Ariana Grande opens 10-night O2 residency on Eternal Sunshine tour before indefinite hiatus
Ariana Grande launched the first of 10 sold-out shows at London's 20,000-capacity O2 arena on August 15, her first UK performance since 2019, ahead of an indefinite break from public life confirmed by her representatives on August 2.
A farewell framed as a show
Grande described the Eternal Sunshine tour as a "last hurrah" in podcast appearances during 2024 and 2025, and her representatives confirmed on August 2 that she will take a hiatus once these shows conclude, citing "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" of her body. She has also pulled out of leading the revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George," which was expected to open next summer in London. The announcement arrived days after a music video that explicitly referenced weight loss and unhappiness, prompting concern among fans. The O2 residency, Grande's first UK dates since 2019, runs through September 1.
Petal and the charged moment
Grande's eighth album, Petal, arrived on July 29 and topped both the Official U.K. Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, marking her best single-week performance of the 2020s on the latter. All 12 songs from the album landed in the Billboard Hot 100's top 40. The video for the title track prompted intense online discourse about the singer's physical appearance, a conversation that has at times threatened to eclipse the music. Her recent single "Hate That I Made You Love Me" reached No 1.
- Petal, Grande's eighth album, released
- Representatives confirm indefinite hiatus after tour
- Opening night of 10-show O2 residency in London
- Final scheduled show of O2 residency
The staging
The set is built inside the burnt-out husk of a house, engulfed first in digital flames, then weeds, then flowers, with police car sirens and helicopter spotlights suggesting violent state surveillance. A character called Peaches appears in interlude visuals, contemplating erasing her history and reconnecting with her younger self. The show's closer features Grande's body slack and floating, absorbed into a white light in the rafters of the O2. An eight-minute countdown opens the evening, with Grande's silhouette appearing on a giant backlit curtain before the show begins.
Vocals and setlist
After the opening run of songs, Grande hushes the audience and spends two minutes live-looping her voice, building layers from the lyric "I don't care what people say, it's true" in high and low registers, then adding phrases: "Won't break. Can't shake. Deep breaths. Tight chest. Life. Death. Rewind." These become the backbone of the song "Eternal Sunshine." Her four-octave vocals anchor a roughly two-hour show, with long stretches of just Grande and her band. Songs from Petal are packed into the final portion, forgoing the choreography of earlier acts for a more gig-like feel. The live debut of "Bad Thing" and a ferocious rendition of the title track "Petal" were among the standout moments.
It's such a fucked situation.
Earlier peaks included "Break Free," "One Last Time," "Dangerous Woman," and "Into You," with Grande dragging the mic stand around the B-stage to belt the chorus of "Dangerous Woman" directly to fans.
Fan reception
Thousands packed the 20,000-capacity arena dressed in cat ears, bridal gowns, and floral headpieces despite a heatwave. Grande referenced rumours of being back with ex Ricky Alvarez, drawing screams from the crowd, and performed Glinda's signature hair tosses from her Oscar-nominated role in Wicked. The venue was previously featured in her 2020 Netflix special "Excuse Me, I Love You." Her new merch line bears the slogan "Violent Fairy Pop Core."
