Louis Tomlinson has paid an emotional tribute to his late bandmate Liam Payne as One Direction marked its 16th anniversary.
The chart-topping boyband was formed on The X Factor on July 23, 2010, when Simon Cowell brought together Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik after they were eliminated as solo contestants.
The group went on to become one of the biggest pop acts in the world before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
One Direction arriving for the 2011 GQ Awards, Royal Opera House, London
To mark the milestone, Tomlinson shared a heartfelt message on X, thanking fans for their support over the past 16 years.
"16 f---ing years of One Direction!!! Blows my mind. Thank you for changing all our lives and the love and passion you all still show is unmatched! Tonight’s going to be a special show. Spending the rest of the day listening to all the bangers and reminiscing! Thank you for all the memories," he wrote.
He ended the post with a touching tribute to Payne, who died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Liam Payne. Pic Media Aus, Shutterstock
"And to my brother I miss you every day but especially on days like today. I know we’d have been celebrating today."
16 fucking years of One Direction!!! Blows my mind. Thank you for changing all our lives and the love and passion you all still show is unmatched! Tonight’s going to be a special show.
Spending the rest of the day listening to all the bangers and reminiscing! Thank you for all…
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) July 23, 2026
Tomlinson also spent the day revisiting One Direction's back catalogue on his Instagram Stories, sharing memories behind some of the band's biggest songs and revealing little-known stories from their recording sessions.
While listening to the Up All Night track More Than This, he reflected on a moment that stood out for the group.
"Pretty sure this was when Liam first discovered his falsetto, I remember how proud we all were. He sounds incredible!" Tomlinson wrote.
Louis Tomlinson's Instagram story. Credit: Instagram, louist91
He also looked back fondly on several other fan favourites. Speaking about Moments, which was co-written by Ed Sheeran, he wrote: "So many special memories with this one. Absolutely classic @teddysphotos melody. First time I ever felt really proud of my own vocal on track."
Reflecting on Na Na Na, he joked, "Peak lyricism," while describing Kiss You as a song he had "Always loved."
Looking back at the band's 2012 hit Live While We're Young, Tomlinson admitted it was "Not my fav but huge pop song," adding: "Still remember shooting the video clearly, some amazing memories that day!"
He also revealed that Over Again has always reminded him of fellow bandmate Niall Horan "for some reason."
Niall Horan's new album 'Dinner Party' is out now
One Direction rose to global fame after releasing their debut single What Makes You Beautiful in 2011, becoming one of the world's biggest-selling boybands.
Although the group has remained on hiatus while each member pursued solo careers, their music continues to be celebrated by fans around the world.
