Take That have completed three spectacular shows at Manchester's Etihad Stadium, entertaining approximately 150,000 fans over the weekend. The band also reached a global audience of millions via a livestream on Amazon Music on Saturday night. Fans and critics have praised the return of The Circus Live tour, which originally broke records in 2009 as the fastest-selling show of all time. Many now consider the 2026 reboot even better than the original.
From Four to Three: The Jason Orange Factor
The most significant change since 2009 is that Take That now operates as a trio. Jason Orange, a key member during The Circus, left the band in 2014 and stepped away from entertainment. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald have continued as a trio. When announcing the new tour, they confirmed Jason gave his blessing for the revival without him. The band reunited with much of the original cast and crew, including creative director Kim Gavin, who first brought the show to life in 2009 and worked on the 2026 vision.
Opening Number: The Greatest Day
The show opens with 'The Greatest Day', where the band emerges from beneath a massive cloud of balloons and a giant hot air balloon. In 2009, the stage setup was relatively basic. For 2026, the stage itself features circus-style stripes. The outfits also evolved: in 2009, the band wore skinny trousers and ringmaster-style jackets; now, they sport wider-leg pants for dance moves and sequinned magician cloaks.
'Hello' Flowers: From Blooms to Sunflowers
For the track 'Hello', led by Mark Owen, the 2009 version featured colourful blooms with dancers in blue. In 2026, it has become a riot of yellow sunflowers, accompanied by bird puppets flying around the band. The staging overall feels more elaborate.
Clown Outfits: More Bling
The iconic clown segment, where the band reprises 90s hits in a dance megamix, returns with Howard and Mark unicycling. The outfits now feature sequinned trousers instead of plaid, while striped tops and bowler hats remain, each with the bandmate's initial in sequins.
The Elephant: Unchanged and Majestic
The elephant prop is the same one from 2009, reportedly stored in a music industry executive's garden for 17 years. It still walks through the crowd, with performer Briony Albert returning as the elephant's tail. The band emerges from beneath the stage on the elephant's back for 'The Garden', wearing metallic suits that have been slightly blinged up.
Giant Ringmaster Puppet: A Serious Glow-Up
The finale features a giant spooky ringmaster. In 2009, it was large with a projected face. For 2026, it is a vast inflated puppet with moving arms, dominating the stage and spooking younger fans. It is voiced and embodied by West End star Zoe Birkett, who appears earlier in a red outfit and returns for 'Relight My Fire'.
'Relight My Fire' Outfits: Day of the Dead Style
In 2009, the band wore tight waistcoats and pants with black top hats. For 2026, they don bright red plush suits with white skeleton embellishment, evoking a Mexican Day of the Dead theme.
The Band Themselves: Still Energetic
Gary (55), Mark (54), and Howard (58) perform all original dance moves with energy, and their vocals are reportedly stronger. Each member gets a moment to shine, with no obvious leader.
Setlist Changes
The band promised the show would be '90 per cent the same'. Jason Orange's solo number 'Wooden Boat' and his lead vocal track 'How Did It Come To This' are omitted. New additions include the trio's single 'You're a Superstar' and 'Babe', giving Mark Owen a serenade moment. Gary Barlow performs three solo songs during his piano segment: 'Love Ain't Here Anymore' and 'Nobody Else'.
Full Setlist Comparison
2009 at Lancashire CCC: Greatest Day, Hello, Could It Be Magic, Pray, A Million Love Songs, Back for Good, The Garden, Shine, Up All Night, Wooden Boat, How Did It Come To This, The Circus, What Is Love, Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party, Said It All, Never Forget, Patience, Relight My Fire, Encore: Hold Up a Light, Rule the World.
2026 at Etihad Stadium: Greatest Day, Hello, Could It Be Magic, Pray, A Million Love Songs, Back for Good, The Garden, Shine, Up All Night, Babe, You're a Superstar, Love Ain't Here Anymore, Nobody Else, The Circus, What Is Love, Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party, Said It All, Never Forget, Patience, Relight My Fire, Encore: Hold Up a Light, Rule the World.
The band plays a third Etihad gig on Sunday night, then heads to London Stadium for three nights, before returning to Manchester for a final homecoming show on July 1.
