by Hannah Wiener

Live music is back in full force in 2026, with artists across all genres hitting the road and festival stages around the world. From long-awaited returns to massive stadium spectacles and fresh arena runs, this year’s concert scene is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. From globally acclaimed superstars to breakout favorites, here are the most buzzed-about tours of the year.

Zach Bryan- With Heaven on tour

Americana and country favorite, Zach Bryan, returns with his fourth major tour: With Heaven on Tour, in support of his sixth studio album With Heaven on Top. This long-running trek stretches from March 7th to October 10th, 2026, across North America and Europe. 

Zach Bryan’s tour boasts an expensive and diverse lineup of supporting artists, including Kings of Leon, Dijon, Alabama Shakes, Ben Howard, Caamp, MJ Lenderman, Gregory Alan Isakov, Trampled by Turtles, J.R. Carroll, Gabriella Rose, Keenan O’Meara, and Fey Fili- bringing everything from rock to folk to his tour.

His concerts are less about flashy visuals and more about emotional intensity, storytelling, and authenticity. Fans are drawn to the communal feel of his shows, where lyrics about love, loss, and everyday life feel deeply personal. As his popularity continues to grow internationally, this tour is expected to introduce even more audiences to his raw, stripped down approach to live music.

BTS- Arirang World Tour

Supergroup BTS returns to global touring with the Arirang World Tour, a sprawling run, supporting their 2026 album Arirang. This tour marks their first major world tour following a period of individual activities and South Korean military service obligations.

With over 80 announced shows across 34 cities on 5 continents, this is one of the most ambitious world tours of the year. K-pop fans are especially excited to see BTS bring their intricate choreography, expensive set designs, and large scale live productions back to stages everywhere.

While specific opening acts are still TBD, BTS concerts often include local guest artists or collaborative performances during select global dates, adding extra excitement for regional fan communities.

Noah Kahan- The Great Divide Tour

Rising singer/songwriter Noah Kahan heads into 2026 with his The Great Divide tour- a summer long stadium run in support of his upcoming 4th studio album of the same name, set for release on April 24th, 2026.

The tour begins on June 11th, 2026, in Orlando and wraps up on August 30th in Seattle, visiting major American cities including but not limited to Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. 

His music, known for its introspective lyrics and honesty, resonates deeply in live settings, where crowds often sing every word back to him. This tour marks a new chapter in his career, featuring larger venues and a more expansive production while still preserving the intimate feel that made his performances special in the first place.

Ariana Grande- The Eternal Sunshine Tour

After several years focused on hit movie Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande is back with her fifth headlining concert trek: the Eternal Sunshine Tour, supporting her albums Positions (released in 2020) and Eternal Sunshine (released in 2024).

This 41-show arena tour kicks off on June 6th, 2026 at Oakland Arena in California and moves through major North American cities before concluding with a multi-night run at London’s The O2 Arena in August.

Grande’s shows are expected to blend her newest material with her biggest pop anthems, layered with theatrical staging, choreography, and stunning visuals throughout the set.

Though specific opening acts haven’t been officially listed yet, audiences are anticipating high production values and guest appearances, possibly from rising pop names and collaborators who reflect her evolving musical sound.

Bruno Mars- The Romantic Tour

Celebrated entertainer Bruno Mars is taking fans on a soulful journey with his The Romantic Tour, supporting his 2026 album The Romantic. The tour starts on April 10th, 2026, in Las Vegas, where he has had countless shows since his last major tour, and wraps up on October 20th, 2026, in Vancouver after a long run of dates across Europe and North America.

This tour features a stacked set of openers and special guests, including Anderson Paak, Leon Thomas, Victoria Monét and RAYE, each bringing their own musical strength to warm up the crowd before Mar’s headline performance.

With hits that span (uptown) funk, pop, R&B, and disco influences, Mar’s shows are expected to combine virtuosic live instrumentation, choreography, and genre blending setlists for a rich concert experience.

Harry Styles- Together, Together Tour

Few tours are generating as much excitement as Harry Styles’ return to the global stage. After stepping back from touring, Styles is once again drawing massive attention with a run that blends his signature charisma, fashion-forward visuals, and genre blending sound. Fans are eager to see how his next era translates live, especially given his reputation for creating joyful, inclusive concert environments. With demand consistently outpacing supply, his 2026 shows are expected to sell out quickly and become some of the most talked-about pop concerts  of the year. 

Harry Styles’ Together, Together Tour, named after his 2026 album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.. This tour is massive in scope: it kicks off in May and runs through December across Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Across various dates, Styles has lined up a varied roster of guest appearances and openers, including Robyn, Shania Twain, Jorja Smith, Jamie XX, Fousheé, Skye Newman, and Baby J- each joining him on select shows as part of a dynamic collaborative concert environment.

What makes this run especially notable is its scale: Harry STyles is doing a residency- style run of 30 shows at Madison Square Garden in New York, plus extended stints in Amsterdam and London. 

Other tours worth watching

In addition to the tours above, several other major artists and tours are generating buzz in 2026:

• Ed Sheeran- Loop Tour- Ed Sheeran continues his global Loop Tour with a North American stadium leg added for summer and fall 2026, featuring new set design and a mix of tracks from his album Play.
• Lady Gaga- The Mayhem Ball- Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tour wraps the early part of 2026 with arena and global dates across multiple continents

Between global runs, residencies, stacked support lineups, and cross-genre showcases, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for live music. Whether you’re into pop spectacle, intimate storytelling, genre fusion, or high- energy  throwdowns, there’s a tour with your name on it- and most exciting guest artists that make the live experience even richer.