Fewer Principality Stadium gigs 'a blip' say bosses as Take That perform in Cardiff

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has described having only two concerts this year in the Principality Stadium as a "blip" - and promised an "exciting" pipeline of events over the next three years.

Take That fans will flock to the Cardiff landmark on Tuesday as the band returns to recreate their Circus Live tour, 17 years after they originally performed it in Wales in 2009.

The gig will be followed by the stadium's second and last concert of the year later this month, with Metallica set to take to stage at the 70,000-seat venue on 28 June.

Gavin Marshall, WRU's chief operating officer, said while this year had been "a bit disappointing", it had focused on hosting other events including Hyrox.

Marshall said the lack of concerts in 2026 followed "bumper" years in 2024 and 2025.

In 2025 acts at the Principality included Oasis, Chris Brown, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, while 2024 saw the likes of Taylor Swift, Pink and Bruce Springsteen all take to the stage.

While speaking about the Principality's 3,000 solar panels which have been installed on the stadium roof, Marshall admitted the stadium was "lighter" on concerts this year.

Describing the nature of concert dates as "cyclical", Marshall said the WRU was "excited about the future".

"We see it as a little bit of a blip this year but it's always a little bit lumpy with concerts - there's only so many artists that can sell 70,000 seats," he said.

"But we know we've got two great concerts this month coming up with Take That and Metallica and as I say we've got a lot in the pipeline for 2027."

Marshall acknowledged there had been a "trend" with some artists, including Harry Styles, taking up residencies at one venue rather than touring.

The former One Direction star began a 12-night stint at Wembley Stadium in London on Friday, breaking a 10-date record previously held by Coldplay.

"There is a trend to that with the really big artists... but we're confident that we've got a really strong pipeline," said Marshall.

He added there would be "a lot of really exciting announcements" in the coming months about next year's schedule.

According to trade body UK Hospitality, Oasis' two gigs in Cardiff last year generated more than £4m for city centre venues with more than 810,000 pints pulled across the two days.

Nick Newman, area manager of Croeso Pubs Ltd, which owns venues including the Philharmonic and Blue Bell, said Principality Stadium events had a big impact on the city centre but understood they were dependent on big artists touring.

"It does make a difference," he said. "When we look to map out the year we mark these key days in and gear up by way of staff and stock and any preparation you need to do."

Newman, who is also chair of Cardiff Night Forum CIC, said concerts such as those hosted by Depot at Cardiff Castle and Blackweir Fields over the summer were also helping keep pubs and bars busy.

"It's just fantastic. I've got a calendar just in front of me and June, July, going into August, we have big-scale events coming on, two or three every week, which is brilliant," he said.

"Throw in a couple of extra stadium ones, that's icing on the cake.

"In an economy like ours which is struggling at the moment we just need any sort of events we can get which just help keep the bars busy, keep the city centre the focus of people's attention."

On Tuesday there will be a full road closure around the Principality Stadium from 3pm until midnight.

Great Western Railway will run additional services from Cardiff Central to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and Swindon, while Transport for Wales said it would "provide additional capacity" on railway routes to and from Cardiff where possible.

The following roads will be shut in Cardiff city centre:

• Duke Street
• Castle St
• High Street
• St Mary Street
• Caroline Street
• Wood Street
• Central Square
• Westgate Street
• Quay Street
• Guildhall Place
• Golate
• Park Street
• Havelock Street
• Scott Road
• Kingsway - from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street
• Cowbridge Road East - from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street
• Tudor Street - from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street
• Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street

In other areas, partial road closures will be in place.

Station Terrace and Guildford Street will allow access for buses only from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way.

Station Terrace will also close to allow Queen Street Station to operate safely for 90 minutes after the end of the event.

Penarth Road will be closed for 30 minutes before the concert finishes and for up to an hour afterwards, for train passengers arriving and departing from Cardiff Central station.