madonna tour opening act

Who Is Opening Madonna’s ‘The Celebration Tour?’

Madonna’s miraculous medical recovery brought a new meaning to The Celebration Tour’s name. Initially, it was a party to honor her musical legacy as she performed some of her biggest hits, including “ Like A Virgin .” For the singer and ticketholders, it’s a gathering to show gratitude for life. So, who’s the lucky entertainer taking the stage at The Celebration Tour as the official opener?

Who is Opening Madonna’s The Celebration Tour ?

Instead of tapping another musician as the opening act, Madonna found someone who could do it all. The official opener of her The Celebration Tour is activist, recording artist, comedian, media personality, and drag performer Bob The Drag Queen. The Columbus, Georgia native is wildly known as the season eight winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race reality competition show. Since snatching the crown, Bob has starred in several comedy specials, including Woke Man in a Dress. Bob co-hosted HBO’s We’re Here alongside Eureka O’Hara and Shangela Laquifa Wadley.

Back in March, Bob was added to the tour by Madonna to protest Nashville’s anti-drag legislation . “The oppression of the LGBTQ+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; it makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color. Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to f*ck with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville, where we will celebrate the beauty that is the queer community,” wrote Madonna in a statement.

Unfortunately, Madonna fell ill shortly after, and the tour was ultimately postponed. Now, she’s back on the road, and so is Bob.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bob/ Caldwell Tidicue (@bobthedragqueen)

What Are The Remaining Show Dates For Madonna’s The Celebration Tour ?

12/16/2023 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center (previously MSG) * 12/18/2023 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena 12/19/2023 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena 01/08/2024 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden 01/09/2024 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden 01/11/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena 01/12/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena 01/15/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena 01/18/2024 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre 01/20/2024 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre 01/22/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena 01/23/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena 01/25/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center 01/29/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena 02/01/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center 02/02/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center 02/05/2024 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena 02/08/2024 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 02/13/2024 — Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center 02/17/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena 02/18/2024 — Seattle,WA @ Climate Pledge Arena 02/21/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena 02/24/2024 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center 02/27/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center 02/28/2024 — San Francisco,CA @ Chase Center 03/01/2024 — Las Vegas,NV @ T-Mobile Arena 03/02/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena 03/04/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum (previously Crypto.com Arena) * 03/05/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum (previously Crypto.com Arena) * 03/07/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum (previously Crypto.com Arena) * 03/09/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum (previously Crypto.com Arena) * 03/11/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum 03/13/2024 — Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena 03/16/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center 03/19/2024 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena 03/24/2024 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center 03/25/2024 — Dallas. TX @ American Airlines Center 03/28/2024 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center 03/29/2024 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center 01/04/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena 04/04/2024 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena 04/06/2024 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center 04/07/2024 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center 04/14/2024 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center 04/15/2024 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center 04/20/2024 — Mexico City, MX @ Palacio De Los Deportes 04/21/2024 — Mexico City, MX @ Palacio De Los Deportes 04/23/2024 — Mexico City, MX @ Palacio De Los Deportes 04/24/2024 — Mexico City, MX @ Palacio De Los Deportes

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Madonna The Celebration Tour setlist: All 28 songs played by Queen of Pop revealed

16 October 2023, 11:04

By Tom Eames

What songs does Madonna perform on The Celebration Tour? Here's the official setlist and every song included in the epic live show.

Listen to this article

Madonna is back on the road with her Celebration Tour , a retrospective of her four-decade-long career in music.

The pop icon kicked off the tour on October 14 at London's O2 Arena, the first of six sold-out shows at the venue. Fans were treated to a dazzling spectacle of songs, costumes, dancers, and special guests.

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But what songs did Madonna perform on the opening night of her tour? Here's a rundown of the setlist so far, though there's always a chance it may change throughout the tour.

The setlist featured over 25 songs, spanning Madonna's entire discography from her 1983 debut album to her latest release Madame X .

Warning: Spoilers below!

Madonna Carpool Karaoke

This is the full 28 song Celebration Tour setlist, in order, based on shows in London:

- Intro skit with Bob the Drag Queen, including elements of 'Lucky Star', 'Celebration' and 'Material Girl'

1. Nothing Really Matters 2. Everybody (contains elements of 'Where's the Party') 3. Into the Groove 4. Burning Up 5. Open Your Heart (contains elements of 'Live to Tell') 6. Holiday

- 'The Storm' interlude (contains elements of 'In This Life')

7. Live to Tell

- 'The Ritual' interlude (contains elements of 'Girl Gone Wild')

8. Like a Prayer (contains elements of 'Girl Gone Wild', 'Act of Contrition' and 'Unholy' by Sam Smith )

- The Sacrifice/Erotic interlude (contains elements of 'Living for Love', 'Erotica', 'Justify My Love' and 'Fever'

9. Erotica (contains elements of 'Papa Don't Preach') 10. Justify My Love / Fever 11. Hung Up 12. Bad Girl

- Ballroom interlude (contains elements of 'Up Down Suite', 'Vogue' and 'Break My Soul')

13. Vogue 14. Human Nature 15. Crazy for You

- The Beast Within interlude

16. Die Another Day 17. Don't Tell Me 18. Mother and Father 19. Little Star 20. I Will Survive (cover) 21. La Isla Bonita 22. Don't Cry for Me Argentina

- Madonna interlude (contains elements 'I Don't Search I Find')

23. Bedtime Story 24. Ray of Light 25. Rain

26. Like a Virgin (contains Michael Jackson tribute including 'Billie Jean') 27. Bitch I'm Madonna / Give Me All Your Luvin' 28. Celebration / Music

Madonna’s The Celebration Tour is set to continue until April 2024, visiting various cities in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.

Fans can expect some changes in the setlist as Madonna likes to surprise her audience with different songs and guests.

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Madonna dazzles as ‘the celebration tour’ continues.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: (Exclusive Coverage) Madonna performs during The Celebration Tour at ... [+] The O2 Arena on October 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)

“Chicago!” exclaimed Madonna earlier this month on stage during the first of two sold out performances at United Center as her “Celebration Tour” continues. “Welcome to the celebration!”

On her latest North American tour, one newly updated with dates set to take “The Material Girl” across the country, through Canada and into Mexico through late April , Madonna takes a rare look back, toasting more than four decades of virtually unparalleled pop success.

Following a stint in intensive care last year, which found the singer in an induced coma due to a bacterial infection , “The Celebration Tour” seems to have taken on new meaning, with Madonna celebrating not just her greatest hits for the first time but also making it out of the 2023 encounter alive.

“Last summer, I almost died,” she said on stage matter-of-factly in Chicago. “The first thing I said when I woke up was, ‘No.’ And I’m pretty sure that god said to me, ‘Are you ready to go?’” explained Madonna to a raptured audience. “Then I thought, ‘Sh-t. I’ve got a show to do…’ But they pushed me back down on that bed and said, ‘You’re not going anywhere!’” recalled the singer. “This was a big part of my inspiration,” she continued, noting her recovery efforts. “So, thank you.”

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The “Celebration Tour” shows are broken up into seven acts which draw from virtually every facet of the singer’s remarkable career, with at least passing nods to everything from Dick Tracy and A League of Their Own to her Golden Globe-winning turn in Evita .

As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Madonna has moved in excess of 300 million records around the globe and lands on a short list of artists who’ve cracked the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in five consecutive decades in America.

Taking the stage just before 10 PM central time, Madonna rolled out nearly 30 songs over more than two hours on night one in Chicago, sporting a brace on her left knee as she performed from atop a three-tiered circular stage to open the show, soon making her way closer to the crowd via an intricately designed series of runways which ran the length of the massive arena floor, with dozens of video screens hanging above.

Opening act Bob The Drag Queen worked the Windy City crowd into a frenzy, setting the stage for “The Material Girl,” who opened with 1998’s “Nothing Really Matters,” a dozen dancers soon joining as Madonna moved deftly into “Everybody.”

A pulsing beat drove a more danceable live take of “Into the Groove” while Madonna added guitar to a rocking early rendition of “Burning Up,” with instrumentalists occasionally joining throughout the show, supplementing backing tracks in lieu of an actual on stage band this time around.

“I like the outfit,” said Madonna, singling out a nearby fan. “I’m so happy to be here. You have no idea. So, thank you for having me,” she said. “I don’t know why they call it ‘Chi-town,’ because I’ve never met anybody here that’s shy,” joked Madonna. “You ready for the story of my life? Some sad, some scary and some… erotic,” she joked of the biographical look back. “Some will be filled with so much joy. By the end, I hope you’re inspired!”

“Open Your Heart” was an early highlight, with Madonna sitting down in a chair near the center of the arena floor, overhead video screens moving up and down in a replication of the song’s iconic 1986 video while a giant disco ball spun along throughout Madonna’s performance of “Holiday” from the main stage soon after.

Madonna sang along as the “Live to Tell” track rang out across United Center to open the second act, with video screens memorializing those we’ve lost to AIDS over the last four plus decades.

“The Celebration Tour” set also pauses to memorialize Madonna’s fallen pop colleagues, with artists like Michael Jackson, Prince and Sinéad O’Connor namechecked during video salutes.

Elsewhere, “The Celebration Tour” began to resemble a family affair, with Madonna’s daughter Mercy James providing live piano during a terrific take on “Bad Girl” while daughter Estere walked the runway during “Vogue.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: (Exclusive Coverage) Madonna and Mercy James perform during opening ... [+] night of The Celebration Tour at The O2 Arena on October 14, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)

The arena floor runways were lit up to resemble boxing rings throughout “Erotica,” line dancing proved a powerful visual during “Don’t Tell Me,” live cello drove “Mother and Father” and Nicki Minaj appeared on screen during a late look at “Bitch I’m Madonna.”

“I teach my children a lot of things,” said Madonna on stage, pausing for a moment during act five as night one in Chicago cruised toward finish. “I try to be a good mother and I try to be a good teacher. But here’s a few things I tell them they don’t need,” she said, setting up a stunning solo take on “Express Yourself.”

Like most Madonna live stagings, “The Celebration Tour” is a highly choreographed affair driven by narrative, leaving little room for unscripted moments.

But in an era of live concert performance defined largely by artists performing to a backing track, Madonna put a sold out arena audience squarely in the palm of her hand during “Express Yourself,” offering up a rock solid lead vocal and live acoustic guitar that proved “The Queen of Pop” has lost nary a step, even at 65. Following up with an equally engaging take on “La Isla Bonita,” that pair of songs ultimately stole the show, with Madonna displaying an appreciation for storytelling and live performance that could’ve easily highlighted Unplugged or Storytellers episodes.

“I remember when we first met. You didn’t know who you were yet. I didn’t know who I was,” said “The Material Girl” on stage in Chicago, acknowledging one of the more unique fan/artist bonds in pop history. “I just want to say thank you. I want to show my gratitude for all of your support for decades. I appreciate it. Honestly. All of you,” said Madonna during a humbling moment. “You can’t buy loyalty - you can only earn it.”

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The Best Moments from the Opening Night of Madonna's The Celebration Tour

The Queen of Pop kicked off her long-awaited world tour on Oct. 14 in London

Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek .

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

  Madonna is back!

Just months after being hospitalized for a serious bacterial infection in June, the Queen of Pop, 65, kicked off The Celebration Tour at London's O2 Arena.

During the two-hour set, Madge took the crowd of 20,000 people through more than 40 of her iconic songs from her decades-spanning catalog. Making the night even more special was the fact that she was joined by five of her six children at different moments of the opening show.

See some of the best moments from the opening night of Madonna's The Celebration Tour.

On Oct. 14, Madonna kicked off her long-awaited The Celebration Tour  at London's O2 Arena. Throughout the two-hour set, Madge graced 20,0000 fans with an assortment of outfit changes and of course, a trip through her iconic catalogue of music.

The Queen of Pop Reigns

Seen here in a black-cloaked ensemble, the living legend accessorized with a bejeweled headpiece as she opened up the show with "Nothing Really Matters."

Birthday Girl

Not only was Saturday night the opening night of the tour, but it was also her eldest daughter Lourdes Leon 's 27th birthday ! To pay tribute to Lola, the superstar led the crowd in a singalong of "Little Star."

Lourdes joined her mom on stage during "Vogue" where the two watched on as dancers gave them their best vogue and they scored their moves.

The moment was made even more special when Madge's 11-year-old daughter Estere showed off her own vogue for mom and Lola (earlier in the song, Estere deejayed!).

Elsewhere in the set, Estere's twin sister Stella appeared during the song "Don't Tell Me."

Special Guest

Saturday truly was a family affair, as the mom of six was joined by five of her children at various parts of the show. In this sweet moment, 18-year-old David Banda played guitar as his mom sang below him.

A Classic Look

And of course, it wouldn't be a Madonna show without a cone bra!

A Lacey Moment

Never one to shy away from pushing the boundaries, Madonna was accompanied by a flock of dancers — some of whom were covertly topless.

In this moment, Madonna was joined by dancers dressed as though they were ready for the ring as she stood in a powerful pose.

Mother-Daughter Duo

Mercy James took the stage on Saturday to play the piano for "Bad Girl" as mom sat by her side.

Hitting the Road

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Now that she has officially kicked off the tour, Madonna is set to perform 78 shows across Europe and North America through April 2024.

"I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes of giving my fans the show they have been waiting for," she said in a press release in January .

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Madonna Unveils Ultimate Greatest Hits Show ‘The Celebration Tour’

By Larisha Paul

Larisha Paul

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Truth or dare? ? Madonna has rarely ever been one to shy away from the latter. In an announcement video that nods to her documentary of the same title, a slate of special guests prompts her with a challenge: “I dare you to do a world tour and play your greatest motherfucking hits.”

Madonna: the Celebration tour will span 40 years of the singer’s career, bringing her greatest hits to 35 cities across North America and Europe. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” Madonna shared in a statement.

On Thursday, she added an additional 13 dates due to “overwhelming demanded.”

General sale for the Celebration tour begins Friday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. local time. More information is available via the official Madonna website .

Bob the Drag Queen – who appears in the announcement video alongside Diplo, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Lil Wayne, Bob The Drag Queen, Kate Berlant, Larry Owens, Meg Stalter, and Eric Andre – will join as support across the entire tour.

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This story was updated on Jan. 19 at 5:15 pm ET to include Madonna’s additional tour dates in bold .

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Everything You Need to Know: Madonna ‘Celebration Tour’ at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa

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UPDATED INFO - January 23, 2024 - New set times and parking info.

It may only be January, but it's sure to be one of the biggest concerts of the year with one of the biggest superstars of our lifetime.

Yes, after a bit of a delay, Madonna is finally bringing the Celebration Tour to Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Madonna's 2023-24 Celebration Tour has been getting rave reviews (so far) across the country.

Since Madonna is going to play all the hits, there's a lot of demand for this show. From setlist to parking to opening acts, we put together a list of EVERYTHING you need to know ahead of the show:

What time is Madonna's Concert in Philadelphia?

The "show" begins at 8:30 p.m., according to arena officials at the Wells Fargo Center.

However, we have more insights on the exact set times posted below. As we all know Madonna's shows don't tend to start on time.

Is There An Opening Act for Madonna's Concert in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center?

Bob the Drag Queen is a special guest on the tour and will be appearing as an opening act.

What Time Will Madonna Perform at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia?

Madonna is kind of infamously known for arriving on the stage a bit... shall we say... late?

In fact, Madonna made headlines on the opening night of the Celebration Tour for what appeared to be a delayed arrival to the stage at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, NY. She's even being sued for it now. 

The tour is starting to settle into a routine so we've dug into the set times from this tour, and it appears as if Madonna is due to hit the stage between 9:40 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center. 

Let's emphasize: that's when she's SCHEDULED to hit the stage. It's Madonna's world, so she may be later.r

All set times are, of course, subject to change as well.

What Is the Setlist for Madonna's Celebration Tour Concert at the Wells Fargo Center?

We dug into some of her past shows to find what we expect their setlist to be on January 25 at the Wells Fargo Center.

We know, however, that not everyone wants to see that info ahead of time. Click here for the setlist, which may contain spoilers.

Are Tickets Still Available for Madonna's Philly Concert? How Can I Get Last Minute Tickets to See Madonna in Philadelphia?

A limited number of tickets are currently available directly via the Wells Fargo Center . As of this week, the face value prices left on these tickets are quite steep.

It looks like the most affordable tickets are priced at just over $90 (with fees). 

Tickets are also available on some resale websites (as of mid-December). It's always in your best interest to verify the validity of any third-party tickets that you purchase online.

• Tickpick.com - Tickets   start at $90 (as of January 23). 
• Stubhub - Tickets start at $80 before fees (as of January 23). 

How Much Does Parking Cost for the Madonna Concert at the Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia?

Parking is available at the venue on the day of the show. Parking rates have typically been between $30 and $40 for recent events at the stadium complex, but that is subject to change.

You can pay onsite, but note that the Wells Fargo Center no longer accepts cash payments. They do, however, accept all major credit cards, and digital payments (including Apple Pay and Google Play).

The exact times that the parking lots open have not been published, but they usually open no later than 5 p.m. for an evening concert.  Check back for an update on that here.

Reserved parking can be purchased in advance on the Wells Fargo Center's website right now for about $48 it looks like. Click here to check that out.

Here's a parking map of the area lots that are available in the stadium complex of Philadelphia:

What is the Bag Policy at the Wells Fargo Center for Madonna Concert 2023?

The Wells Fargo Center prohibits bags inside the venue event guidelines (including backpacks, Purses, Clear Bags, Fanny Packs, Camera bags, Drawstring Bags, Totes, and Suitcases).

Click here to learn more about the Wells Fargo Center's bag policy for entrances.

Are Purses Allowed at the Wells Fargo Center for Madonna's Concert in Philadelphia?

Hand clutches, wristlets, and purses are permitted but must NOT exceed 4.5” x 6.5” with or without a handle and are subject to security inspection.

If you need a locker, they're available for prohibited bags. That is located on the Broad Street side of the arena. Lockers cost between $5 and $15, click here to read more.

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Madonna announces 2023 tour that will celebrate her greatest hits

Madonna is getting ready to "express herself" all over again with her latest global tour.

On Tuesday, the music icon announced a new 35-city global tour, aptly named "Madonna: The Celebration Tour." The 64-year-old shared the news on her Instagram page and revealed that the tour would feature hits from across her four decades performing.

"Come join the party! 🎉💃🏼🎵🕺🏾🎤," she captioned the post.

The singer also teased the news in a video that paid tribute to her 1991 film "Truth or Dare." In the four-minute clip, Madonna is joined by several stars, including Amy Schumer, Jack Black, Lil Wayne and Judd Apatow, for a game of truth or dare.

Toward the end, Schumer dares Madonna to go on a tour and sing all of her best hits. It's a challenge that the icon gladly accepts.

A release posted to Madonna's website said the tour would follow her "artistic journey" and pay special homage to New York City, the place where her career began.

“I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” she said.

Want to know more about the tour? Here's everything we know so far.

What are the dates of the tour?

The tour will kick off its North American leg on July 15 in Vancouver then make its way to Seattle, Denver, Chicago, New York and other major cities.

• July 15 — Vancouver, B.C.
• July 18 — Seattle, Wash.
• July 22 — Phoenix, Ariz.
• July 25 — Denver, Colo.
• July 27 — Tulsa, Okla.
• July 30 — St. Paul, Minn.
• Aug. 2 — Cleveland, Ohio
• Aug. 5 — Detroit, Mich.
• Aug. 7 — Pittsburgh, Penn.
• Aug. 9 — Chicago, Ill.
• Aug. 13 — Toronto, Ont.
• Aug. 19 — Montreal, Q.C.
• Aug. 23 — New York, N.Y.
• Aug. 24 — New York, N.Y.
• Aug. 30 — Boston, Mass.
• Sept. 2 — Washington, D.C.
• Sept. 5 — Atlanta, Ga.
• Sept. 7 — Tampa, Fla.
• Sept. 9 — Miami, Fla.
• Sept. 13 — Houston, Texas
• Sept, 18 — Dallas, Texas
• Sept. 21 — Austin, Texas
• Sept. 27 — Los Angeles, Calif.
• Oct. 4 — San Francisco, Calif.
• Oct. 7 — Las Vegas, Nev.

The European leg of the tour will commence on Oct. 14 in London and will include stops in Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Berlin and other famous European cities.

• Oct. 14 — London, England
• Oct. 21 — Antwerp, Belgium
• Oct. 25 — Copenhagen, Denmark
• Oct. 28 — Stockholm, Sweden
• Nov. 01 — Barcelona, Spain
• Nov. 06 — Lisbon, Portugal
• Nov. 12 — Paris, France
• Nov. 13 — Paris, France
• Nov. 15 — Cologne, Germany
• Nov. 23 — Milan, Italy
• Nov. 28 — Berlin, Germany
• Dec. 1 — Amsterdam, the Netherlands

When do tickets go on sale?

Fans will have a few chances to get their hands on the coveted tickets:

General public sales: Tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 20 and Friday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. local time, and will be available to purchase on Madonna's website .

Fan club presales: If you’re a legacy member of Madonna’s official fan club, you can participate in the following presales.

• The first presale applies to North American shows that go on sale to the general public on Jan. 20. The presale takes place from Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 12 p.m. ET through Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. ET.
• The second presale applies to European and UK shows and will span from Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. GMT to 5 p.m. GMT.
• The third presale is for the North American shows that go on sale to the general public on Jan. 27. This final presale will run from Monday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. ET through Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. ET.

Citi presale: Citi cardholders can take part in two presales. Tickets can be purchased through the Citi Entertainment program.

• The first presale is for tickets going on sale to the general public on Jan. 20. The presale will run from Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. local time through Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. local time.
• The second is for tickets going on sale to the general public on Jan. 27. The presale will run from Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. local time. 

Canada American Express presale: American Express cardholders can participate in a presale for concerts in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Tickets will be available to purchase on Ticketmaster .

• The presale will span from Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. local time and run through Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. local time.

European American Express presale:  American Express cardholders can participate in a presale for concerts in Sweden, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. Tickets will be available to purchase on Ticketmaster .

• The presale will span from Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. local time through Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. local time.

Who is the opening act?

Caldwell Tidicue, whose stage name is Bob the Drag Queen, will appear at all dates of the tour.

Chrissy Callahan covers a range of topics for TODAY.com, including fashion, beauty, pop culture and food. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching bad reality TV and consuming copious amounts of cookie dough.

• The Celebration Tour

The Celebration Tour By The Numbers

by MadonnaTribe · October 13, 2023

On the eve of the opening night of Madonna ’s highly anticipated new tour tomorrow night at the O2 Arena in London, Live Nation released a juicy breakdown of The Celebration Tour by the numbers.

The most thrilling part is about what fans should expect the Madonna stage to be like: covering a surface of 4,400 square ft / 410 mq, The Celebration Tour stage is the largest for any of her tours and the ispiration for its design come from the grid of the Manhattan Island in New York City.

The mysterious maps from the online ticket vendors have been analized in-depth by the fans in the past months and we know learn that the set up will include five different stages: Uptown , Downtown , Midtown , East and West .

We will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out what the illuminated portal frame that transports Madonna 30 foot / 9  meters off the ground around the arena looks like. It is designed to act as a time machine that symbolizes looking into the past, present and towards the future and will allow her to move at 1.5 foot / 45 centimeters per second, 80 foot / 24 meters across and 130 foot / 40 meters down the length of the arena .

As many of you have guessed, the three-layered circular stage that you find where the traditional main stage would be is a nod to the wedding cake of Madonna’s original VMA performance.

3600 square ft / 334 mq of projection imagery make this the most amount of video ever used in a Madonna show.

The catwalks have a combined lenght of 230 foot / 76 meters and will get Madonna 105 foot / 32 meters far into the venue.

Madonna worked with Lewis James as the Creative Director for The Celebration Tour . The press release also confirms Jamie King as the show director – at his eigth tour with Madonna and the return of Stuart Price as the musical director for the fourth time. Bob The Drag Quee n is indeed part of the show – not simply a support act – and twenty-four onstage performers will also be joined by four of Madonna’s children. Last but not least, seventeen archived costumes have been recreated for the show.

Here is The Celebration Tour by the numbers:

• 4 Decades of unstoppable hits – prepare to dance your ass off!
• 13th Culture shaping tour.
• 1 Extraordinary drag queen.
• 8th Tour partnering with director Jamie King.
• 24 Onstage performers.
• 1 Stuart Price reunion.
• 4,400 square ft. of stage, the largest for any Madonna tour. Inspired by the grid of Manhattan with Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, East and West stages.
• 8 Humidifiers in Madonna’s dressing room.1 Bottle of MDNA Rose Mist Spray in each quick-change space.
• 3 Traveling mobile gyms.
• 15 Countries.
• 50 Merch items including vintage recreations of iconic items from previous tours such as the Blond Ambition Bomber Jacket.
• 45 Wardrobe trunks.
• 1 Queen sized Madonna flag outside the O2 (naturally).
• 6 Sold out nights in London.
• 3 Layered circular stage where the traditional main stage would be, inspired by the wedding cake of Madonna’s original VMA performance.
• 3 Physical therapists.
• 4 of Madonna’s children on stage.
• 40 Pairs of boxing gloves.
• 230 Ft. of combined length of catwalk that gets Madonna 105ft far into the venue.
• 14 Spotlights for Madonna and over 600 intelligent lights to light the stage and arena with over 8800 lighting cues.
• 17 Archived costumes recreated.
• 4 Rehearsal venues.
• 80 Tons of production equipment.
• 330 Million albums sold, still the best-selling female artist of all time.
• 3600 Square ft. of projection imagery to the show. The most amount of video ever used in a Madonna show.
• 200+ Traveling crew – 25 in the costume department alone.
• 30 Ft. off the ground Madonna is transported around the arena in an illuminated portal frame that acts as a time machine allowing her to move at 1.5ft per second, 80ft across and 130ft down the length of the arena designed to symbolize looking into the past, present and towards the future.
• 3700 Amps of show power.

…and only ONE Madonna .

Tags: Madonna The Celebration Tour

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Madonna’s Celebration Tour Proves the Material Girl is Still the Reigning Queen of Pop Music: Concert Review

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Four songs into Madonna ’s long-awaited Celebration Tour and a technical hitch gives her a chance to chat for a little longer than was probably planned.

She tells the crowd of her early days being “hungry, broke and scared” in New York, with a lack of support from her father, who wanted her to come back home. 

“But I was not about to go back,” she declares. “Because I am not a quitter!” 

Most other performers would have balked at taking on a gruelling world tour less than four months after a stay in the ICU with a serious bacterial infection. Many more might have at least considered tempering the ambitious nature of an all-singing, all-dancing show that would be a physical challenge for any of today’s young pop megastars, let alone a 65-year-old pop veteran with strapping on her knee. 

But not Madonna. After postponing the scheduled first leg, the tour finds itself starting – a mere 20 minutes late – at London’s O2 Arena, the very venue where, in 2015, she famously fell down the stairs after a cape malfunction at the BRIT Awards.

Those of us who were close enough to hear the thud as she hit the floor like a pole-axed prize fighter that night were amazed when she simply got back to her feet and got on with the show. And tonight, she metaphorically climbs off the canvas of that hospital stay to reclaim her pop heavyweight crown, a metaphor helpfully supported by the elaborate boxing set-up utilized during the lead-up to the show’s second act.

There are few signs that Madonna was fazed by the fraught run-up, let alone the lengthy “reset” required after her punky rip through “Burning Up.” She may sigh, “This is exactly what you don’t want to happen on your opening night,” but she simply gets her hype man Bob the Drag Queen up to tell jokes, while reminiscing about the days when she would trade “blowjobs for showers” in ‘80s NYC.

And for once, Madonna – whose relentless commitment to the present and future of her music had always previously prevented her from playing the fantasy setlist her catalog seemed to be crying out for – is here to celebrate her four decades at the top with almost every song a fan – whether casual or obsessive – could dream of.

Furthermore, tonight she lays claim not just to her own history, but also to her influence on music and the wider world over the last 40 years. Not for nothing did the set start with “Nothing Really Matters” and its refrain of, “It all comes back to me”.

There are nods to her activism – including a passionate plea for peace between Israel and Palestine and tributes to those we have lost to AIDS – and her trailblazing, via a montage of negative news headlines and video footage from across her career. It’s a timely reminder that, in an age where anyone with a million streams that gets a new haircut can be hailed as “iconic,” Madonna really has achieved that status, over and over.

There are snippets of other people’s music throughout – a snatch of Sam Smith’s “Unholy” here or Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” there, plus a surprisingly poignant acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”. Some of her children make on-stage cameos, and even her ex-husbands appear briefly on screen. There are tributes to Sinead O’Connor and, more controversially, Michael Jackson, via a dubious mash-up of “Billie Jean” with “Like a Virgin”.

But mostly, it’s about Madonna and her songs. Taylor Swift has undoubtedly crystalized the concept of musical ‘eras’ in the public consciousness, but Madonna is no slouch when it comes to giving each phase of her career a distinct look and sound.

And tonight, she flits seamlessly between different stages of her life, sometimes via a costume change, sometimes by climbing into an illuminated portal that sees her fly over the crowd on her way to another time and place.

From the joyous early ‘80s dance-pop of “Get Into the Groove” and “Holiday”; to big ballads such as “Live to Tell” and “Bad Girl”; to the raunch of “Erotica” (in which Madge gets to saucily, um, interact with her younger self via a lookalike in the iconic “Blonde Ambition” get-up) and “Justify My Love”; to the sheer, irresistible pizazz of “Vogue,” “Don’t Tell Me,” “La Isla Bonita,” “Ray of Light,” “Hung Up,” “Like a Prayer” and so many others; this show is proof that there is no such thing as too much Madonna.

True, the lack of a live band occasionally makes things lack a little punch (most notably on a glitchy “Die Another Day”). But overall, tonight shows that while – just like 40 years ago – Madonna still doesn’t know how to quit, boy has she learned how to come back.

But thankfully, she did and, by the end, all the different iterations of Madonna from across the decades are on stage, the lookalikes hugging each other with delight during “Bitch, I’m Madonna,” while the real deal stays center stage and supremely focused.

Still dancing, still singing, still the one and only Madonna.  

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Madonna: The Celebration Tour

• Date January 8 – 9 , 2024
• Doors All doors open at 7:30PM
• Availability On Sale Now
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Event Information

Madonna's shows at TD Garden originally scheduled for August 30 and August 31 have been rescheduled to January 8 and January 9, 2024. Tickets for the August 30 show will now be valid for the January 8 show and tickets for the August 31 show will now be valid for the January 9 show. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase.

* Lineup subject to change without notice.

Due to overwhelming demand, Madonna today announced the addition of 13 new dates in North America across The Celebration Tour.

Madonna will now stop at TD Garden on Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Madonna announces Madonna: The Celebration Tour , in an iconic viral video with a wink to her groundbreaking film Truth or Dare. The video features notable names such as Diplo, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Lil Wayne, Bob The Drag Queen, Kate Berlant, Larry Owens, Meg Stalter, Eric Andre and culminates with Amy Schumer daring the global superstar to go on tour and perform her four decades of mega hits. Madonna, the best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, rises to the challenge announcing The Celebration Tour which will be highlighting her unmatched catalog of music from the past 40 plus years.

Produced by Live Nation, The Celebration Tour will take us on Madonna’s artistic journey through four decades and pays respect to the city of New York where her career in music began. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” states Madonna.

The Celebration Tour will offer a one-of-a-kind experience with special guest Bob the Drag Queen a.k.a. Caldwell Tidicue across all dates on the global tour.

TICKETS: Tickets go on sale Friday, January 20 at 10am local time on Ticketmaster.com

Limited Ticket Inventory Access

Offers for special, limited time inventory may become available during the period of time between the on sale and show date for some events. To inquire about access to these special offers, email [email protected].

Want to be alerted when special inventory becomes available? Sign-up to receive SMS Texts from TD Garden by sending GARDEN to 51984, text & data rates apply.

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Events are better with friends! Nothing beats a suite for your group of 18 or more for you and your crew, including private entrances, premium views and personal restrooms. Gather your group and rent a suite for your next event at TD Garden. Explore suite rental options and outreach at TDGarden.com/SuiteRentals

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Tickets are available online, at the TD Garden Box Office & all Ticketmaster outlets.

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Madonna’s Celebration tour is a messy victory lap that needs more razzle-dazzle

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You have to respect Madonna’s idea of a nostalgia trip.

Standing onstage before an adoring audience of thousands Monday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, the pop icon flashed back 40-something years to the evening in the early 1980s when she debuted her song “Burning Up” for a smaller and more hostile crowd at New York’s legendary CBGB.

“People were screaming at me, ‘Show us your tits!’” she recalled. “And at the time, I didn’t have any tits because I wasn’t eating.” She laughed. “Being broke and homeless and friendless and jobless and foodless and anorexic — it was not a vibe.”

Monday’s concert was the first of five at the Forum on Madonna’s Celebration Tour — a career-spanning road show meant to “tell you the story of my life,” as she put it not long into the two-hour-and-15-minute performance. In the age of Taylor Swift’s world-conquering Eras Tour, that retrospective framing can seem like the obvious choice for a musician with a catalog as deep as Madonna’s.

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Yet the 65-year-old singer has always resisted a play-the-hits approach in favor of showcasing her latest work (as in the intimate theater dates she did in 2019 and 2020 behind her most recent studio album, “ Madame X ”). So it made sense that she felt a bit of explanation was in order.

“I hope you can handle it,” she told her fans, “’cause just imagine: I had to live it.”

Only a churl would deny Madonna the right to a victory lap, so monumental is her standing in pop history — not just as a maker of indelible songs and genre-defining videos but also as a cultural pathbreaker whose commitment to feminist and queer ideals continues to open lanes in the mainstream even now.

“You can all thank me for allowing you to have the courage to come out,” she said Monday, which is certainly one way to describe the work of ally-ship that’s long distinguished her career.

For a tour called Celebration, though, this show — with more than two dozen of Madonna’s songs divided into seven acts — was curiously short on joy; again and again, she brought the crowd’s attention to the indignities as opposed to the victories of her ascent, as in the CBGB anecdote or in a little skit before “Holiday” in which she acted out being turned away by a doorman at the Paradise Garage.

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Late in the night, she spoke for a few minutes about the “near-death experience” she suffered last summer that forced her to postpone the tour’s launch and left her nearly unable to walk from her house to her backyard.

“I know that sounds insane, but it was difficult then,” she said. “I didn’t know when I could get up again and when I could be myself again and when I would have my energy back.”

That she was telling us this from a stage — and with her trusted doctor in the house, she pointed out — was, of course, its own triumph. Yet Madonna’s performance rarely tapped into the sense of abandon you’d hope would accompany such a win. The result was easy to admire but not always easy to love.

Overly moody arrangements of once-ebullient hits like “Hung Up,” “Ray of Light” and “Like a Prayer” didn’t help; nor did the baffling decision to forgo all-timers such as “Music,” “Borderline,” “Secret” and “Lucky Star” to make room for the likes of Madonna’s forgettable Bond theme, “Die Another Day.” “Like a Virgin” was part of the show but only as a prerecorded mash-up with Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” that played as digital silhouettes of the two superstars were projected onto a screen. (As costume-change distractions went, it beat the vaguely pagan fire ritual undertaken by several of her dancers.)

Could you say that the life story Madonna promised to tell cohered Monday with any discernible logic? Not in a show that inexplicably jammed together the pugnacious “Human Nature” and the yearning “Crazy for You.” That’s not a problem, per se: A pop concert is a theater of personality and craft, not one of plot or character development. But a narrative this messy needed more razzle-dazzle.

Madonna being Madonna, she couldn’t help but dole out some during a few moments at the Forum. “Vogue” was a high point that had her dancers (including one of the singer’s daughters) competing in a rowdy ballroom tableau judged by Madonna and comedian Eric André. “Live to Tell” was a moving tribute to people who’d died of AIDS complications; “Take a Bow” was another gorgeous ballad, with Madonna’s strongest vocal of the night.

And then there was her surprising acoustic rendition of “Express Yourself,” for which she tweaked the song’s familiar intro — “Come on girls, do you believe in love?” — to include “boys,” “theys” and “thems.” On record, “Express Yourself” is a battering ram of industrial-funk encouragement; it exhorts the listener to create his or her own destiny. Here, as Madonna sang and strummed a guitar, the song seemed to acknowledge the cost of that process while urging us on all the same.

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Bob the Drag Queen Takes Us Inside Madonna’s Celebration Tour

By mel ottenberg, photographed by ricardo gomes, december 14, 2023.

Bob the Drag Queen, photographed by Ricardo Gomes, on Madonna’s ‘Celebration Tour’.

Few are the pop stars who could render the illustrious Bob the Drag Queen an opening act. Bob, the podcaster, television host, actor, activist, and season eight winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race , is used to headlining gigs—and for good reason. But that was before Madonna asked her to be the hype man and opener on her career-spanning Celebration Tour, which kicked off its U.S. leg at Barclays Center on Wednesday night. Before the show, our Editor-in-Chief and Madonna megafan Mel Ottenberg called Bob to find out about the gig of a lifetime.

MEL OTTENBERG: Bob, listen. I’m flying blind because I’m seeing the show tonight and I didn’t want to watch clips on Instagram beforehand. So what do you have in store for me? Are you a long-time Madonna fan?

BOB THE DRAG QUEEN: I started being a fan of Madonna around the song “Don’t Tell Me.” And then I really got into Madonna after seeing her at the Barclays Center, so it’s funny that I’m going to be performing with her tonight where I first saw her, at Barclays, on the Rebel Heart Tour. I mean, first of all, you’re going to be getting more decades, some songs Madonna hasn’t done in a concert in years , some songs she’s literally never done in concert, which is really exciting. 

OTTENBERG: What is it like being on tour? A big Madonna tour?

BOB: You know, it really doesn’t feel much different than being on the Werq the World Tour, the other tour that I’ve done. It’s just scaled up. But also there’s so much of it that I don’t see. We have 16 buses. It’s so vast you don’t even see all of it.

OTTENBERG: What’s the best thing about being on the road?

BOB: Well, the truth is–this is why I’m so bad at interviews, because I’m always so honest. I feel like I should lie more. I don’t love traveling. I hate it. I wish that I could find a way to make people come to me as opposed to going to people to perform. But being on tour kind of feels like you’re at summer camp, because you’re seeing the same people day in and day out, and you end up building these really close bonds. Then, at the end of it, they move back to Australia and Italy and Minnesota and Florida.

OTTENBERG: The rumor is that everyone on this tour is cool though.

BOB: Yea, everyone’s cool.

OTTENBERG: How do you deal with being the hype man on days where you just don’t feel it?

BOB: It is very rare that I don’t feel like getting up and performing. And I mean, incredibly rare. There are times where I’m like “Ugh, the world feels bleak, I can’t perform now.” But for the most part, I’m almost always happy to get on stage and perform. I can remember years ago, my mom got shot and I had to perform that same night. That was pretty tough. She’s alive, by the way. Don’t worry. But I was like, “Oh my god, I have to perform. This feels dystopian.” But I also get a chance to go on stage and help people feel good for a moment, too.

OTTENBERG: I’m glad your mother’s okay.

BOB: It was years ago. She’s great.

OTTENBERG: What’s your favorite Madonna era? And you can’t say now.

BOB: I can say whatever I want, for starters.

OTTENBERG: Yes, you can.

BOB: I was really into MDNA Madonna. I was really into her two songs she did with Nicki [Minaj]. Shoutout to Nicki for Pink Friday 2 . And that was just a really fun era for me, my New York City nightlife heyday. When I was really in these New York City streets, running around, performing, living my little dreams.

OTTENBERG: Do you have a favorite Madonna boyfriend?

BOB: Maybe, but not really. Some of them really intrigue me. Like, what’s up with her and Tupac? That’s really interesting to me.

OTTENBERG: It is.

BOB: The thing about me is, I’m not particularly compelled by romance. I hate when we have to pause a movie to engage with the love interest. I’m always like “Ugh, I don’t want to hear from this fucking love interest. I want the action of the movie to start again.” But there are particular moments in Madonna’s life that I find really compelling.

OTTENBERG: What comes to mind?

BOB: I’m really intrigued by her in the ’80s, passing out her CDs or tapes, going to clubs, performing at CBGB’s, performing at Paradise Garage while her friends held flashlights because there were no spotlights there. I’m intrigued by Madonna working at Dunkin’ Donuts and getting fired for having an attitude problem. I’m intrigued by Madonna working at the Russian Tea Room and getting fired because she wanted to wear fishnets.

OTTENBERG: She always has that same spirit. They needed something to listen to in the club scene in Desperately Seeking Susan , and she’s like, “Oh, play this demo tape. It’s not finished, it’s just the tape.” And then they put it in and everyone dances to it for the whole scene. And that’s “Into the Groove.” Magic! I highly recommend the Mary Gabriel biography that just came out. The ’80s part, you just can’t stop reading it. Anyway, what time are you going on tonight?

BOB: The show’s around 8:30. And we have a DJ beforehand.

OTTENBERG: I’m excited to see this show and I think you’re fucking awesome.

BOB: Oh, thank you. 

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It’s officially time to “get into the groove.”

11 months (!) and one major health scare after announcing her 2023 ‘Celebration Tour,’ Madonna is finally playing North American venues.

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 13, The Material Girl will take off on the U.S. leg of her long awaited international jaunt.

First up, she’ll kick off the tour with a trio of back-to-back-to-back gigs at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Dec. 13 , 14 and 16 .

The following month, the “Papa Don’t Preach” pop star will swoop into New York City’s Madison Square Garden for a three concert mini-residency on Jan. 22 , 23 and 29 .

And for those wondering, yes, she’s still got chops.

After the first show of the career showing ‘Celebration Tour’ in London, Madge shared an Instagram clip showing off her impressive vocal range.

Want to see her live?

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets was $44 before fees on Vivid Seats.

Other shows on the run start anywhere from $57 to $355 before fees.

Need a few more details before buying?

We’ve got you covered, Iconers.

Our team has all the details you need and more about the 2023-24 ‘Celebration Tour’ below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

Madonna 2023-24 tour schedule

A complete calendar including all ‘Celebration’ tour dates, venues and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

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Madonna tour set list

For the past few months, Madge has been playing ‘Celebration’ shows internationally.

Based on our findings, here’s what she performed over the course of seven acts (!) at her most recent gig, courtesy of Set List FM .

Act I 01.) “Nothing Really Matters” 02.) “Everybody” 03.) “Into the Groove” 04.) “Causing a Commotion” 05.) “Burning Up” 06.) “Open Your Heart” 07.) “Holiday” Act II

08.) “Live to Tell”

09.) “Like a Prayer” Act III 10.) “Erotica” 11.) “Justify My Love” 12.) “Hung Up” 13.) “Bad Girl” Act IV

14.) “Vogue” 15.) “Human Nature” 16.) “Crazy for You” Act V

17.) “Die Another Day” 18.) “Don’t Tell Me” 19.) “Mother and Father” 20.) “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor cover) 21.) “La Isla Bonita” 22.) “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover) Act VI

23.) “Bedtime Story” 24.) “Ray of Light” 25.) “Rain” Act VII

26.) “B—- I’m Madonna” 27.) “Celebration”

Want to go deeper? You can see a complete list of every song Madonna has ever played at every one of her concerts dating all the way back to 1982  here .

Madonna opening act

On the “Celebration Tour” run, Madonna has tapped famed drag queen, comedian, actor, activist, musician, and reality TV personality Bob The Drag Queen to serve as her opening act.

Not familiar with Bob?

Well, you may want to start with her rise to prominence on the eighth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2016 where she was crowned the winner.

In the years since, you may have seen Bob in “High Maintenance” (2016), “Tales of the City” (2019), “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (2019) and the 2020 series “We’re Here,” which she co-hosted.

Of course, Bob sings too.

Her single “Purse First” charted at number 43 on the U.S. Dance charts.

Madonna tour postponement

The ‘Celebration Tour’ was originally set to get underway in Canada this past July.

However, Madonna was hospitalized in June after developing a series of bacterial infections.

After a month of care, she took to  Instagram  to share an update on her recovery.

“My focus now is my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can!”

’80s stars on tour in 2024

While Madonna may be the face of the ’80s, many other icons from the decade of excess will be running victory laps in 2023 when they take their hits on the road.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss.

•  Stevie Nicks

•  Rick Springfield with Richard Marx

• Foreigner with Styx

• Journey with Def Leppard

•  REO Speedwagon

Need more ’80s music?

If that’s the case, check out our list of the  107 biggest ’80s concerts in 2023 here .

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