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Honorary Manc Ariana Grande announces huge world tour – but skips Manchester

We'll miss you, Ari

Daisy Jackson - 28th August 2025

Ariana Grande has announced details of a huge world tour, but the honorary Mancunian will be skipping Manchester again.

The 32-year-old, Grammy Award-winning star has instead booked five nights at The O2 in London for her only UK stop on the tour.

Ariana Grande was made an honorary Mancunian back in 2017, in recognition of her work following the Manchester Arena terror attack.

She is the first person to have ever received this honour.

Since the atrocity in the city, which took the lives of 22 people, Ariana has only performed here twice more – once at the One Love concert she organised as a fundraiser for the victims and their families, and once as a headliner of Manchester Pride.

It’s been six years since her last tour, but Ariana Grande is now back, sharing details of her hotly-anticipated The Eternal Sunshine Tour next summer.

As well as her five-night residency in London, she’ll play four nights in LA and Brooklyn, as well as cities right across North America.

Ariana Grande has announced The Eternal Sunshine Tour

Her London dates will be her only European shows on The Eternal Sunshine Tour.

Eternal Sunshine was released in 2024 and was her seventh studio album, spawning singles ‘Yes, And?’, ‘We Can’t Be Friends’, and ‘The Boy Is Mine’.

Ariana Grande is now also an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated actress thanks to her starring role in Wicked as Glinda the Good Witch.

Tickets for her tour will go on sale from Tuesday 16 September with an artist presale as well as an O2 Priority Presale. Remaining tickets will be available during the general ons-ale beginning Thursday 18 September at 10am.

Ariana Grande – The Eternal Sunshine Tour Dates 2026

Sat Jun 06 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Tue Jun 09 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Sat Jun 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sun Jun 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Wed Jun 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Fri Jun 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Wed Jun 24 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Fri Jun 26 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Tue Jun 30 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
Thu Jul 02 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
Mon Jul 06 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Jul 08 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sun Jul 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Mon Jul 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Thu Jul 16 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sat Jul 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Wed Jul 22 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Fri Jul 24 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Tue Jul 28 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Thu Jul 30 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Mon Aug 03 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Wed Aug 05 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Aug 15 – London, UK – The O2
Sun Aug 16 – London, UK – The O2
Wed Aug 19 – London, UK – The O2
Thu Aug 20 – London, UK – The O2
Sun Aug 23 – London, UK – The O2

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Featured image: Katie Temkin

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A rising Manc musician is supporting a global popstar on tour in America

Danny Jones Elliot James Reay Bury singer supporting Benson Boone in America

Elliot James Reay Bury singer supporting Benson Boone in America

Up-and-coming Greater Manchester musician Elliot James Reay, from just down the road in Bury, has just joined fellow rising solo artist and already established US superstar Benson Boone on his upcoming American tour.

Yes, a lad from Bury is opening for the bloke who belts out that ‘Beautiful Things’ tune that’s been stuck near the top of the charts for what feels like the last year.

Fittingly joining Boone for the US leg of his American Heart tour supporting his sophomore album of the same name, 23-year-old Elliot James Reay has already played a trio of shows warming up the crowds ahead of the headliner and is quickly gaining new fans across the pond.

Especially since his music harkens back to some of their most famous music icons of all time.

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A post shared by Elliot James Reay (@elliotjamesreay)

The youngster is still having to pinch himself at the mere notion of being on the road with such a big name so early in his career, posting on social media this week, “How do I explain this one to my friends back in Bury?

“A dream come true to be opening for Benson Boone in St Paul last night, I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing to you all and thank you for all the love you gave me!”

Roy Orbison-obsessed Raey – who also takes plenty of look and feel from the likes of Elvis and Billy Fury, among other old school, soulful American singers – has gone from releasing covers on YouTube to dropping his first-ever EP back in June and now playing full Stateside stadiums.

What a whirlwind journey it’s been for the local lad already.

The Manc songwriter and guitarist featured as one of our artists of the month last December, and we’re glad to see he’s only gone from strength to strength.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | December 2024

It’s fair to say that he’s matured a lot in the time since then, let alone the last 12 months or so, and booking a slot as a support act for as big as Benson Boone is right now is nothing short of huge.

We said late last year, and we’ll say it again: we see a bright future ahead for this talented young Macunian, and we wish him all the best for the dozen or so remaining US tour dates.

If you haven’t listened to his stuff before, you can get a little taste with his latest single HERE.

Or, if you want to take our advice, why not watch a great music video filmed around some very familiar city centre sites down below?

He’s certainly got his own style, even if it his heavily inspired by some of the greats.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures

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ENHYPEN at AO Arena, Manchester – They really do ‘Go Big or Go Home’

K-pop boyband ENHYPEN paid a visit to AO Arena in Manchester for a career-first headline European arena tour titled ‘Walk The Line’.

The music capital of the North had another dose of cultural enrichment from a well-respected K-pop act, four months after Taemin paid a visit to give us some ‘Advice’.

Last night marked K-pop group ENHYPEN’s first-ever visit to Manchester, the UK and Europe as a whole, so it was no surprise the crowd was ready to get ‘Loose’ as they took to AO Arena.

The lights dimmed, the fans screamed, and it had finally dawned on Manchester that it was officially ‘En-O’Clock.‘

It’s a bouncy bassline, synth-stinted number also known as ‘Brought The Heat Back’ that kicks the show off, and on a day when our city was surprisingly warm, this three-minute performance was very fitting.

ENHYPEN performing 'Loose' for 21,000 fans at AO Arena in Manchester / Credit: BELIFT LAB — ENHYPEN performing ‘Loose’ for 21,000 fans at AO Arena in Manchester (Credit: BELIFT LAB)

‘Future Perfect (Pass the MIC)’ had the crowd quite literally jumping for joy, ‘Given-Taken’ saw a similar response, while a personal highlight was ‘Bite Me’.

With lyrics like “Come here and get some” and “Just come over and bite me”, this song follows a perfect pure-pop formula that works every time; it’s hard to ignore.

‘Your Eyes Only’, which makes reference to the previous hit “You can bite me / You can play me”. Did we like this song? “Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya” we did.

Disco belter ‘Sweet Venom’ had the crowd captivated for just under three minutes with its “Swe-hee-hee-t” earworm lyrics in every chorus.

K-Pop act ENHYPEN played 'Tamed-Dashed' during their 'Walk The Line' tour at AO Arena in Manchester / Credit: BELIFT LAB — K-pop boyband ENHYPEN played ‘Tamed-Dashed’ during their ‘Walk The Line’ tour at AO Arena in Manchester (Credit: BELIFT LAB)

An extended electronic synth introduction plays out as the staggered-vocal single, ‘XO (Only If You Say Yes)’ begins, and it’s easy to see why this is a fan favourite.

Whether it’s the fact that it has an easy-to-follow but incredibly addictive chorus or due to it featuring on the soundtrack for the Netflix rom-com and To All The Boys I Loved Before spin-off, XO, Kitty.

Following this was the 2010s-reminiscent ‘Bad Desire (With or Without You)’, which felt like a callback to ex-boyband star Justin Timberlake and his return with magnum opus ‘Mirrors’.

This song warranted such a roar of cheers and applause that the band decided to give it a second play later in the set, although this time they opted for the English version, which was equally appreciated.

All seven members of ENHYPEN interacting with fans during their Manchester show / Credit: BELIFT LAB — All seven members of ENHYPEN interacting with fans during their Manchester show (Credit: BELIFT LAB)

During interactions with fans between songs, ENHYPEN discuss what they recognise Manchester for, stating, “This city is really famous for its football”.

Instead of declaring their support for the reds or blues, the band opted for a smart and conscious, “We’ll leave it there” – well played, boys.

‘Paranormal’ signalled that this night of incredible dance-packaged music was coming to an end, but ENHYPEN’s version of an encore is much different to any other musical act.

These seven singing sensations decided to play not just one or two songs before saying goodbye to the Manchester crowd, they opted for five plus – phenomenal.

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Closing the show with a song aptly titled, ‘Go Big or Go Home’, it’s safe to say the crowd at AO Arena in Manchester certainly got the memo.

We’re slowly getting into the K-pop hype, and in the meantime, feel free to give us more boy bands like we’re still in the ’90s/Noughties.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – BELIFT LAB (via Supplied)