Take That and the Sugababes at the Plaza Festival

Which celebrities will be performing on stage at the NDR 2 Day event at Expo-Plaza in Hanover? 

The Sugababes, one of the most successful girl groups of the 2000s, are coming to Hanover with their original lineup: The trio will perform at the NDR 2 Plaza Festival on Friday, June 4, 2027. Also confirmed are Jamaican reggae superstar Shaggy and Germany’s pop/singer-songwriter icon Laith Al-Deen. Previously, organizers Hannover Concerts and NDR 2 had already announced the cult boy band Take That as the headliner and Welshly Arms as another top-tier international act. This completes the lineup.

Take That

With over 45 million records sold and twelve No. 1 hits, Take That ranks among the most successful acts in British music history. Formed in 1989, the quintet—which at the time still included founding member Robbie Williams—reached the top of the charts with its first two albums. Today, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen remain part of the band, which is known for its spectacular productions and incredible live shows. With 34 headlining shows, Take That holds the record for the most performances at London’s The O2 Arena. The “Progress” tour broke all box-office records in 2011 when it sold over a million tickets in less than 24 hours and became the biggest tour in the United Kingdom. In 2019, the band celebrated its 30th anniversary with the “Odyssey” tour, which comprised 38 concerts and sold out 650,000 tickets. In 2023, the iconic boy band made a comeback with a concert to mark the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, after not having performed together for over four years. This was followed by their ninth No. 1 album, “This Life,” as well as two highly successful UK tours, which together sold over 1.4 million tickets. Since early 2026, fans have also been able to look back on the pop icons’ career in the Netflix documentary series “Take That.” Recently, the British band gave fans a taste of their tenth studio album, “Dreamers,” set for release on November 20, with the two singles “You’re A Superstar” and “Sweet July.”

Sugababes

Formed in London in 1998, the Sugababes attracted a great deal of attention with their debut album, *One Touch* (2000). Their Top Ten single “Overload” is a staple of the imaginative “best-of” compilations from the early 2000s. This was followed by millions of records sold, including three multi-platinum albums, nominations for the BRIT Awards—which they won in 2003 as Best British Dance Act—and regular number-one hits in the UK. “Freak Like Me,” “Round Round,” “Hole In The Head,” “Push The Button,” “Walk This Way,” and “About You Now” each reached the top spot and remain indispensable to any 2000s playlist. With their confident stage presence, the girl group resonated with an entire generation of teenagers, who rehearsed choreographies to their songs and found empowerment through their music. After several lineup changes, the Sugababes have been performing again in their original lineup—Keisha, Mutya, and Siobhán—since 2019.

Shaggy

Shaggy, whose real name is Orville Richard Burrell, achieved his worldwide breakthrough in 1995 with the song “Boombastic” from the album of the same name, which won a Grammy Award for “Best Reggae Album of the Year.” Mister Boombastic enjoyed his greatest success in 2000 with the album “Hot Shot,” which stormed to the top of the charts in Germany, the U.S., and the U.K. To date, Shaggy has sold more than 40 million albums and ranks among the three most-streamed reggae artists, alongside Bob Marley and Sean Paul. Shaggy has now been in the business for around 30 years. To mark this milestone birthday, the artist—who, as he himself says, is heavily inspired by Lionel Richie—released his 16th album, “Lottery,” this year. With its mix of dancehall, reggae, pop, and R&B, the album is a return to the sound of his most successful era.

Laith Al-Deen

For a quarter of a century, Laith Al-Deen has been one of the defining voices of German pop. Gold and platinum certifications, millions of records sold, and numerous chart placements speak for themselves. With his unmistakable voice, the artist has a special way of telling stories through his songs that resonate deeply with listeners. In doing so, he has not only delivered hits like “Bilder von dir,” “Dein Lied,” and “Keine wie du,” but has also had a decisive influence on German-language pop with albums such as “Für alle,” “Bleib unterwegs,” and “Dein Begleiter.” His voice, his relatability, and his willingness to embrace emotion have resonated with generations. A 25-year career. Millions of streams. Countless goosebump-inducing moments. Laith Al-Deen has always had a gift for telling emotional stories through music. With his warm, soulful voice, he’ll take fans at the Plaza on a journey full of emotion and passion.

Welshly Arms

With the global success of their 2017 single “Legendary”—which has been certified platinum multiple times and streamed over 250 million times—Welshly Arms made the leap from local clubs to major festival stages. Gigs at Lollapalooza, Reading & Leeds, Rock am Ring, Bottlerock, and the Hangout Music Fest followed in quick succession. Songs like “Indestructible,” “Learn To Let Go,” and “Sanctuary” also became fan favorites—the latter two reached the Top Ten in Germany. Within a few months, Welshly Arms became a favorite of the indie rock scene, beloved from Los Angeles to Warsaw. Their album “No Place Is Home” (2018) generated over 375 million streams and brought the five-piece band international recognition. Their album “Wasted Words & Bad Decisions” (2023), recorded in a remote farmhouse near Cleveland, showcases a more mature and personal sound. Most recently, the quintet released the album “Shelter” in 2025, featuring the singles “Glorious” and “In Chills.” In 2027, Welshly Arms took off with live performances at festivals.

Where can I get tickets, what should I bear in mind?

Tickets will be available at www.hannover-concerts.de, www.eventim.de, and at ticket outlets. The tickets entitle holders to use public transportation on the days of the event within the Greater Hanover Transport Authority (GVH) area. Children ages 3 to 6 receive free admission. Infants and (very young) children are not permitted. For the first time, there are three ticket categories: standing room, standing room with early admission, and premium tickets that include a buffet, beverages, and access to an exclusive area. Advance ticket sales are now underway.

Service notes for the concerts in Hanover

How do I get to the Expo Plaza?

There are a total of three entrances to Expo Plaza (North, East, and Southeast), all of which are clearly marked. People in wheelchairs should use the North entrance, as this provides the quickest barrier-free access to the wheelchair platform to the right of the stage. In general, be sure to allow plenty of time to arrive early. 

By Bus and Train
: From the Kröpcke station (one stop or about a three-minute walk from the main train station), take CityRail Line 6 to Messe/Ost (the last stop). Trains run approximately every 10 minutes (regular weekly schedule), and additional trains are added for the round trip during Expo Plaza concerts.
There are also P+R parking lots in the region for continuing your journey via public transit. https://www.vmz-niedersachsen.de/region-hannover/park-und-ride/ 

By car
For those arriving by car, the organizers, together with the Hanover Traffic Management Centre, recommend the free and ad-free navigation app "NUNAV". To get there, select the event as your destination in the app and you will be guided directly to a free parking space to avoid traffic jams. Download free of charge: Android http://bit.ly/nunav Apple iOS https://t.co/OetQs4Gbyv 

What do people in wheelchairs or with walking impairments need to be aware of?

• Wheelchair users should please use the north entrance, as this is the quickest and most barrier-free way to reach the wheelchair platform to the right of the stage.
• Important: Wheelchairs, walking frames and stools etc. are not permitted in the standing area on the grounds due to official regulations. People with a walking disability must purchase a so-called "wheelchair ticket" for the wheelchair platform on presentation of their disabled pass by calling 0511 / 12123333.
• Disabled parking spaces are available in the marked parking lots and under the bridge in Weltausstellungsallee.
• The disabled toilets in the adjacent ZAG Arena are at ground level. Barrier-free toilet cubicles are also available directly at the wheelchair platform.

What is allowed on the premises?

• Bags are limited to a maximum size of DIN A4 (21 cm x 29.7 cm); the ban applies to bags and backpacks whose longest side exceeds the “DIN A4” size (21.0 x 29.7 cm).
  To minimize wait times at the entrance, we ask that you generally refrain from bringing bags. Important: Oversized bags may only be checked for a fee at the “No-Bag” container at the East Entrance. While admission is permitted with smaller bags (fanny packs, small shoulder bags, clutches), we ask that you limit these to the absolute essentials (e.g., cell phone, cash, medication).
• For security reasons, it is forbidden to bring glass bottles, cans, hard packaging or other objects that can be used as projectiles (e.g. deodorant, perfume etc.) onto the grounds. These items will therefore be removed at the entrance and kept with the evidence.

What is NOT allowed on the premises?

• Large bags such as backpacks, shopper bags, travel bags, suitcases, baskets and cooler bags
• Glass and PET bottles
• Tetra-Paks over 0.33 liters
• Professional cameras with interchangeable and/or zoom lenses and video function
• Audio and video recording devices of all kinds
• Lighting and video equipment
• GoPro cameras
• Selfie sticks
• Electronic devices such as tablets, laptops, large power banks; cell phones excluded
• Food and drinks (both available on site)
• Chairs, stools, folding chairs
• Weapons, knives, tasers, batons, pepper spray, etc.
• Glass container
• Flashlights, key chains & wallet chains, glow sticks, laser pointers
• Large flags and posters (incl. sticks)
• Umbrellas
• Helmets

Where is the box office and where can I deposit my tickets?

Box office / box office deposits (purchase tickets) are at the Container Entrance East.

Note Purchase card deposit function:

• Collection possible on the day of the event from 13:30 to 20:00 at the Box Office (east entrance)
• Have the collection code, order no. and ID card ready for collection

What about the catering?

• Food stands with a wide range of drinks and food are available throughout the area.
• For safety reasons, only one Tetra-Pak up to a maximum of 0.33 l without a lid per person (non-alcoholic) or one empty collapsible bottle may be taken onto the premises.
• There are drinking water points on the festival site (see site plan).
• Please note: ONLY CASH PAYMENT is possible at the food and beverage stands.
• There are NO ATMs on the festival site.

What are the tasks of the awareness teams?

Anyone who feels uncomfortable or has been harassed/discriminated against during the festival can contact the Awareness Team. It can be recognized by the pink "Where to Panama" vests or passes. The Panama Safe Space can be found at the security tent next to the North Entrance.

Medical advice

• Remember sun protection (cream, headgear, etc.) and rainproof clothing. Umbrellas are not permitted.
• Loud music can damage your hearing!
• Pay particular attention to hearing protection and appropriate positioning of children on the premises.
• Medical staff and doctors are on site for medical emergencies.