Niall Horan has opened up about his ongoing health concerns, revealing he believes he may need a double hip replacement in the near future — a stark admission from one of Ireland’s biggest music exports.
The Mullingar native first rose to fame as a member of One Direction, one of the most successful pop groups of all time, before launching a hugely successful solo career.
Since then, Horan has become known not only for chart-topping albums like Flicker, Heartbreak Weather and The Show, but also for his demanding touring schedule — something that has likely taken a toll on his body over the years.
Horan is no stranger to injuries.
Back in 2014, at the height of One Direction’s fame, he underwent major knee surgery after years of playing through pain, something he later admitted he had ignored for too long.
More recently, in 2023, he required further treatment, including injections, after tearing a tendon in his other knee — highlighting a pattern of ongoing joint issues that have followed him throughout his career.
Now, with both his knees and hips causing concern, the singer has pointed to genetics as a key factor.
His father, Bobby Horan, has undergone multiple joint procedures in recent years, including a knee replacement and hip surgery, and is reportedly preparing for another operation.
When it was pointed out that Niall is significantly younger than his father, the singer said the bad genes were "clearly in there" and said his uncle had also had "two knees done". He went on to joke that he was "ruined" from birth.
Horan has also referenced similar issues affecting other family members, suggesting a hereditary link behind his current condition.
The former One Direction star admitted his hips are "going" and claimed his genetics meant he was "f**ked" from the day he was born.
His comments offer a glimpse into the physical strain that can come with years of performing at the highest level — particularly for artists who spend long periods on stage and on the road.
The timing is notable, as Horan is preparing for a major new chapter in his career.
With his upcoming album Dinner Party set for release and a large-scale UK and European tour on the horizon — including two nights at Dublin’s 3Arena — questions may arise about how these health concerns could impact his schedule.
For now, however, Horan appears to be pressing ahead, balancing the demands of global stardom with the realities of long-term physical wear and tear. It’s a reminder that even for artists at the top of their game, the lifestyle can come with lasting consequences — and that staying on stage often requires pushing through more than fans might realise.
Niall Horan has announced two major Dublin dates as part of his upcoming UK and European tour, marking a highly anticipated homecoming for the former One Direction star.
The Mullingar native will bring his “Dinner Party” Live On Tour to 3Arena on November 9 and 10, 2026, as part of a run of arena shows kicking off in Birmingham on September 22 and wrapping up in Belfast on November 15. The tour is named after his upcoming fourth studio album, Dinner Party, which is set for release on June 5 via Capitol Records.
Tickets for the Dublin shows will be priced between €51.70 and €93.75, with presales beginning on March 31 and general sale launching on April 2 at 10am. As expected, demand is likely to be high given Horan’s strong following in Ireland and the scale of his recent tours.
The lead single, “Dinner Party”, is out now, offering fans a first taste of what’s to come from the new record. Described as “cinematic and organic,” the album sees Horan leaning into a more reflective sound, shaped by themes of connection, nostalgia and looking ahead. Longtime collaborators Julian Bunetta and John Ryan return as executive producers, with additional contributions from a wide range of co-writers.
Horan’s rise from boyband member to global solo star has been one of the most successful of his generation. After One Direction became one of the biggest acts in the world, he launched his solo career with Flicker in 2017, which included the hit “Slow Hands.” He followed it with Heartbreak Weather in 2020 and The Show in 2023 — both of which topped charts internationally, including in the UK and the US.
His last global tour, “The Show” Live On Tour, sold over 1.2 million tickets worldwide, cementing his status as a major live performer. Beyond music, he has also gained a new audience as a coach on the US version of The Voice, where he has won multiple seasons, further showcasing his influence in the industry.
For Irish fans, these Dublin dates represent more than just another tour stop. Horan has consistently maintained strong ties to home, and his return to the 3Arena is expected to be one of the standout live events of the year.
Niall Horan Dinner Party
Former One Direction singer Niall Horan admitted that he did not believe that his former bandmate Liam Payne's death was real when he was first told about it.
Payne, who burst onto the scene as a member of the band One Direction alongside Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayne Malik, and Harry Styles, died after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2024. He was 31 years old.
In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Horan revealed that he had met up with Payne a few days prior to his tragic death.
"I just remember getting a message, and I was just like, what? I just didn’t think it was real", Horan explained.
He continued: "Someone so young, you’re not expecting to hear that they’ve passed, especially someone that you’ve just seen. I just went back from shock to sadness to anger".
On the last time he met up with Payne, Horan added: "It was great, (he) seemed in good form and we had a good laugh, good reminisce".
"I heard Louis talking about this recently, it’s so true. It’s like you haven’t seen each other in ages and then you just fall back in like it was 10 years ago".
Horan then went onto say that he felt a sense "fear and sadness" following Payne's death and added that he "went into hiding a little bit" following the funeral.
Horan and the rest of the One Direction bandmates reunited for Payne's funeral in November 2024, alongside Simon Cowell, who signed the band to his label following their appearance on The X Factor in 2010.
Speaking of Horan, the singer also recently announced that his new album, 'Dinner Party', would be released in June.
The album, which serves as Horan's first record since 'The Show' in 2023, will featured a new collaboration with Myles Smith, 'Drive Safe'. More on this story here.
Niall Horan had previously shared the album's title track earlier this month. Check that out and our report on it here.
