A Sky Full of Stars: Coldplay’s Magical Finale in Helsinki
On Wednesday, July 31, Coldplay wrapped up their four-night concert series at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki with an unforgettable show. The final night, with a stadium packed to the brim with enthusiastic fans, was filled with a magical atmosphere that will linger in memories for a long time.
Opening Acts: ALMA and Maisie Peters
The evening kicked off with Finnish singer ALMA, who set the tone for what was to be a remarkable night. She opened with “Everything Beautiful” and followed with a mix of energetic and emotionally charged tracks, including “I Forgive Me,” “Run Run Run,” and the summery “Summer Really Hurt Us.” Her cover of “All Stars” by Martin Solveig got the crowd moving, and she closed her set with the popular hits “Chasing Highs” and “Bonfire.” ALMA proved why she’s one of Finland’s most promising artists, effortlessly warming up the crowd for the main act.
Next up was Maisie Peters, celebrating her final night on tour with Coldplay. She opened strong with “Coming of Age” and continued with hits like “Body Better” and “Love Him I Don’t.” While her set was musically impressive, her stage presence occasionally felt a bit over the top. Nonetheless, it was quite clear she was enjoying every moment, especially when she surprised the audience with a cover of “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Peters closed her set with powerful performances of “The Last One,” “There It Goes,” and “Lost the Breakup,” leaving the crowd eagerly anticipating what was to come.
Act I: Planets
The Coldplay show began with a burst of energy in the first act, “Planets.” Coldplay opened with “Music of the Spheres,” quickly transitioning into “Higher Power” and “Adventure of a Lifetime.” The stadium erupted during “Paradise,” which featured an extended intro and outro. “The Scientist” was a highlight, with its melancholic melodies and the unexpected addition of “Oceans” in the intro.
Act II: Moons
In the second act, “Moons,” the band moved to the B-stage, where they delivered more intimate performances of some of their biggest hits. “Viva la Vida” sent waves of emotion through the stadium, followed by a poignant piano version of “Don’t Panic,” with a fan named Amanda accompanying. The act concluded with a powerful rendition of “Yellow,” a song that never loses its magic.
Act III: Stars
The third act, “Stars,” was a mix of new and older favourites. “Human Heart” and “People of the Pride” brought emotional depth, while “Clocks” and “My Universe” created euphoric moments. The highlight of this act was “A Sky Full of Stars,” where Chris Martin asked the audience to put their phones away and be in the moment, creating an intense and unforgettable experience.
Act IV: Home
The fourth and final act, “Home,” provided a more intimate conclusion to the evening. The band began with “Sunrise,” accompanied by a spoken intro from Louis Armstrong. This was followed by heartfelt performances of “Sparks” and a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Will Champion. During this act, drummer Will Champion celebrated his 46th birthday on the C-stage at the back of the stadium. A traditional Finnish band, Sankarit, joined the stage to sing “Happy Birthday” with the audience—in Finnish. The moment became even more special when Champion’s daughter brought a birthday cake on stage, creating a touching scene celebrated throughout the venue with countless congratulatory signs and banners.
The concert concluded with “Fix You,” a song that left the audience in a collective state of goosebumps, followed by the upbeat closers “Good Feelings” and “feelslikeimfallinginlove.” Coldplay’s final concert in Helsinki was a night to remember. With a perfect mix of emotion, energy, and musical virtuosity, they enchanted the Finnish capital. It was a magical journey through their discography, full of surprises and special moments. This evening will be forever etched in the memories of everyone who was there, and the hope is strong that Coldplay will return to Finland soon.
Photos (c) Hans Kreutzer/
