Plate. A massive bowl ready to host over 60,000 people for a live show that promises to be unforgettable.