Pop superstar Ariana Grande brought her Eternal Sunshine tour to the United Kingdom this weekend, opening the British leg with a two-hour spectacle at London’s O2 arena. Saturday’s concert marked her first UK performance since 2019, a hiatus shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic and her Oscar-nominated turn in the film adaptation of Wicked. Enthusiastic fans braved a late-summer heatwave, many decked out in cat ears, floral crowns and wedding-style dresses as they packed the venue for a night of dancing.
Grande’s setlist concentrated on tracks from her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine, but she also revived fan favorites such as Into You, Break Free, 7 Rings and Rain On Me. The elaborate production featured grand sets, smoke and tightly choreographed routines, yet the most memorable segments showcased Grande performing with only her band. At one point she built a vocal loop on stage, layering harmonies and phrases to underpin the song Eternal Sunshine — a live demonstration of the musicality she has shown in studio videos posted to her YouTube channel.
The evening’s thematic core drew inspiration from Michel Gondry’s 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which lends the tour its name. Through lavish video interludes, Grande explored themes of memory and reconciliation, reflecting on personal losses including the death of former boyfriend Mac Miller and the 2017 Manchester bombing that killed 22 fans following her concert. In recent months, intense public scrutiny over her personal life, health and weight has prompted Grande to plan a break from the spotlight; she confirmed to fans that the decision came from a thoughtful, empowered place and would take effect after the tour concludes in London next month.
None of that tension was visible on stage. Grande seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself, wobbling in high heels, blowing kisses and engaging with the crowd. She acknowledged the overwhelming response, saying she intended to savor each moment of the final ten shows. She also delighted the audience by referencing reports that she is back together with former dancer Ricky Alvarez, playfully altering a line in Thank U, Next to avoid ‘talking about that.’ Fans who came to dance were not disappointed, with energetic renditions of Dangerous Woman and a duet with Lady Gaga, Rain On Me, drawing especially loud cheers.
The quieter moments proved equally powerful. Grande performed Imperfect For You seated face to face with her longtime guitarist, lending the song a bedroom-like intimacy inside a cavernous arena. During Hampstead, a ballad about media portrayal and the internet’s darker corners, her voice cracked as she reacted to an audience member in tears, and she smiled while reassuring the fan she wouldn’t cry herself. As the show ended, the overriding impression was of an artist in full command of her voice and stage — and for the thousands in attendance, a long-awaited return well worth the wait.