Katy Perry turned Cardiff Castle into a sun soaked California beach party on Tuesday night, delivering a high energy, hit filled performance that reminded fans exactly why she remains one of pop’s biggest stars.
With cooler weather having settled over the Welsh capital in recent days, Perry brought the warmth from the very first song. Emerging to California Gurls, complete with a Muscle Beach inspired opening, she wasted no time getting the crowd moving before rolling straight into Teenage Dream and Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).
Across a packed 90 minute set, Perry leaned heavily into the songs that have defined her career. Dark Horse, Chained to the Rhythm, E.T., Never Really Over, Hot n Cold, The One That Got Away and Part of Me were all greeted by huge singalongs, while newer tracks sat comfortably alongside the familiar classics.
One of the evening’s standout moments came during I Kissed a Girl, when Perry climbed into a giant inflatable bottle and crowd surfed across the audience, creating one of those memorable festival style moments that had thousands of phones pointed towards the stage.
There was also a more personal side to the show. Perry picked up a guitar for a stripped back performance of Thinking of You, while between songs she chatted comfortably with the Cardiff audience, looking genuinely relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere. Her interaction with fans helped give the night a warm, intimate feel despite the thousands packed into the historic venue.
The show even included a charitable twist, with the swimsuit Perry famously wore 18 years ago offered as a prize to help raise money for her Firework Foundation.
Visually, the production struck the right balance. The staging and effects added to the performance without ever distracting from it, allowing Perry’s strong vocals and boundless energy to remain the centre of attention throughout the evening.
The audience certainly played their part. Cardiff Castle became a sea of sequins, sparkles and pink cowboy hats, with fans dancing freely from the opening number until the final encore. It felt like the kind of carefree pop party where nobody was worried about how they looked, only about having a good time.
The evening built towards an emotional finish. Perry first delivered an acoustic version of Roar before closing with Firework, bringing the night to a fittingly explosive conclusion beneath the Cardiff skyline.
Cardiff Castle once again proved why it is one of Wales’ most memorable outdoor concert venues. Its historic backdrop created a setting that felt far more intimate than a traditional stadium show, helping strengthen the connection between artist and audience.
By focusing on the songs fans wanted to hear, mixing nostalgia with newer material and maintaining relentless energy throughout, Katy Perry delivered exactly what the crowd had come for. It was a colourful, feel good celebration of pop music that left thousands heading home smiling.
Blackweir continues on Wednesday night with another headline performance from Lewis Capaldi, while TK Maxx presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle returns on Saturday with Bowling for Soup and Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls.
