This year, there were so many artists that transformed their albums into full-scale live concert experiences, with tours that dominated arenas, stadiums and social media. After looking at production and cultural impact, I decided that these are my 15 favorite tours of the year.

15. “After Hours Til Dawn” tour

The Weeknd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” tour was one of the biggest stadium tours of 2025, with songs from three albums and selling out arenas across North America and beyond. Its cinematic production and massive setlist, along with the huge global demand for his new album makes it arguably the most impactful tour of the year. According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour grossed $635.5 million and sold 5.1 million tickets since launching, making it the biggest R&B tour in history.

14. “Short n’ Sweet” tour

Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” tour had so many iconic moments, especially her outro poses, tour outfits and crowd banter with celebrity guests, which made her go viral on social media. The tour marked the moment she stopped being seen as an opener or former Disney act and started being treated as a full pop headliner.

13. “Grand National” tour

Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “Grand National Tour” stood out for its contrasting structure. Kendrick’s confrontational performances and SZA’s emotionally immersive set created a whole new experience for concertgoers. Videos of Kendrick’s silent crowd pauses and SZA’s raw vocal moments went viral on the internet.

12. “Music of the Spheres” tour

Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” tour sold out stadiums worldwide. According to Guinness World Records, it became the most attended world tour in history. Beyond just the LED wristbands, the tour went viral for the “affair moment,” when a couple caught on the kiss cam became an unexpected internet phenomenon.

11. “Cowboy Carter” tour

The “Cowboy Carter” tour became known for its precision and symbolism, specifically for Beyonce’s western-inspired singing and costuming that started cultural analysis online. Moments where she performed genre-blending tracks field broader conversations about country music and reinvention rather than only chart success.

10. “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour

Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour was iconic, frequently adding second date nights due to overwhelming demand. One of the tour’s most emotional moments came when she performed her song “TV” and entire stadiums of people screamed about the overturning of Roe. v. Wade.

9. “Miss Possessive” tour

Tate McRae’s “Miss Possessive” tour marked McRae’s jump into playing full arenas. Her nonstop dancing while maintaining live vocals set her apart, and clips of her performing, as well as her opening act, Zara Larsson, emphasized how entertainment-focused the show was from start to finish. It created a new standard for high-energy pop tours from younger artists.

8. “Deadline” tour

BLACKPINK continued to draw massive international crowds in their “Deadline” tour, selling out stadiums and large arenas across Asia and Europe. The tour’s anticipation was high because it marked their return after nearly three years without touring together as a group. Seeing all four members back on stage together became a defining emotional and viral hook of the tour.

7. “The Mayhem Ball” tour

Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem Ball” tour became one of her biggest live runs yet by selling nearly 970,000 tickets and grossing over $208 million across arenas worldwide. Her tours were fueled by the “Mayhem era” and hits like “Abacadabra”. Gaga also made history with a free Copacabana Beach show in Rio that had a crowd of 2.5 million fans, the largest concert crowd ever for a female artist.

6. “BRAT” tour

Charli’s “BRAT” tour became synonymous with “brat summer,” using neon green lighting, club visuals and high-energy music. The tour went viral for the chaotic crowd energy and Charli treating the stage like a rave rather than a traditional pop show. The tour felt like a cultural moment tied directly to the “BRAT” era’s attitude and aesthetic.

5. “Antagonist” tour

Carti’s “Antagonist” tour filled large arenas with immensely dedicated fans, even if demand wasn’t universal. The tour went viral for Carti’s encouragement of mosh culture and raw crowd energy. The tour prioritized atmosphere and energy over polish, which is exactly what his audience showed up for.

4. “Jonas20: Greetings from Your Hometown” tour

The Jonas Brothers’ tour, “Jonas20: Greetings from Your Hometown,” had strong attendance in the U.S. with long and nostalgia-heavy setlists. One of the most talked-about moments was Demi Lavato joining them on stage to perform a Camp Rock song. Celebrity guest appearances and emotional throwbacks made the tour feel like a celebration of their legacy.

3. “The Late Nights & Young Romance” tour

Sombr’s touring presence drew attention less for scale and more for controversy. Clips circulated of him encouraging fans to call their exes or him saying uncomfortable things onstage, which raised concern because so much of his audience consisted of teens and pre-teens. Despite this, many fans pointed out how close and interactive he is with his audience.

2. “The Wishbone Pajama Show” tour

Gray’s tour focused on mid-sized venues and an emotional set list. One of the most shared moments was Gray and Olivia Rodrigo breaking a wishbone together, which broke exactly in half; it was symbolic and emotional for fans who love their friendship. His extended monologues about loneliness and identity growing up were delivered in near silence, making the tour very emotional.

1. “The Secret of Us tour” tour

Abrams consistently sold out theatres and smaller arenas in her “The Secret of Us” tour. A lot of her momentum came from songs that went viral on TikTok like “Close to You” and “I miss you, I’m sorry.” The tour gave her the reputation of an up-and-coming artist, with many expecting her next tour to be on a much larger scale.