Twenty One Pilots All Points East review: ‘A flawlessly crafted and gloriously fulfilling show’

The performance at All Points East served as the beginning of a new chapter and end of one simultaneously. It marked the end of the European run for 2026 for Twenty One Pilots and also served as the pair’s first UK performance since the end of the Dema storyline.

The Dema lore served as a decade-long narrative, dating from 2015's ‘Blurryface’ to 2025’s 'Breach', and is a fictional dystopian universe from the music and lore of the band, serving as an elaborate metaphor for mental imprisonment, depression, and insecurity.

It’s a narrative that has helped the pair build a diehard fanbase. By spreading the storyline across five albums, they’ve expanded the lore onto cryptic websites and specific merchandise ranging from the yellow bandito tape from 2018’s ‘Trench’ to Clancy’s mask from 2024’s ‘Clancy’, creating extensions of the music itself and building a universe where their fanbase is as immersed and involved as them in the unique world they’ve created.

It’s something that also gave extra weight to Joseph’s remark, “This is it. It’s just me, Josh and you” during the set. It was a statement keenly felt across Victoria Park. It felt as if it was addressed to each person individually, and that relationship between band and audience continues to blossom as fans wearing their iconic tape and Clancy masks filled Victoria Park on Sunday. The “Skeleton Clique”, the band’s fanbase, were treated to an unforgettable performance that opened with ‘Overcompensate’, which saw Joseph leap over his piano and left the 50,000-strong audience belting the chorus back to him in full voice, so much so that it resulted in applause from Joseph himself.

‘The Contract’ was a stadium-shaking experience that erupted after Joseph climbed aboard a board and was hoisted by fans in one of the VIP sections. ‘Shy Away’ was a thrill ride that saw Dun briefly switch to the synthesisers, dropping some pulsating synths before offering another barrage of hard-hitting yet intricate drumming.

‘Heathens’ sparked a euphoric singalong and was delivered with Dun’s powerhouse drumming and Joseph’s low-end bass rumblings before Dun jumped on the keyboard at the end, providing a rich yet spacious line as they seamlessly transitioned into ‘Next Semester’. The aforementioned ‘Next Semester’ saw Joseph take a backseat as the 50,000-strong audience belted the choruses back to him. ‘One Way’, delivered with a thick yet pulsating bass line, saw the pair ad-lib into a bridge of Milky Chance’s 'Stolen Dance'.

‘Tear In My Heart’ saw Joseph transition seamlessly between ukulele and piano while Dun complemented him with steady, driving drumming. The pair’s first-ever performance of ‘Robot Voices’ was marked with the arrival of Emi Grace, who complemented the pair with a distorted guitar. A brief piano-driven rendition of The Beatles’ classic ‘Let It Be’ from Joseph provided a welcome surprise and sparked a big singalong, providing a reminder to always expect the unexpected with Twenty One Pilots and to embrace the communal joy within their shows.

Even in large-scale festival settings, Twenty One Pilots have the unquestionable ability to make the environment adapt to them and feel completely intimate. Both Joseph and Dun capitalised on the presence of the B-Stage, walking through the crowd to greet their fanbase and, in Joseph’s case, sing directly to the fans as he performed ‘Routines In The Night’, borrowing sunglasses from several fans and making a joke pitstop at the bathroom, much to the amusement of everyone in attendance and Joseph himself. It’s an interactive environment that enables them to connect with their fanbase directly, and both the band and audience alike are better for having experienced it.

Unexpected performances of ‘Message Man’, ‘Pet Cheetah’ and ‘Polarize’ followed on the B-Stage and saw the stationary car positioned on the stage engulfed in flames. ‘Chlorine’ saw Joseph perform the rendition with a selection of fans as he made his way back to the A-Stage and was soon followed by Dun, who hoisted a flaming torch and a flag covered with the word ‘London’ on it before embarking on a slow march, adding a theatrical element to the performance.

‘Jumpsuit’, back on the A-Stage, felt heavier and more hard-hitting than ever as it combined Joseph’s thick, finger-picked bass line with Dun’s hard-hitting drumming before they ad-libbed into a bridge of ‘City Walls’, performed with Joseph playing the piano. A spine-tingling performance of ‘Heavydirtysoul’ saw Joseph seamlessly switch between his hip-hop flow and clean melodic singing as fireworks and pyro blasts filled the stage.

‘Drum show’ saw Dun scale a ladder and perform at the top of an elevated platform, delivering a drumming masterclass while roughly 20ft above the audience. The unexpected moment was preceded by Joseph's surprise piano-driven cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’, paying homage to a band that was a key influence on the pair.

To further add to the surprises, Joseph invited Lucas the security guard to perform with the band on ‘Ride’ and played a short video package from Jack White, confirming the pair had his permission to perform The White Stripes’ timeless hit ‘Seven Nation Army”, which included Dun ad-libbing with propulsive synths and Joseph adding a driving piano line in the bridge, offering a fresh take on the classic song.

A surprise performance of ‘Downstairs’ showcased Joseph’s soaring, melodic vocals before the joyous singalongs of ‘Guns For Hands’, ‘Stressed Out’ and ‘Trees’ brought the performance to a close, with both Dun and Joseph climbing on boards hoisted by the audience to simultaneously bang bass drums before bowing out. “Did we do okay?” Joseph asked. Such was the depth of the pair’s 29-song setlist; tracks such as ‘Mulberry Street’, ‘The Judge’, ‘Car Radio’ and ‘Backslide’ were absent, yet the show didn’t suffer. It highlights just how stacked their discography actually is and how it was a performance that delivered everything you could possibly want and more. You did more than okay, Tyler.

You can check out 2025’s ‘Breach’ by Twenty One Pilots on Apple Music here.