In partnership with Sziget Festival

Twenty One Pilots covered The White Stripes as they headlined the second day of Sziget 2026.

The band – comprised of singer/guitarist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun – brought their current festival run to Budapest, following stops across Europe.

Towards the end of their performance, a video played on the big screens, showing a pre-recorded message from The White Stripes frontman Jack White. “I’m Jack White, and I give Tyler and Josh permission to do this,” he told the camera. As the screens cut back to the action on stage, the pair tore into a version of ‘Seven Nation Army’, uniting the audience in a huge sing-along of the riff.

As the last notes of the cover reverberated around the Island of Freedom, Joseph addressed the crowd, thanking them for their reception. “If you would have us back, we’d love to come back,” he added.

Twenty One Pilots at Sziget 2026 credit: Horvath Andras

Twenty One Pilots’ set was packed with hits and fan favourites from across their back catalogue. After kicking things off with ‘Overcompensate’, they segued into ‘The Contract’, which saw Joseph swinging his microphone in the air. ‘Heathens’ and ‘Next Semester’ were followed by the singer asking: “Will you be OK with just us today? Just me, Josh and you?”

The set was littered with pyrotechnics and blasts of smoke, while ‘Drum Show’ saw Dun undertake his usual journey offstage and onto a tower with a secondary drum kit, looming over the audience. Later, Joseph joined in the antics, clambering up a structure in the middle of the field for ‘Ride’.

The pair closed out their set with ‘Stressed Out’ and ‘Trees’, dropping more fireworks and smoke before they headed off.

Twenty One Pilots played:

‘Overcompensate’
‘The Contract’
‘Center Mass’
‘Shy Away’
‘Heathens’
‘Next Semester’
‘One Way’
‘Tear In My Heart’
‘Jumpsuit’
‘Nico And The Niners’
‘Heavydirtysoul’
‘Drum Show’
‘Rawfear’
‘Drag Path’
‘Doubt’
‘Ride’
‘Tally’
‘Seven Nation Army’
‘Stressed Out’
‘Trees’

Day two of Sziget 2026 also saw performances from Biffy Clyro, Ashnikko, TOMORA, Natasha Bedingfield, HEALTH, and more. The festival will continue today (August 13) with a headline set from Florence + The Machine, plus appearances from Lewis Capaldi, Fcukers, Parcels, Loyle Carner, Richie Hawtin and more.

Earlier this year, Twenty One Pilots released a concert film, More Than We Ever Imagined, capturing a Mexico City gig on their ‘The Clancy World Tour’, which saw them perform to 65,000 people. Joseph and Dun provided commentary throughout the film, reflecting on their journey to the career milestone.

The post Twenty One Pilots rock Sziget 2026 with The White Stripes cover appeared first on NME.