Jay-Z brought his JAŸ-Z 30 anniversary celebration to London with two concerts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5, marking his return to the city as a solo headliner while celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The opening night featured a career-spanning set packed with songs from across his catalog and several surprise appearances.

The first major moment came before Jay-Z even took the stage, when Idris Elba opened the show with the introduction to Jay-Z’s 2007 album American Gangster. Jay-Z then launched into a set that moved through material from Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album, American Gangster, The Blueprint 3 and 4:44, among other releases.

Jay-Z revisited several of his biggest records, including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “Empire State of Mind,” “99 Problems,” “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Song Cry,” “Run This Town” and “Family Feud.” The first-night setlist ultimately stretched to 37 performances and included songs and collaborations spanning his three-decade career.

South London rapper Giggs was among the night’s surprise guests, joining Jay-Z for “Talkin the Hardest” and “Welcome to the Jungle.” The appearance added a local connection to the London stop as Jay-Z continued the guest-heavy format that has characterized his anniversary performances throughout 2026.

The most notable guest appearance came when Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited onstage as Fugees. The pair joined Jay-Z for “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “Fu-Gee-La,” bringing the group’s classic material into the middle of Jay-Z’s career-spanning performance.

DJ Khaled also appeared during the show for “GOD DID,” with Jay-Z performing the track alongside the producer and longtime collaborator. The performance added another recent chapter to the set alongside songs reaching back to the early stages of Jay-Z’s recording career.

Another major moment came when Jay-Z acknowledged Beyoncé, who was watching the concert from a private suite on her 45th birthday. He led the sold-out stadium crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to her, while fireworks accompanied the celebration. Beyoncé did not join him onstage during the London performance.

The concert also featured a range of deep cuts and medleys, including “Dead Presidents,” “Where I’m From,” “Marcy Me,” “Can I Live,” “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” and a seven-minute freestyle. The performance later moved into “Niggas in Paris,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Public Service Announcement” and “Numb/Encore,” which closed the first night.

The London concerts are part of Jay-Z’s 2026 JAŸ-Z 30 performances marking the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint. After the London dates, the anniversary run is scheduled to continue with a Paris performance before moving on to Los Angeles in October.