“Chris Martin & Katy Perry Fire Up the Crowd at Invictus Games Kickoff!”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and pop star Katy Perry helped kick off the Invictus Games in Canada with electrifying performances at the opening ceremony.
Joining them on stage were Canadian artists Nelly Furtado and Roxane Bruneau, thrilling the crowd at Vancouver’s BC Place as the seventh edition of the Games got underway.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watched from the audience, cheering on the athletes and performers. Martin delivered a heartfelt rendition of the Invictus Games anthem—crafted in 2014 using the poem Invictus—accompanied by the Universal Gospel Choir. He followed up with Coldplay’s Higher Power and closed his set with Viva La Vida.
Between songs, Martin playfully thanked Harry, joking: “When he called me, he said, ‘I’ve asked every other musician first, and they all said no.’” But he quickly turned serious, praising Harry as an “inspiring leader and kind man.”
The ceremony also featured a stirring bagpipe solo, followed by a full pipe and drum performance, setting the stage for an unforgettable start to the Games.
Katy Perry lit up the Invictus Games opening ceremony with a powerhouse performance, kicking off with her anthem Roar right after Prince Harry’s speech.
Dressed in a futuristic silver cut-out outfit, she delivered a high-energy medley of Dark Horse, Part of Me, and Lifetimes before closing with Firework—joined by a full marching band, a dance troupe, and giant yellow dancing figures.
Canadian star Nelly Furtado followed with a nostalgic set featuring I’m Like a Bird, Turn Off the Light, and Say It Right, encouraging the crowd to sing along. US singer-songwriter Noah Kahan also took the stage, getting the audience chanting with Northern Attitude before performing his viral hit Stick Season.
The ceremony honored the indigenous lands of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations with a traditional opening performance.
This year’s Invictus Games, running until February 16, bring together over 500 competitors from 23 nations. Launched in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Games celebrate the resilience of injured service personnel and veterans, promoting recovery and respect for those who have served.