Irish pop group Westlife on 25 years, new music and anniversary tour
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Westlife's Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan during their performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, on Oct 27.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
LONDON – Westlife celebrate 25 years with a new album and tour they say will take fans down memory lane, as well as treat them to “the best show” the Irish pop group have ever done.
The boy band, formed in 1998 when the original five members were teenagers, have sold more than 55 million records and scored 14 UK No. 1 hits with songs such as Swear It Again (1999), Flying Without Wings (1999) and Uptown Girl (2001).
A foursome since 2004 after Brian McFadden left to pursue a solo career, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily parted ways in 2012 before reuniting in 2018.
They released the single Chariot in October, one of four new songs on upcoming album 25 – The Ultimate Collection, out in February 2026. They also expanded their 2026 Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour, which marks 25 years since their first world tour.
Feehily, 45, who in recent years has suffered health-related issues, is not joining the tour but features on the album.
On what fans can expect from the tour, Filan, 46, said: “We want to put on the best show we’ve ever done... probably picking the set list is always the hardest part because every fan has a different memory for that song. It’ll be full of hits, obviously, but we’re going to elevate it from a kind of visual aspect as well.”
Even though Feehily is unable to get on stage with them, the trio were glad they managed to work together on the album at least.
Filan said: “It was very important that he was on the songs and he’s singing better than ever – one of the songs coming out is some of his best vocals. We can’t wait to have him back, when he’s ready.”
The trio also hit a milestone by performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Oct 27.
Byrne, 47, said: “It felt like an event – the Oscars meets a brilliant wedding and we were on fire. And now, it’s like, ‘Wow, did that just happen?’ We’re tired today, but by next Saturday, we’ll be going, ‘Right lads, how do we do this again? Where could we go next?’
“And the truth is, who knows? Can it be (New York’s) Madison Square Garden? Can it be the Sphere (in Las Vegas)? There are no rules.”
On how the success they imagined in those early days compare with the reality, 45-year-old Egan reflected: “I don’t think any of us would have ever been able to say to our young selves, ‘This is what you’re going to be doing when you’re 45’.
“We like to think we’re normal guys. Yes, we’re in this big pop act and we travel around the world, but we go home and we live quite normal lives. We’ll be back to taking the bins out tomorrow.” REUTERS
