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Review: Coldplay Brought Unity to Hard Rock Stadium

Coldplay lit up Miami on night one of their Music of the Spheres World Tour.
Image: Man with a microphone on stage surrounded by confetti
Coldplay delivered a message of love and unity at their Miami show. Photo by Pati Laylle

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The first thing that stood out upon arriving at the Hard Rock Stadium for the first Coldplay show of the weekend was the sheer diversity of the crowd. Ages ranged from tweens to retirees. Fans of all backgrounds — Black, White, Asian, Middle Eastern, queer, straight, binary, nonbinary — filled the venue. The atmosphere radiated unity, peace, and love; we are all in for that. From the jump, there was a palpable sense of togetherness. The best way to describe it? A hive mind. Everyone was tuned in and totally locked on Coldplay.

Although we missed the first opener, Elyanna, a rising Chilean-Palestinian artist leaving audiences in awe, we made it in time for Ayra Starr, and she delivered. Hitting the stage around 8:30 and wrapping by 9:15, Starr kept the energy high for a solid 45-minute set, backed by a sharp DJ. Even if not everyone knew her songs, plenty in the crowd did, and she held it down with confidence and charisma.

After her set, there was about a 30-minute break for the crew to set up Coldplay's stage. During that time, the crowd started doing waves — five to seven complete rounds traveled through the entire stadium. From the 100s to the 200s section, everyone was synced. That alone speaks to the unity in the crowd. Everyone was on the same page, excited for Coldplay.

Then, the moment finally arrived, and the band walked out on stage. Confetti, fireworks — it was wild. A colleague at Univision once described the intro to a Coldplay show as "feeling like Disney," and we couldn't agree more. It truly felt like being a happy kid again.

They opened with "Higher Power," and by the second or third song, they played "Adventure of a Lifetime." Suddenly, giant colorful balls started bouncing through the crowd. Everyone on the floor was hitting them. We hoped one would reach the 100s section, where we were, but none made it.
click to enlarge giant colorful balls bouncing through the crowd at a concert
Giant colorful balls bounced through the crowd during Coldplay's show.
Photo by Pati Laylle
Right after "Adventure of a Lifetime," they launched into "Paradise" — back to back. It was euphoric. It's hard to believe those two songs were played early in the set. After warming up the crowd, Chris Martin officially welcomed everyone and thanked them for being there. In a very Miami touch, he spoke quite a bit of Spanish throughout the night. He claimed his Spanish isn't perfect, but honestly, as a Mexican in the crowd says, he does great. It's thoughtful and heartfelt.

The setlist was stacked. After "Adventure of a Lifetime" and "Paradise," they play "Viva La Vida" — gorgeous. Everyone sang along, regardless of age or race. Then came "A Sky Full of Stars" and "Something Just Like This." During "Sky Full of Stars," confetti machines fired in waves across the stage and walkways, changing colors with each burst. It felt like pure euphoria. Everyone was singing in unison. The positivity and energy in that moment were overwhelming — palpable in the air.

Coldplay took time between songs to engage the crowd. Martin read signs, acknowledged flags from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica — even Israel and Palestine — and said, "Everyone is welcome here." That landed. It was a true message of unity, no division, just love.
click to enlarge rock band playing on stage
Coldplay brought its Music of the Spheres World Tour to Miami.
Photo by Pati Laylle
At one point, the band spotted a sign in the crowd that read, "We only came here to sing 'In My Place' with you." Moments later, two fans, Henry and Grace, were up onstage, living that dream. It was a highlight of the night.

Martin shared a story about writing that song. He was playing around on the piano, and when Johnny (the guitarist) came in and added the riff, Martin said, "Wow, our band might actually survive." This was hilarious and touching.

The wristbands handed out light up throughout the show, synced perfectly with the music. It wasn't a gimmick, but a key part of the experience.

When "Yellow" played, the entire stadium lit up — appropriately — in yellow. It was emotional. Martin dedicated the song to his daughter, saying she's "the best daughter in the world." The lyrics say, "You've got all my love."

Another night highlight came with a surprise guest appearance by TINI, who joined Coldplay for the Spanish version of "We Pray." This was a huge moment for Miami, and the crowd responded accordingly — going wild. TINI looked stunning and sounded even better. Other guests included Elyanna and Burna Boy (still one of the hottest names in Afrobeats), each delivering strong performances.
click to enlarge Coldplay singer with open arms on stage.
Coldplay took time between songs to engage with the crowd.
Photo by Pati Laylle
Then came "Something Just Like This," which hit with full force. During the segment, a security guard in an alien mask danced across the stage while the band stretched the track into an extended, club-ready remix. It was ridiculous in the best way.

That energy carried straight into "My Universe," Coldplay's massive collab with BTS, who appeared on screen. Even without them physically present, it was one of the night's standout performances.

At around 11:18 p.m., the lights went out, and for a moment, it felt like the show had ended. But Coldplay had one more surprise. The band reappeared on the C stage, tucked near the back of the stadium, giving fans in the farthest seats their own front-row moment. Chris Martin took the mic for a heartfelt thank-you, shouting out not just fans, but workers, security, bartenders — even Uber and train drivers.

By 11:30 p.m., they launched into "High Speed," which Martin joked had been written in 1978. Mid-song, he dropped a classic Chris Martin one-liner: "I smell weed. This song's for the weed smokers."

click to enlarge A stadium full of people during a concert.
Coldplay delivered an impactful show at Hard Rock Stadium.
Photo by Pati Laylle
Then the band turned their attention to the crowd, spotlighting fans on the Jumbotron. First up: a buff guy who got a laugh out of Martin's quip, "Hello, my beautiful brother. In 1998, I thought I was straight… but tonight I might switch to gay." Then a kid in a space helmet appeared, prompting Martin to deadpan, "Next time I see you, I might be dead, or you'll be in space."

Coldplay closed the night with "Fix You" — emotional, soaring, and the perfect finale to a show rooted in peace, love, and unity. It felt better than therapy. As the last notes echoed through the stadium, the Jumbotron lit up with a simple message: Believe in Love. Then, like movie credits, the names of every person who made the night possible scrolled across the screen — from crew and security to venue managers.
click to enlarge Coldplay singer on stage wearing a blue shirt and pants.
Coldplay showed care for fans and the planet during their Miami show.
Photo by Pati Laylle
One final gesture underscored what sets Coldplay apart: their humanity. They care about the fans, the planet, and the message. As the crowd began to exit, an announcement reminded everyone to drop off their LED wristbands in designated recycling bins: "They won't light up anymore, so there's no point in keeping them. Recycle them."

In the end, Coldplay doesn't just put on a show — they make you believe in humanity again. Maybe, just maybe, not all is lost.