Linkin Park performed a four-song set during the pre-match festivities at the 2025 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, May 31, at the Allianz Arena in Munich. While the performance was well-received by fans, it drew sharp criticism from Dutch football legend Marco van Basten.
The recently reunited nu-metal icons played “The Emptiness Machine”, “In The End”, “Numb”, and “Heavy Is The Crown” before the final match, which saw Paris Saint-Germain defeat Inter Milan.
During the broadcast, van Basten did not hold back his opinion. “The Linkin Park performance was garbage, absolutely garbage. It’s a disgrace that UEFA allows this,” he said. While his comments were directed at the band by name, it is believed his criticism was aimed more at UEFA’s general decision to host a pre-match concert rather than at the quality of Linkin Park’s performance itself.
Despite the critique, the show was reportedly a “hit with fans in the stadium and online.” The high-profile appearance is just one stop on Linkin Park‘s extensive world tour, which continues through November.
Linkin Park also achieved a significant win at the 2025 American Music Awards on May 26, taking home “Favorite Rock Song” for their comeback single, “The Emptiness Machine.” This award, presented at the BleauLive Theater, marks a high point for the band’s recent return, which included the release of an expanded edition of their 2024 album, From Zero.
“The Emptiness Machine” triumphed over other strong contenders in the category, including Green Day‘s “Dilemma” and Hozier‘s “Too Sweet.” In other rock categories, Twenty One Pilots were honored as “Favorite Rock Artist” and also received “Favorite Rock Album” for their record, Clancy.
Linkin Park 2025 Remaining World Tour Dates:
- Jun 12: Nisckelsdorf, Austria (Novarock Festival)
- Jun 14: Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic (Rock For People Festival)
- Jun 16: Hannover, Germany (Heinz-Von-Heiden Arena with Architects)
- Jun 18: Berlin, Germany (Olympiastadion with Architects)
- Jun 20: Bern, Switzerland (Bernexpo)
- Jun 24: Milan, Italy (I-Days Festival)
- Jun 26: Arnhem, Netherlands (Gelredome with Spiritbox)
- Jun 28: London, UK (Wembley Stadium with Spiritbox and Jpegmafia)
- Jul 01: Dusseldorf, Germany (Merkur Spiel Arena with Architects and Jpegmafia)
- Jul 03: Werchter, Belgium (Rock Werchter Festival)
- Jul 05: Gdynia, Poland (Open’er Festival)
- Jul 08: Frankfurt, Germany (Deutsche Bank Park with Architects and Jpegmafia)
- Jul 11: Paris, France (Stade De France)
- Jul 29: Brooklyn, NY (Barclays Center with Pvris)
- Aug 01: Boston, MA (TD Garden with Pvris)
- Aug 03: Newark, NJ (Prudential Center with Pvris)
- Aug 06: Montreal, Canada (Bell Centre with Pvris)
- Aug 08: Toronto, Canada (Scotiabank Arena with Pvris)
- Aug 11: Chicago, IL (United Center with Pvris)
- Aug 14: Detroit, MI (Little Caesars Arena with Pvris)
- Aug 16: Philadelphia, PA (Wells Fargo Center with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 19: Pittsburgh, PA (PPG Paints Arena with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 21: Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 23: St Louis, MO (Enterprise Center with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 25: Milwaukee, WI (Fiserv Forum with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 27: Minneapolis, MN (Target Center with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 29: Omaha, NE (CHI Health Center with Jean Dawson)
- Aug 31: Kansas City, MO (T-Mobile Center with Jean Dawson)
- Sep 03: Denver, CO (Ball Arena with Jean Dawson)
- Sep 06: Phoenix, AZ (Footprint Center with Jean Dawson)
- Sep 13: Los Angeles, CA (Dodger Stadium with Queens Of The Stone Age and Jpegmafia)
- Sep 15: San Jose, CA (SAP Center with Jpegmafia)
- Sep 17: Sacramento, CA (Golden 1 Center with Jpegmafia)
- Sep 19: Portland, OR (Moda Center with Jpegmafia)
- Sep 21: Vancouver, Canada (Rogers Arena with Jpegmafia)
- Sep 24: Seattle, WA (Climate Pledge Arena with Jpegmafia)
- Oct 26: Bogota, Colombia (TBA)
- Oct 29: Lima, Peru (TBA)
- Nov 01: Buenos Aires, Argentina (TBA)
- Nov 05: Santiago, Chile (TBA)
- Nov 08: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (TBA)
- Nov 10: São Paulo, Brazil (TBA)
- Nov 13: Brasilia, Brazil (TBA)
- Nov 15: Porto Alegre, Brazil (TBA)
