Louis Tomlinson opened his How Did We Get Here? world tour in Hamburg, Germany, on March 23, 2026, and included a moment of tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. Tomlinson performed the track “Dark to Light,” a song he has said was written about Payne, during the opening night set.

Tour opener and the tribute

The How Did We Get Here? Tour began in support of Tomlinson’s album of the same name. Among a range of songs drawn from his three solo records, the singer paused for an emotional performance of “Dark to Light.” Tomlinson has described the song as one of his most personal and said it was inspired by his relationship with Payne.

Liam Payne’s death and Tomlinson’s message

Liam Payne, 31, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. Reports in the coverage of Payne’s death said the cause was directly connected to the fall and that drugs were reported to have been present in his system; authorities arrived after a hotel manager reported an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and Payne fell before officers could intervene.

After Payne’s death, Tomlinson wrote on Instagram about his late bandmate: “Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band. And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.”

“I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye… I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.”

Reaction from fans and context

Tomlinson’s performance of “Dark to Light,” which includes the lyric, “I wish you could see how you look in my eyes / One more time / Would it make a difference? Would it make you smile? / Could it bring you from dark to light?,” moved many in the crowd and online. Fans posted emotional reactions after the show, with some saying they were unable to stop crying while hearing the song.

The two performers were members of One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik before the group went on hiatus in 2016. Tomlinson has said he and Payne had discussed writing together again and that their close friendship continued after the band ended.

Tomlinson’s opening-night tribute drew attention both for its musicality and its personal resonance, as fans and fellow artists reflected on Payne’s contribution to the band and the music he made.

Image Referance: https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/louis-tomlinson-liam-payne-song-1754319.amp