Capital Summertime Ball 2025 UPDATES: Fans slam ‘poor’ Wembley Stadium line-up as headliners and ticket prices revealed
FANS have slammed the "poor" line-up of this year's Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard.
The full line-up for the event has now been announced live on air on Capital, with Mariah Carey, Will Smith, KSI and Jessie J among those performing.
But this year’s line-up is proving controversial among fans, with tickets costing up to £420.
One wrote on X: “Not spending nearly £200 just to enjoy not even half the line up.”
Another wrote: “Have we woken up in a different era?! Mariah Carey & Will Smith as Summertime Ball headliners.”
@Natashaxx_99 added: “Capital Summertime Ball 2025 headliners being Mariah Carey and Will Smith has me very confused."
Others, however, were more supportive of Mariah Carey's top billing, with one posting on X: "It’s a special occasion! A cause for celebration.”
You can follow our live blog, below, for all the latest updates ...
How to see the show – without a ticket
Even if you can’t make it to Wembley Stadium, you don’t have to miss out seeing superstars Mariah Carey and Jessie J or rising pop troubadours Lola Young and Benson Boone.
Tune into the show online from wherever you are to join in the fun.
Global Player will be streaming the Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard.
The stream goes live from 3pm on Sunday June 15.
Will Smith – the comeback continues…
Since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, the Men in Black star has been staging a carefully choreographed comeback, which included an appearance at the Coachella festival in the US last year.
His appearance came a month before the release of the latest instalment in his most famous film franchise, Bad Boys.
He will be appearing at the Capital Summertime Ball with DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Heading to Wembley (again) – Zara Larsson
Zara last performed at the Summertime Ball in 2023.
With a string of chart-topping hits and impeccable dance moves, she has become the poster girl for pop.
But Zara has revealed that as a young woman in the industry she has struggled to be taken seriously.
Sitting down with Sun on Sunday backstage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee in 2023, the Lush Life hitmaker admitted she has had to overcome sexism to make her name in music.
The singer said: “I think it happens everywhere when you are a young girl and you are working.
“I have been lucky to have a good team around me. I try to surround myself with a lot of women, I really do.”
Pitch tickets still available
Tickets are now on sale for the show. We’ll keep you updated here with all the best fan reaction.
Remember: the only way to buy tickets is to download the Global Player, the official Capital app on your smartphone or tablet.
Brit winners and Busted – but is it ‘boring’?
From Busted and Brit-winner Lola Young to 90s legends Mariah Carey and Will Smith, this year’s line-up has something for everyone – but it’s proving controversial among some fans.
In case you missed it earlier, here is the full list of artists appearing:
- Mariah Carey
- Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Benson Boone
- Busted Vs McFly, below
- Dasha
- Jessie J
- KSI
- Zara Larsson
- Reneé Rapp
- Lola Young
- Tate McRae
- Myles Smith
- Remember Monday
- JADE
- James Hype
- Rita Ora
Will Smith – the comeback continues…
Since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, the Men in Black star has been staging a carefully choreographed comeback, which included an appearance at the Coachella festival in the US last year.
His appearance came a month before the release of the latest instalment in his most famous film franchise, Bad Boys.
He will be appearing at the Capital Summertime Ball with DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Summertime Ball – what you need to know
Capital’s Summertime Ball is an annual outdoor gig that showcases headline performances from worldwide acts.
The concert is usually held on either first or second Saturday or Sunday of June by the radio station, Capital.
This event is returning for summer 2025 and Capital radio is pulling out all of the stops to make it the biggest and best yet.
Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard takes place on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Wembley Stadium.
‘Tasteless children’ – some love for the line-up
Here’s a good counter post to the spate of comments berating the “disappointing” line-up..
@MickaelKing wrote on X: “It is actually wild seeing literal tasteless children in the replies to Capital FM complaining about the SummertimeBall line-up, because it isn’t full of one hit dance artists. Mariah Carey, Will Smith, JADE, Busted, McFly, Jessie J… literally COUNTLESS hits between them!!!”
Credit: BBC Talk of the town
Pop legend Mariah Carey, 55, needs little introduction ... she’s as famous for her diva antics as her music.
Mariah reportedly likes to have a tea service for eight people available in her dressing room — and insists that only Poland Springs water be used for the tea.
But for drinking water, she likes another brand: “Please note that 16-oz. plastic bottles of Evian are the only acceptable bottles of water for the dressing rooms,” reads the backstage rider to one of her tour contracts.
She sparked concern recently with her “slurred speech” during the iHeartRadio Awards, with fans insisting “there is something wrong!”.
Credit: Getty
Summertime Ball – what you need to know
Capital’s Summertime Ball is an annual outdoor gig that showcases headline performances from worldwide acts.
The concert is usually held on either first or second Saturday or Sunday of June by the radio station, Capital.
This event is returning for summer 2025 and Capital radio is pulling out all of the stops to make it the biggest and best yet.
Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard takes place on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Wembley Stadium.
!Credit: Instagram Pitch tickets still available
Tickets are now on sale for the show. We’ll keep you updated here with all the best fan reaction.
Remember: the only way to buy tickets is to download the Global Player, the official Capital app on your smartphone or tablet.
'Somebody pinch me'
This line-up continues to split fans – with @Boy_Mixer11 DEFINITELY in the positive camp.
Follow us here for all the best fan reaction.
Heading to Wembley (again) – Zara Larsson
Zara last performed at the Summertime Ball in 2023.
With a string of chart-topping hits and impeccable dance moves, she has become the poster girl for pop.
But Zara, pictured below, has revealed that as a young woman in the industry she has struggled to be taken seriously.
Sitting down with Sun on Sunday backstage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee in 2023, the Lush Life hitmaker admitted she has had to overcome sexism to make her name in music.
The singer said: “I think it happens everywhere when you are a young girl and you are working.
“I have been lucky to have a good team around me. I try to surround myself with a lot of women, I really do.”
'Countless hits!'
Here’s an interesting counter post following reports of the “disappointing” line-up.
@MickaelKing wrote on X: “It is actually wild seeing literal tasteless children in the replies to Capital FM complaining about the SummertimeBall line-up, because it isn’t full of one hit dance artists. Mariah Carey, Will Smith, JADE, Busted, McFly, Jessie J… literally COUNTLESS hits between them!!!”
We’ll bring you more fan reaction over the next few hours – and also let you know when the show is sold out.
Mariah Carey in her 90s heydayCredit: PA:Press Association Tickets still on sale – but expect a sell-out
Last year was a sell-out event with Becky Hill, Raye and Sabrina Carpenter, taking to the stage.
This year’s headliners include Mariah Carey, and Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, with the event again expected to sell out.
Other artists appearing this year include Rita Ora, below.
Welcome to the Sun's Capital Summertime Ball blog
Thanks for joining us. We'll keep you updated here with all the best fan reaction to the event on June 15.
Tickets are still on sale although VIP packages are now sold out.
The event is taking place at Wembley Stadium, the largest venue in the United Kingdom with a capacity of 90,000.
From football finals to Blur concerts – and, of course, Oasis later this year too – some of the world’s biggest and best entertainers have taken to Wembley’s stage.
This year's Summertime will feature Mariah Carey and Jessie J, below.
Credit: Hannah MacGregor Will Smith – the comeback continues...
Since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, the Men in Black star has been staging a carefully choreographed comeback, which included an appearance at the Coachella festival in the US last year.
His appearance came a month before the release of the latest instalment in his most famous film franchise, Bad Boys.
He will be appearing at the Capital Summertime Ball with DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) in the 90s Pitch tickets still available
Tickets are now on sale for the show but the only way to buy them is to download the Global Player, the official Capital app on your smartphone or tablet.
Tickets – what you need to know
Tickets are now on sale for the show.
We’ll keep you updated here with all the best fan reaction.
Remember: the only way to buy tickets is to download the Global Player, the official Capital app on your smartphone or tablet.
How to see the show – without a ticket
Even if you can’t make it to Wembley Stadium, you don’t have to miss out seeing superstars Mariah Carey and Jessie J or rising pop troubadours Lola Young and Benson Boone, pictured below with Queen legend Brian May.
Tune into the show online from wherever you are to join in the fun.
Global Player will be streaming the Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard.
The stream goes live from 3pm on Sunday June 15.
Credit: Getty Brit winners and Busted – but is it 'boring'?
From Busted and Brit-winner Lola Young to 90s legends Mariah Carey and Will Smith, this year’s line-up has something for everyone – but it's proving controversial among some fans.
In case you missed it earlier, here is the full line-up
- Mariah Carey
- Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Benson Boone
- Busted Vs McFly, below
- Dasha
- Jessie J
- KSI
- Zara Larsson
- Reneé Rapp
- Lola Young
- Tate McRae
- Myles Smith
- Remember Monday
- JADE
- James Hype
- Rita Ora
Credit: BBC
Tickets still on sale – nearly two hours later
General tickets are now on sale for the show. We’ll keep you updated here with all the best fan reaction.
Remember: the only way to buy tickets is to download the Global Player, the official Capital app on your smartphone or tablet.
‘Boring!’
There’s a lot of love for Mariah Carey out there – but also some sceptics.
One posted on X: “Stop making me bankrupt!” – Mariah will also be appearing at – while another wrote: “It’s a special occasion! A cause for celebration”.
There are, however, some sceptics out there, one writing: “Boring! The crowd is too active for Mariah Carey to mime through her ballads”, a possible reference to recent reports that at a recent American Music Awards ceremony.
Ticket sales – latest
Platinum seats have now sold out although there are still pitch tickets available (£86.74); the cheapest tickets on sale are £58.74 for Level 5 seats with limited view.
Ticket prices revealed – up to £420
Here are the latest ticket prices for the event.
