Global pop sensation Ariana Grande has sent shockwaves through her fanbase by revealing that her upcoming live performances will be the last audiences see of her on stage for the foreseeable future. The announcement, made during a recent podcast appearance, has particularly devastated her loyal supporters in Australia, as the planned Eternal Sunshine Tour 2026 is scheduled exclusively for North America and the UK.
Fan Fury Down Under
The 32-year-old singer discussed her future plans on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, sparking an immediate and emotional backlash from fans located outside the selected tour countries. Australian followers, who have not seen Grande perform live since 2017, took to social media platform X to express their profound disappointment and sense of exclusion.
One exasperated fan posted, "Girl I love you, but why not do a proper tour that all of the fans can attend and not only the ones from UK & US." The sentiment was echoed by another who described the limited tour locations as a "slap in the face to her fans from all over the world." A third fan highlighted the lengthy absence, lamenting, "She's not been to Australia for getting on for a decade... I guess that means she's never coming back."
A 'Last Hurrah' For Now
Despite the controversy, Grande expressed genuine excitement for the shows themselves. "I'm very excited to do this small tour," she told Poehler during the interview. However, she was clear about her impending hiatus from touring, adding a poignant caveat: "But I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time."
She framed the upcoming tour as a final, concentrated effort for her admirers, stating, "I'm going to give it my all, and it's going to be beautiful, and I'm so grateful. I think that's why I'm doing it. Because I'm like, one last hurrah. For now." This tour will be her first major concert series in seven years, following the release of her chart-topping album Eternal Sunshine in March 2024.
The schedule is set to commence in mid-2026, with performances across the United States and Canada, culminating in a significant 10-night residency at London's O2 Arena.
Security Scare Casts a Shadow
The tour news follows a distressing security incident involving the star. At the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore last week, an Australian man, Johnson Wen, charged at Ariana Grande.
Video footage from the event showed Wen lunging towards the singer and putting his arm around her before security personnel swiftly intervened. Grande's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, was praised for bravely stepping in front of the actress to protect her. The event left a visibly shaken Grande being comforted by Erivo.
In a bizarre twist, Wen, who calls himself 'Pyjama Man' online, later shared clips of the incident on his Instagram Story with the caption, "Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You." He was subsequently arrested but later released, posting a video where he gloated about being "free."
As the excitement builds for fans in the UK and North America, the announcement underscores the difficult choices global artists must make, often leaving dedicated international audiences waiting for years for a chance to see them perform live.
