.jpeg "Ariana Grande Returns to the Stage With Her “Eternal Sunshine Tour” After Nearly Seven Years")
For fans, the opening night was more than just another concert. It was Grande’s first opportunity in years to perform songs from albums that were released during her time away from the road, including Positions (2020), Eternal Sunshine (2024), and music from her upcoming album petal, which is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
A Long-Awaited Return
Grande’s return comes after a six-and-a-half-year gap between tours. During that time, she focused heavily on her acting career, most notably her role as Glinda in Universal’s film adaptation of Wicked. The demanding filming schedule, promotional commitments, and awards-season appearances left little room for a large-scale world tour.
She has also spoken openly about the physical and mental demands of touring. The intense vocal requirements of her recent music, combined with years of nonstop work, contributed to her decision to step away from live touring for an extended period.
Although she is back on stage now, Grande has indicated that this tour is intended to be limited in scope and that she does not expect to return to touring regularly anytime soon.
The Focus of the Show
As expected, Eternal Sunshine serves as the centerpiece of the concert.
Out of the 23 songs performed on opening night, 11 came from the Eternal Sunshine era, including fan favorites such as:
• “Yes, And?”
• “The Boy Is Mine”
• “Eternal Sunshine”
• “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
• “Supernatural”
The tour also gives long-awaited live attention to songs from Positions, which never received a dedicated tour because of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Grande included several classics from earlier stages of her career, ensuring that longtime fans still heard many of her biggest hits.
A Cinematic Concert Experience
The production blends music, storytelling, and visual effects.
Between costume changes, audiences watch video segments inspired by the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the movie that inspired the title of Grande’s 2024 album.
The videos follow a version of Grande whose memories are being erased. Throughout the story, she encounters a young girl who appears to represent her younger self. Together, they explore dreamlike environments before entering the mysterious laboratory where the memory-erasure process takes place.
The visual narrative helps connect the songs and creates a more theatrical concert experience.
Stage Design and Performance Style
The show begins with Grande performing alongside a large group of dancers on the main stage, similar to the style of her previous Sweetener tour.
As the concert progresses, the focus shifts more heavily toward Grande herself. She spends much of the second half of the show on an extended runway leading to a secondary stage positioned deep within the arena floor.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments comes during the closing performance of “Supernatural,” when Grande rises into a UFO-like lighting structure suspended above the B-stage. Production credits then appear on circular screens surrounding the structure while “Ordinary Things” plays as fans exit the venue.
Opening Night Setlist
Grande performed the following songs during the opening show in Oakland:
• Yes, And?
• Positions
• Dandelion
• The Boy Is Mine
• Eternal Sunshine
• Just Like Magic
• Thank U, Next
• 7 Rings
• Imperfect for You
• Warm
• Safety Net
• One Last Time
• Rain on Me
• Break Free
• Twilight Zone
• Past Life
• Dangerous Woman
• Honeymoon Avenue
• Hampstead
• Into You
• Hate That I Made You Love Me
• We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)
• Supernatural
Introducing the New Album: petal
The tour arrives just weeks before the release of Grande’s eighth studio album, petal.
Scheduled for release on July 31, 2026, the album is led by the single “hate that i made you love me,” which debuted on May 29.
According to Grande, the album explores themes of letting go of unhealthy attachments and embracing emotions she previously avoided expressing in her music. Sonically, the project continues her collaboration with longtime producers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh.
The Oakland audience heard the new single live, but it remains unclear whether additional petal tracks will be added to the setlist later in the tour.
Tour Dates and Cities
Rather than following a traditional one-night-per-city format, Grande has adopted a residency-style schedule with multiple performances in each location.
The tour includes stops in:
• Oakland
• Los Angeles
• Austin
• Sunrise, Florida
• Atlanta
• Brooklyn
• Boston
• Montreal
• Chicago
After completing the North American leg, Grande will finish the tour with a 10-night residency at London’s O2 Arena, ending on September 1, 2026.
Massive Demand for Tickets
Ticket demand has been extraordinary.
Because the tour consists of a limited number of dates, resale prices have risen dramatically. Many secondary-market tickets have been listed for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, particularly for premium seating sections.
Grande has publicly criticized inflated resale prices and has encouraged fans to purchase tickets only through legitimate channels whenever possible.
A Special Moment for Fans
The Eternal Sunshine Tour represents more than just support for a new album. It serves as a celebration of nearly seven years of music that Grande never had the opportunity to perform on a major tour.
With songs from Positions, Eternal Sunshine, and the upcoming petal sharing space alongside career-defining hits such as “Into You,” “Break Free,” “7 Rings,” and “Thank U, Next,” the show offers a rare retrospective of Grande’s evolution as an artist.
For many fans, the tour may be one of the few chances to see her live for the foreseeable future as she continues to expand her career beyond music and into film and other creative projects.
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