Queen's 1986 Wembley concerts commemorate 40th anniversary

On 11 and 12 July 1986 Queen performed two historic shows at London's Wembley Stadium as part of the Magic Tour, the last tour front‑lined by Freddie Mercury. The concerts promoted the album A Kind of Magic and featured an advanced production with a large stage, two giant side screens and 15 trucks of equipment, delivering powerful sound to an audience of about 72,000 each night. Mercury sang with a severe cold, giving his vocals a noticeably different tone. The performances were recorded and later released as the live album and film *Live at Wembley ’86*.

The Magic Tour visited numerous European countries—including Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom—before concluding on 9 August 1986 at Knebworth Park before 120,000 fans. After the tour Mercury was diagnosed with HIV in 1987 and died in 1991, cementing the Wembley shows as the final large‑scale live appearances of the classic line‑up. Forty years on, the concerts are remembered for their production innovations, set‑list blend of new hits and classic songs, and their lasting impact on rock history.