Maroon 5 delivered high notes and higher energy to BST Hyde Park.
Maroon 5 have long been masters of feel-good pop rock. On 3 July 2026, they made their BST Hyde Park debut and delivered a hit-packed, high-energy set filled with big singalongs and bigger smiles. The result was a show as sweet as “Sugar”, and every bit as addictive.
If you love the buzz of a festival but could do without camping, BST Hyde Park is hard to beat. Since launching in 2013, the event has welcomed an extraordinary line-up, from The Rolling Stones to Robbie Williams. The headline acts are given the chance to pick their support artists, and for Maroon 5, this included Jess Glynne and OneRepublic.
Maroon 5 exude that California cool, which you only ever find from bands like No Doubt and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group’s catchy hooks, sultry lyrics and musicianship have stood the test of time and age – they are now in their late 40s. Having seen them perform in the smaller indoor Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, it was exciting to watch them shift so seamlessly to the scale of Hyde Park – although it should be expected, as they have headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
At BST Hyde Park, Maroon 5 wasted no time in setting the tone, opening with “Harder to Breathe”. The set started at the very beginning, which was a very good place to start. At just under three minutes long – two minutes 53 seconds, to be precise – the song was fast-paced and punchy, immediately reminding the audience why it launched the band’s career. It took me back to their first UK television performance, which was on Top of the Pops in 2004 – a performance that demanded attention and led me, along with more than 10 million people, to buy their debut album, “Songs About Jane”.
Frontman Adam Levine shared: “We first came here in 2005 and played The Barfly. There weren’t that many people there – probably 40, if we were lucky. To see all you people here tonight is an incredible thing.” This year, BST Hyde Park was granted permission to welcome up to 75,000 people, and we were all having a great time.
Adam was the consummate frontman. He commanded the stage, striding from the runway to the far edges, tossing guitar picks into the crowd and swinging the microphone stand with theatrical flair. He was dressed in a patterned blue T-shirt with black trousers and sunglasses. At sunset, he removed his shades, and the crowd cheered. “That is a sexy man on stage,” we heard one fan behind us laugh.
“This Love” had the audience swaying and swooning, but it was “Moves Like Jagger” that sent the park into overdrive. The entire crowd, from children perched on shoulders to groups of girls, danced together in one unforgettable moment. It was the concert’s high point as he hit those high notes.
While Maroon 5 are renowned for infectious anthems, they created space for more emotional moments. “Memories” and “Won’t Go Home Without You” brought the tempo down, with Adam paying tribute to his late friend and longtime manager, Jordan Feldstein, who died in 2017. He pointed to the sky and reflected: “It’s bittersweet because he’s not here tonight. This goes out to Jordan, our friend. My friend since I was born.”
“She Will Be Loved” was the moment the OG fans were swooning and singing: “I don’t mind spending every day, out on your corner in the pouring rain.” No doubt, a sentiment that many would feel for Adam.
The encore was the crowd-pleasing moment you wanted. “Payphone” and “Sugar” had everyone on their feet one last time. At a time of political turbulence – and a Fourth of July weekend that felt more controversial than celebratory in their home state of the United States – don’t expect Maroon 5 to deliver protest songs or political statements. Instead, they offered two hours of escapism and brought a ray of California sunshine to the heart of London. Joyful, nostalgic and effortlessly entertaining. Sugar, yes indeed.
Where: Hyde Park, London, SW1X 7QN
Contact: https://www.bst-hydepark.com