Ariana Grande has made a spectacular return to the UK, performing to 40,000 fans across the opening weekend of her sold-out residency at London’s The O2.
Marking the three-time Grammy Award winner’s first UK concerts in seven years, the opening shows launched an extraordinary 10-night London run as part of The Eternal Sunshine Tour. The residency follows a critically acclaimed North American leg spanning 10 cities and arrives as Grande celebrates her latest album, petal, reaching number one in both the UK and US.
Ariana Grande returns to London after seven years
Ariana Grande opened the show with the defiant dance-pop anthem ‘yes, and?’ before moving through a career-spanning setlist filled with some of her greatest hits.
Fans were treated to performances of ‘thank u, next’, ‘7 rings’, ‘Break Free’, ‘Dangerous Woman’ and ‘Into You’, alongside newer tracks including ‘hate that i made you love me’, ‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ and ‘petal’.
Opening night also featured the live debuts of ‘kiss me’ and ‘bad thing (bunny hop)’ from petal.
Addressing the 20,000 fans inside The O2 on the first evening, Grande said: “Out of every show, this is the loudest. Thank you. I feel like there is so much love in this room right now… London, I love you so much!”
The London residency follows the chart success of petal, which became Ariana Grande’s sixth number-one album in the UK and her seventh to top the US Billboard 200.
Cynthia Erivo joins Ariana Grande on stage
The opening weekend became even more memorable on Sunday evening when Cynthia Erivo made a surprise appearance during the final act.
The Wicked co-stars reunited on stage for spellbinding performances of ‘For Good’ and ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’, delivering one of the residency’s most emotional moments so far.
Their appearance delighted fans and added another layer of theatrical magic to a production already shaped by Grande’s cinematic visual world.
A five-star response from critics
The Eternal Sunshine Tour has received an overwhelmingly positive response from British critics, with several publications awarding the show five stars.
The BBC praised Grande’s extraordinary vocal range, describing her riffs as “so tremendously colossal they should be registered as the eighth wonder of the world”.
The Times celebrated “one of pop’s most extraordinary singers”, calling the concert “a sensational and deeply personal show” and describing Grande as one of the industry’s most formidable vocalists.
Metro also awarded the performance five stars, praising Grande as “an undeniable powerhouse” who appeared entirely at home on stage. The Telegraph highlighted the power, clarity and agility of her voice, while NME hailed her abilities as both a performer and “pop conceptualist”.
Rolling Stone UK described the production as a “poignant pop spectacle”, while The Guardian praised its sincerity, scale and collection of arena-shaking songs. Billboard highlighted the evening’s intricate video imagery, live vocal looping and the enthusiasm of Grande’s devoted audience.
Inside The Eternal Sunshine Tour
Working closely with longtime collaborator and tour director Christian Breslauer, Ariana Grande has divided The Eternal Sunshine Tour into five distinct acts.
The staging draws from the surreal visual universe of Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead short film, in which she plays Peaches, a character attempting to erase painful memories from her past. These themes of memory, loss and emotional transformation are expanded for the stage through cinematic visuals, intricate choreography and an intimate narrative running throughout the concert.
Supported by a 12-member dance crew and live band, Grande balances the scale of a blockbuster arena production with moments that feel deeply personal.
Rather than relying heavily on pyrotechnics, the show places Grande’s voice at its centre. Elaborate video sequences, live sampling and mesmerising dance routines create a cosmic setting for vocals that remain the defining force of the production.
Law Roach creates Ariana Grande’s tour wardrobe
Fashion also plays a significant role in The Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Grande reunited with renowned image architect Law Roach to create six striking stage looks. The wardrobe includes custom designs from Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Wiederhoeft and Ludovic de Saint Sernin, alongside two Givenchy looks designed by Sarah Burton.
The costumes complement each of the concert’s five acts, helping Grande move through the different emotional and visual chapters of the show.
With eight more sold-out performances at The O2 still to come, Ariana Grande’s return to London has already become one of the defining pop events of the year. Combining phenomenal live vocals, cinematic storytelling, couture fashion and an unmistakable connection with her audience, The Eternal Sunshine Tour confirms Grande’s place among the most compelling performers of her generation.
Ariana Grande is set to continue her run at London’s The O2 on 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31 August and 1 September.
