The Killers set for Champions League final kick-off show in Pepsi entertainment play

The Killers will headline the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi on May 30 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, as UEFA and Pepsi extend their pre-match entertainment strategy for European club football’s showpiece event.The performance will take place moments before kick-off and will be broadcast globally, with UEFA saying fans can also watch via UEFA.com and the official UEFA YouTube channel alongside local rightsholders.Guy-Laurent Epstein, co-managing director of UC3, said: “The UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi has grown into a true landmark moment in global entertainment, and this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular yet.”“The Killers are an iconic band whose energy will set the perfect tone in Budapest, delivering an exhilarating start to the biggest match in European club football,” he said.The band said: “When we were asked to perform at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi, we said yes without hesitation, some stages speak for themselves. We’re honoured to celebrate the incredible teams and players at what will undoubtedly be an epic match.”PepsiCo said the activation sits within Pepsi Football Nation, its fan platform designed to connect music, sport and culture around the Champions League final.Eugene Willemsen, CEO of international beverages at PepsiCo, said: “Pepsi has a proud history of bringing big cultural moments in sports and music to fans around the world, and this year is no different.”“Through Pepsi Football Nation, our fan platform celebrating the culture and passion at the heart of the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show, we’re proud to welcome one of the most loved rock bands of the 21st century, The Killers, to the stage in Budapest,” he said.UEFA and Pepsi are also launching this year’s campaign with a short film, “The Race Begins”, featuring lead singer Brandon Flowers alongside Sir David Beckham as part of the build-up to the final.The Killers’ appearance adds another major-name music booking to UEFA’s commercial programme around the final, which has become a key sponsor-led inventory moment designed to lift global audience engagement before the match and create additional premium content for broadcast and digital distribution.