Niall Horan has marked 10 years of his debut solo single, “This Town”, with an emotional message for fans. The former One Direction member celebrated the anniversary by sharing behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the song’s early days and reflecting on how the track became a shared fan favourite.Released on September 29, 2016, “This Town” was Horan’s first song as a solo artist following One Direction’s hiatus. A decade later, the song has crossed one billion streams worldwide.Key HighlightsNiall Horan celebrates 10 years of “This Town”The song was his first solo single after One Direction’s hiatus“This Town” has crossed one billion streamsHoran shared behind-the-scenes memories from the song’s releaseHe thanked fans for continuing to sing the song with himHoran teased “a few special things” to mark the anniversaryNiall Horan Reflects on This TownSharing a series of throwback photos and videos, Horan reflected on what “This Town” meant at the beginning of his solo career.He recalled that the music scene in 2016 featured many heavily produced pop songs, while “This Town” was built around a much simpler arrangement featuring his voice and an acoustic guitar. Horan said that this helped the song stand out and allowed listeners around the world to connect with it.The song became an important first step in establishing Horan’s identity as a solo singer-songwriter after One Direction.‘It Was My Song and Now It’s Ours’Horan’s anniversary message focused heavily on his connection with fans.He expressed his gratitude after the song crossed one billion streams and said hearing audiences around the world sing “This Town” back to him years after its release remains difficult to put into words.“It was my song and now it’s ours,” Horan wrote while wishing the song a happy 10th anniversary.He also revealed that he has “a few special things” planned to celebrate the milestone, suggesting that more anniversary-related content could follow.How This Town Started Niall Horan’s Solo Career“This Town” arrived in September 2016, around a year after One Direction announced its hiatus. The song became the lead single from Horan’s debut solo album, “Flicker”, which was released in 2017.The track eventually reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its stripped-back sound helped introduce a different side of Horan compared with his years in One Direction.Over the following decade, Horan released four studio albums and continued touring as a solo artist. “This Town” has also remained part of his live performances, including his 2026 tour setlists.Fans Continue to Connect With the SongFor Horan, the anniversary is not just about the song’s commercial milestones. His message highlighted the role fans have played in keeping “This Town” relevant years after its release.The track’s billion-stream milestone and its continued presence in Horan’s live shows reflect its lasting place in his solo career.As Horan celebrates a decade of “This Town”, his message makes clear that the song has evolved from his first solo release into a track he now considers something shared with his fans.
