Nigerian artists who have sold out London’s O2 Arena include Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Rema, whose landmark performances have helped establish Afrobeats as a major force in the international music industry. With Olamide now planning a show at the venue in March 2027, the list could soon grow.
The O2 Arena, located in London, has become an important stage for Nigerian musicians seeking to demonstrate their international drawing power. With a capacity of around 20,000 for concerts, the venue offers artists the chance to perform before large audiences, including Nigerians and other African music fans living in the United Kingdom and across Europe.
For Nigerian musicians, filling the O2 Arena represents more than a successful concert. It demonstrates the reach of their music beyond their home market and their ability to attract audiences on one of the world’s best-known live entertainment stages. As Afrobeats has expanded internationally, performances at the venue have become significant milestones in the careers of some of the genre’s biggest names.
In an article published by Vanguard in April 2025, Ayo Onikoyi described the O2 Arena as “a symbol of global acceptance, a stamp of credibility, and a gateway to even greater success” for Nigerian artists. The venue’s reputation has made it a prominent measure of international ambition, although an artist’s success ultimately depends on a wider range of factors than a single concert.
Wizkid was the first Nigerian artist to sell out the O2 Arena, achieving the milestone on 26 May 2018 with his Afrorepublik concert. The show featured appearances by Nigerian and UK-based performers, including Tiwa Savage and Mr Eazi. His performance demonstrated that a Nigerian Afrobeats star could draw a full-capacity crowd at a venue associated with major international acts.
Wizkid returned to the O2 Arena during his Made in Lagos tour in November 2021. He performed across three consecutive days, marking another major achievement for the singer and further highlighting the demand for his music among international audiences.
Davido followed in Wizkid’s footsteps when he headlined a sold-out O2 Arena concert on 27 January 2019. Known for his energetic stage presence and catalogue of popular hits, the singer brought his music to a large London audience. The show also featured appearances by British actor Idris Elba and Jamaican artist Popcaan, adding to the international profile of the event.
Burna Boy joined the group of Nigerian artists to sell out the venue on 27 August 2021 during his Spaceship tour. The performance formed part of his rise as an internationally recognised Afrobeats and African music star, helping reinforce the growing presence of Nigerian performers on major concert stages outside the country.
Asake’s arrival at the O2 Arena reflected the rapid rise of a new generation of Nigerian artists. After building a strong following through a run of successful releases, he sold out the venue on 20 August 2023. The concert came after his successful performances at the smaller O2 Academy Brixton, illustrating the scale of his growing audience in the UK.
Asake returned to the O2 Arena in 2024 during his Lungu Boy World Tour and again in 2026 as part of his In God We Trust tour. These appearances further strengthened his connection with international audiences and demonstrated the continued demand for his distinctive blend of Afrobeats and Nigerian street-pop.
Rema added his name to the list on 14 November 2023, when he sold out the O2 Arena at the age of 23. The performance marked another major achievement for the young singer, whose international profile had grown significantly through songs including “Calm Down.” His show combined a theatrical entrance, live instrumentation and performances drawn from his growing catalogue, reflecting the scale of his ambitions as a live performer.
The next potential addition is Olamide, who has announced a planned O2 Arena show for March 2027. The performance would mark another significant step for the Nigerian rapper, singer and music executive, whose influence extends beyond his own recordings to his role in supporting and shaping the careers of other artists. The concert is still in the future, so it should not be counted among completed sold-out shows unless a sell-out is subsequently confirmed.
The growing list of Nigerian artists associated with the O2 Arena reflects the expanding international audience for Nigerian music. From Wizkid’s breakthrough in 2018 to the achievements of Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Rema, these concerts have helped demonstrate the commercial reach of Afrobeats and the ability of Nigerian performers to command attention in one of London’s most prominent live music venues.
