Drake’s three-day stint at London’s Wireless Festival concluded on Sunday with a headlining performance that lasted just 40 minutes.
Taking to the stage ten minutes ahead of schedule, the artist told the crowd that he would perform until his microphone was cut off, referencing the venue’s strict 9:30 PM curfew.
Fans also voiced disappointment at the limited number of special guests during the 38-year-old’s set, which included appearances from Popcaan, Rema, and Vybz Kartel.
Saturday night’s show, in contrast, ran for 90 minutes and featured 13 special guests, while Friday’s performance, with a similar duration, included six surprise acts.
Earlier in the day, the official setlist had advertised two Drake performances, one at 6:25 PM and another at 8:55 PM.
The initial set mysteriously disappeared from the schedule during the afternoon, though planned performances from Vybz Kartel and Burna Boy proceeded in their originally allotted time slots.
Audience members expressed surprise when Drake appeared on stage just minutes after Burna Boy’s performance, with the Canadian artist addressing the crowd directly upon his arrival.
Observers noted that he appeared agitated, in contrast to his more upbeat demeanor during the Friday and Saturday night shows.
Drake commenced his set with an unreleased collaboration with British rapper Central Cee, who did not perform on stage but was seen mouthing the lyrics from the front row, an image that was projected on the venue’s large screens.
Throughout the performance, the Toronto-born rapper and singer appeared apologetic, promising to perform some of his most well-known hits in an effort to engage the crowd.
He told the audience: “London, I will love you for the rest of my life,” before launching into a rapid medley of tracks.
The medley included “Controlla,” “Find Your Love,” and “One Dance,” remixed and updated for 2025, but the new arrangements felt somewhat rushed, making it difficult for fans to sing along.
A surprise appearance from Nigerian rapper Rema, performing “Calm Down” and “Fever,” was a highlight that lifted the crowd’s spirits.
However, following a brief appearance from Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, who had performed earlier in the day, Drake had time for only two more solo songs.
For the third consecutive night, he climbed onto a crane to wave to the 50,000 attendees as Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” was played through the speakers.
Following social media buzz over the weekend, fans quickly recognized that this signaled the end of a disappointingly short headlining performance.
Drake previously encountered the 10:30 PM curfew on Friday night, when organizers cut off his and Lauryn Hill’s microphones, replacing the stage visuals with information about local train stations.
While he managed the timings more effectively during Saturday’s show, it remains unclear whether it was his decision to begin his Sunday evening set 45 minutes before the event’s scheduled end.
Attendees expressed their dissatisfaction as they left the venue, with many unaware of the strict local curfews in place at the park.
Some even commented that they had spent more time queuing to enter the venue than they had watching Drake perform.
While exiting the venue, reports surfaced of distress at the accessible exit.
Individuals were reportedly pleading with security personnel to allow them to leave, after being informed that they would be held in a confined area for ten minutes or until further clearance.
The situation reportedly escalated to the point of hysteria, with attendees challenging the barriers, shouting, and asserting that they were disabled and needed to leave.
The BBC has reached out to Wireless Festival organizers for comment.
BBC News used AI to help write the summary at the top of this article. It was edited by BBC journalists. Find out more.
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