The Weeknd Makes History with His European Stadium Tour
The Weeknd, the Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer, has achieved a remarkable feat with his After Hours til Dawn stadium tour. He has become the first black artist to gross over $200 million from a European tour, breaking the previous record held by Beyoncé and Jay-Z for their On the Run II tour in 2018. ¹
The After Hours til Dawn tour, which is in support of his fourth and fifth studio albums, After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022), kicked off in Manchester, UK on June 10, 2023, with support from Kaytranada and Mike Dean. ² The tour then moved on to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland before wrapping up in Estonia on August 12. ²
The tour was met with rave reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised The Weeknd's spectacular stage production, stunning visuals and impressive vocals. The tour also featured special guests such as Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey and Doja Cat, who joined The Weeknd on stage for some of his hit songs. ³
According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour sold out all 30 shows across Europe, attracting a total of 1.5 million fans and grossing $210 million. ¹ The average ticket price was $140, making it one of the most expensive tours in recent history. ¹ The tour also broke several attendance records in various venues, such as the Stade de France in Paris, where The Weeknd performed for 90,000 people on July 29. ⁴
The Weeknd expressed his gratitude to his fans and his team for making the tour a success. He also announced that he would donate $1 from each ticket sold across Europe to the XO Humanitarian Fund, which supports the U.N. World Food Programme's response to the global hunger crisis. ² He said that he was inspired by his Ethiopian heritage and his visit to Ethiopia in 2022, where he witnessed the impact of hunger and conflict on the people.
The Weeknd is not done yet with his After Hours til Dawn tour. He is set to resume the tour in Latin America in September 2023, followed by Oceania in November 2023. He has also hinted at adding more dates for Asia and Africa in 2024. Fans can expect more surprises and collaborations from The Weeknd as he continues to dominate the music scene with his innovative and captivating style.
Conclusion
The Weeknd has proven himself to be one of the most influential and successful artists of his generation, with his After Hours til Dawn tour being a testament to his musical prowess and vision. He has not only broken records and barriers with his European tour, but also shown his generosity and social awareness by supporting the fight against hunger. The Weeknd is a force to be reckoned with, and fans can look forward to more thrilling performances and groundbreaking achievements from him in the future.