Live Report: Niall Horan has triumphant homecoming at 3Arena

The stage is dim, the band are in place, anticipation is building – and suddenly, Niall Horan bursts out onto the stage and begins singing 'Tastes So Good' from his latest album, Dinner Party.

"Honey I'm home!" exclaims Horan to his crowd of screaming fans. The 3Arena is vibrating with energy, with people's cheers becoming so loud at the Mullingar singer's entrance that the entire building seems to rattle.

He is beaming at the crowd, made up of mostly – as would be expected – of female fans, and includes seasoned Directioners as well as newer audiences.

Horan proclaims how good it is to be back in Ireland, and performing at the 3Arena.

"No matter how many times I play here, it never gets old," he says. He begins cracking jokes with the crowd about his shirt choice, and when responding to requests to take it off he responds: "You don't want to see what's under here – too many pints!"

Niall Horan at 3Arena on November 9th, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

He launches into 'Heartbreak Weather' a pitch-perfect pop track. He is singing his heart out, and having a ball along with the audience. Alex Torjussen on drums elevates the track to another level, and it sounds even better live.

Following this, Niall delves into the relentlessly catchy 'Pretty', projecting the lyrics on-screen above the stage during the chorus, with the 3Arena reverberating with shouts of 'Baby, can't you see?/ You're so fucking pretty'. Horan and his guitarist, Alex Curran, move down the stage into the arena for a guitar solo by Curran, and an air-guitar performance by Horan.

Niall Horan at 3Arena on November 9th, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

'Black and White' from Heartbreak Weather is next, with production lighting up the stage with a range of rainbow hues to match the lyric 'In all your gorgeous colours/I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life.'

The arena erupts for the next song, 'This Town', which Horan tells the audience is now ten years old, something he can't quite believe himself. Everyone is singing along to the hit track that celebrates his hometown of Mullingar, wrapped in bittersweet nostalgia.

This segues into 'Dinner Party', the title track from his new album, and includes a section of Horan introducing his six-piece band by name. It is a personal touch that characterises the whole show well – demonstrating Horan's great respect for the people he works with, as well as his audience.

'End of An Era' is a more subdued reflection on time passing too quickly. It finishes with the stage going dark, and a voice-note from Horan's late former bandmate Liam Payne. It is a heartfelt tribute to a friend, and the audience clearly feels the gravity of the moment. Horan follows with the more lively 'Monochromatic', which gets himself and his band moving around the stage.

Niall Horan at 3Arena on November 9th, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

For the second half of the show, Horan and his band make their way to a dinner party setpiece, complete with chandelier, bar stools, and tricolour placemats. They perform 'Flicker', with guitarist Sophie Galvin on violin and Curran on banjo. This is followed by 'Put A Little Love On Me', a heartfelt track accompanied by Dani McGinley on piano.

Niall Horan then brings out Irish trad group Beoga as special guests, with the arena loudly exclaiming their approval at the new arrivals. They perform 'Die If I Don't' with Horan, his vocals blending perfectly with the wide range of instruments. The energy picks up further with an impromptu trad session, everyone is dancing, clapping, and tapping their feet, you can feel the happiness in the arena.

Following the jig, the audience does a mandatory 'Ole, Ole, Ole' chant that all of the performers delight in, before Horan brings the audience to silence with a shushing gesture. The camera flips to Torjussen who begins 'On My Own' with a shake of his tambourine. The song marks a rousing end to Beoga's appearance.

Niall Horan at 3Arena on November 9th, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

Horan and his band return to the main stage with the dynamic 'Nice To Meet Ya', bringing the audience back into the stadium spectacle. He follows with 'Small Talk', which features a more intense sound, and passionate vocals by Horan to match.

'Flowers' is proceeded by Niall spotting his third class teacher, Anne Coffey, and an impromptu karaoke session of 'The Green and Red of Mayo' by the audience and Horan. He dedicates the next few minutes of the show to interacting with fans, reading out several banners, signing a Derby County jersey, and a One Direction CD that a fan has had since 2012.

He makes it a special point to thank the entire audience, he says with the rising cost of living he is extremely appreciative of the fact that people came to see him perform.

The concert enters its final section with 'Fighting Over Nothing', before Horan performs 'Steal My Girl', a One Direction song that sends the crowd into a frenzy.

'Save My Life' from his previous album The Show is the gig's official closer, after the cheers end Horan thanks Dublin and quickly runs off stage. We are sat in the dark, wondering if this is the end, as shouts of "Encore" grow louder.

His band reappear first, with Horan coming back onstage in a shower of light for the encore, beginning with 'Slow Hands' and moving into 'Heaven.' Horan concludes the show with a final thank you and a sing-along of 'Mamma Mia' by ABBA, a fitting end to a truly fantastic show by a singer who is at the top of his game.