Thousands of fans are flocking to Cardiff as Pink’s Summer Carnival Tour resumes, bringing excitement and travel warnings. The US superstar is set to ignite the European leg of her tour on Tuesday, performing in front of a sold-out crowd at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. This marks her first return to the Welsh capital in five years.
Authorities have issued travel warnings due to expected disruptions on the M4 motorway and the closure of a railway line out of the city. A full city centre road closure will be in effect from mid-afternoon, adding to the anticipated travel chaos.
Pink’s European tour will kick off in Cardiff before moving on to major cities like London, Dublin, Liverpool, and Glasgow, followed by nine performances across mainland Europe. Fans from all over the UK are making their way to Cardiff, eager to see the Grammy-winning artist live.
Among the excited fans are Sinead and her mother Justine, who have traveled from Swindon. They have seen Pink multiple times and are camping outside the stadium with deckchairs and a picnic, hoping to be among the first to enter. Sinead, who once left a Pink concert with a drumstick, is hoping for another memorable souvenir this year.
Catherine Williams, her daughter Ellie, and Kelly Walters are also thrilled to attend, having missed out on tickets the last time Pink performed in Cardiff in 2019. They are particularly fond of Pink’s older hits like “Just Like a Pill” and “So What.”
A group of friends from Birmingham, including Summer, Emily, Briony, Tori, and Rachel, are also in town for the concert. Tori, who has seen Pink before, described the show as “insane,” while Emily is excited to experience it for the first time.
Julie Jones and Theresa Owen, friends from Carmarthen and St Clears, will be attending their first Pink concert. They are looking forward to the acrobatics, having watched clips online that left them eager for the live experience.
Lauren, Alison, Madison, and Caitlin from Carmarthenshire are also in Cardiff for the show. Lauren is particularly excited about the acrobatics and seeing The Script, one of the warm-up acts.
Pink, who has won three Grammy Awards, expressed her excitement about returning to Wales, especially as the Principality Stadium celebrates its 25th anniversary. The tour supports her ninth studio album, “Trustfall,” released last year. This will be her first concert since performing in Queensland, Australia, in March.
Supporting acts for the tour include Irish rock band The Script, American singer-songwriter Gayle, and DJ KidCutUp. The stadium gates will open at 17:15 BST, with performances starting at 17:30. Pink is scheduled to take the stage at 20:25, with her set expected to last just over two hours.
The Principality Stadium has confirmed that the roof will be closed for the duration of the show. While the concert is officially sold out, resale tickets are available on Ticketmaster, ranging from £115 to £372. All tickets are digital, and fans are advised to download the relevant ticketing app before arriving.
Road closures will be extensive, with Scott Road and Park Street closed from 07:00 and a full city centre closure from 15:00 until midnight. Roads affected include Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, and several others. Penarth Road will also be closed 30 minutes before the concert ends and up to an hour after.
Fans are encouraged to walk, cycle, or use public transport due to expected heavy traffic on the M4. Event parking is available at Sophia Gardens and the civic centre for a fee. Cardiff Council is operating a park and ride service from Cardiff City Stadium, with buses running from 09:00.
Transport for Wales is providing extra capacity on trains, but services are expected to be very busy. The Vale of Glamorgan line between Cardiff Airport and Bridgend will be shut, and engineering works will affect services between Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction. Buses will be diverted due to road closures, with full details available on the Cardiff Bus website.
Fans are allowed to bring small bags no larger than a sheet of A4 paper, but waiting times for bag checks will be longer. Items prohibited in the stadium include professional cameras, audio/video recording devices, selfie sticks, lasers, pyrotechnics, glass, and flags. A full list of prohibited items is available on the Principality Stadium’s website.
Pink’s Cardiff concert is the first of 18 shows in Europe, including nine in the UK and Ireland, before she returns to the United States in August. Other UK and Ireland dates include performances in London, Dublin, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
