Wembley Stadium has been criticised after The Weeknd‘s fireworks display went ahead despite a government emergency alert.
The Canadian pop superstar began his five-night run at the London venue on Friday night (August 14), and a large fireworks display accompanied the set’s closing track ‘Moth To A Flame’.
It came just hours after the UK government sent out an emergency alert to phones across England and Wales to give a “severe” warning about the risk of wildfires across the country.
“Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks,” the message read. “Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.”
The fact that the fireworks went ahead prompted criticism from some online, with one person writing: “Clearly organisers at @wembleystadium didn’t get tonight’s Government alert eh?”
Clearly organisers at @wembleystadium didn’t get tonight’s Government alert eh? @10DowningStreet pic.twitter.com/esO42fFFR7
— Niall Finn (@Irenicon_nf) August 14, 2026
A Wembley representative told LADBible that venue officials had held a meeting with on-site members of the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade after the alert was received.
“Last night’s firework and pyrotechnic display was a controlled performance, delivered within the Wembley Stadium footprint and subject to the stadium’s established safety procedures,” the spokesperson said.
“All pyrotechnics at Wembley are designed, operated and managed by specialist professionals in accordance with the stadium’s pyrotechnics policy. The stadium also has a team of fire safety experts on site for every event.”
The government alert was a safety guidance message, and while it has introduced a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, it has not done the same for fireworks.
The same alert caused a surreal moment at Boomtown Festival, where thousands of phones throughout the campsite emitted the siren at the same time. Footage, seen below, went viral with festivalgoers responding with laughter and cheering.
The Weeknd played the second of his Wembley shows last night (August 15) and is due to return tonight, followed by two more performances on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 18 and 19).
They form part of his ‘After Hours Til Dawn Tour’, which became the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist of all time, after passing $1billion (£740million).
Abel Tesfaye revealed last week that he no longer intends to retire The Weeknd moniker. “I’ll never disappear,” he told fans on Stockholm. “I love this too much to ever disappear. Imma be here forever with you.”
