Robbie Williams returned to Marvel Stadium on Wednesday night for his first performance at the Melbourne venue in 20 years, delivering a career-spanning set of hits, new material from Britpop and candid reflections on family, survival and life at 52.
Robbie Williams remains one of the few performers who understands that entertaining an audience is about considerably more than singing the songs. At Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Wednesday night, he combined pop spectacle, sharp humour, self-deprecation and unexpected emotional honesty to deliver a two-hour reminder of why he remains one of the great entertainers of his generation.
Opening with Rocket, the lead single from his new album Britpop, Williams immediately established that this would be a different kind of stadium show. Suspended above the stage in an elaborate production sequence, he made a spectacular entrance before moving into Let Me Entertain You.
The question came quickly: “Have I still got it, Melbourne?”
The response from the crowd suggested there was never much doubt.
At 52, Williams has reached a stage of his career where he can look back at the excesses, achievements and personal battles without losing the cheekiness that has always been central to his appeal. His performance was full of knowing humour, but there were also moments when the entertainer stepped aside to let the person speak.
One of the most revealing moments came when Williams spoke about his wife and four children. He credited them with saving his life, then immediately returned to his familiar comic timing with the observation that nobody had expected him to have four children with the same woman.
It was a characteristically Robbie Williams moment, balancing a deeply personal admission with a punchline.
He also spoke affectionately about his father, Peter Williams, the comedian who accompanied him on Australian tours in earlier years. His father’s health now prevents him from travelling, and Williams recalled an assessment of their respective talents that has stayed with him. His father had told him, “I am good, but you are the greatest.”
There was genuine affection behind the story, another reminder that beneath the stadium-sized personality is someone who remains closely connected to his family.
Williams also acknowledged his long history with Melbourne. His first local performances came at the now-defunct Salt Nightclub in Prahran. He subsequently played the venue now known as Marvel Stadium in 2003, when it was Telstra Dome, and returned in 2006. Wednesday’s concert marked his first performance there since that 2006 appearance.
His sense of humour remained firmly intact. Comparing his production with Coldplay’s previous visit to the stadium, he delivered the line, “I’m like Coldplay but cheaper.”
It was typical Williams: an enormous production, accompanied by an equally enormous ego that he is perfectly happy to make fun of himself.
The musical selection was equally calculated. Williams moved between the generations of fans who grew up with Life Thru A Lens, I’ve Been Expecting You, Sing When You’re Winning and Escapology, while introducing Melbourne to two songs from Britpop: Rocket and Pretty Face.
There was also room for some less frequently heard material. Hot Fudge, which Williams explained had been brought back following encouragement from drummer Karl Brazil, was a welcome inclusion.
The B stage provided a change of pace. Better Man connected the concert with the story of his recent biographical film, while Wonderwall brought The Lottery Winners’ Thom Rylance onto the stage for an acoustic Oasis cover. Something Beautiful followed before Williams returned to the main stage.
The later sequence was a reminder of the depth of his catalogue. Millennium, No Regrets, Come Undone, Kids and She’s The One kept the momentum moving, with the latter providing another opportunity for Williams to play the stadium entertainer. Theme From New York, New York and a run of musical references during the band introductions added further variety.
My Way provided a particularly personal moment before the encore. Feel and Angels then brought the night to its emotional conclusion, with Angels once again giving the Melbourne audience the opportunity to take ownership of one of the defining songs of Williams’ solo career.
The concert demonstrated why Williams has maintained such a distinctive place in popular music. He can move from a stadium-sized production to a personal family story, from a self-deprecating joke to a genuine emotional moment, without losing the audience.
There is no attempt to make himself mysterious or particularly cool. Williams knows exactly what he is, understands what his audience wants and has the catalogue to deliver it.
Marvel Stadium got the full Robbie Williams experience: the hits, the humour, the underneath it all, an artist who still seems to love being on stage.
-
- Robbie Williams in Melbourne 11 November 2026 by Ian Laidlaw supplied Frontier
-
- Robbie Williams in Melbourne 11 November 2026 by Ian Laidlaw supplied Frontier
-
- Robbie Williams in Melbourne 11 November 2026 by Ian Laidlaw supplied Frontier
-
- Robbie Williams in Melbourne 11 November 2026 by Ian Laidlaw supplied Frontier
-
- Robbie Williams in Melbourne 11 November 2026 by Ian Laidlaw supplied Frontier
Robbie Williams Australian and New Zealand tour dates
The 2026 BRITPOP World Tour began in Adelaide on 7 November before reaching Melbourne. The remaining concerts are in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch. The complete announced itinerary is:
Saturday 7 November – Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Wednesday 11 November – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Saturday 14 November – Sydney, Accor Stadium
Tuesday 17 November – Newcastle, McDonald Jones Stadium
Friday 20 November – Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium
Tuesday 24 November – Auckland, Eden Park
Saturday 28 November – Christchurch, One New Zealand Stadium
https://www.frontiertouring.com/robbiewilliams
Robbie Williams Marvel Stadium setlist
Wednesday 11 November 2026
Rocket
Let Me Entertain You
Rock DJ
Strong
Pretty Face
Love My Life
Hot Fudge
Supreme
The Road To Mandalay
B Stage
Better Man
Wonderwall (Oasis cover, featuring Thom Rylance)
Something Beautiful
Main Stage
Millennium
Theme From New York, New York
No Regrets
Band introductions medley:
Back In Black
Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
Another One Bites The Dust
Down Under
You’re The Voice
Y.M.C.A.
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Hey Jude
Come Undone
Kids
She’s The One
My Way
Encore
Feel
Angels
Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here
Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YouTube. See things first—Subscribe to Noise11 on YouTube
Follow Noise11.com on social media:
Bluesky
Facebook – Comment on the news of the day
