Global pop sensation Ed Sheeran sparked pure pandemonium on Sunday evening with a jaw-dropping, impromptu street performance outside Sheffield Town Hall — sending fans flooding into the city centre in droves and turning an ordinary evening into a musical spectacle.
It all started with a cryptic Instagram story from Sheeran himself, reading simply: “Sheffield Town Hall, 7pm” — accompanied by a tag of DJ AG. Within minutes, word spread like wildfire across social media. By the time the clock struck seven, hundreds of eager fans had swarmed the area in hopes of witnessing something special.
They weren’t disappointed.
Dressed casually and armed with just a microphone and his signature loop pedal, Ed Sheeran took to the steps of the Town Hall and launched into an electrifying set — no tickets, no barriers, just pure, raw music.
What was expected to be a brief pop-up turned into a three-hour celebration of music. Sheeran performed some of his biggest global hits including Shape of You, Shivers, Perfect, and Don’t. He also delighted fans with his collaboration tracks Azizam and Peru, and even threw in a freestyle to keep the crowd buzzing.
One of the standout moments came when Sheeran was joined by rapper JME for a live performance of their song Radio, turning the unexpected gig into a full-blown mini-concert complete with guest stars.
But the evening was more than just a concert — it was a powerful display of community spirit and grassroots talent. Joining Sheeran onstage were students from TRACKS, a local Sheffield music initiative dedicated to nurturing young musicians.
Earlier this year, Ed Sheeran’s foundation pledged a three-year funding package to TRACKS, including donations of musical instruments. On this night, the collaboration came full circle, with those very students performing alongside the star they admire.
“Sheffield has so much talent and heart — this city always shows up. And these kids are the future,” Sheeran told the crowd.
Fan footage quickly flooded TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), capturing everything from the opening notes to emotional singalongs and surprise collaborations. Many in the crowd were brought to tears.
“I can’t believe this happened right outside my office!”
— one fan posted on X, accompanied by a selfie with Sheeran in the background.
“Sheffield will talk about this for years. Thank you, Ed.”
— another wrote on Instagram.
Some fans expressed heartbreak at missing the unannounced event:
“Awww I missed this, I would’ve been there if I’d known he was coming 😭”
