Ariana Grande Reveals Her Next Tour Is Much Smaller: A "One Last Hurrah" Before Stepping Back

Ariana Grande is gearing up for a big change. In a candid new interview with Nicole Kidman for Interview magazine, published on 24th November, the pop superstar revealed that her upcoming 2026 'Eternal Sunshine' world tour will be much more intimate and scaled-back than her previous arena-dominating runs. Grande claims this next chapter will have about 45 gigs, which is about half of what she used to do at her busiest, instead of dozens of events spread throughout the globe. 

Despite the tour's lower scale, she characterizes it as having great significance and being a part of a greater journey of healing, rejuvenation, and redefining her connection with her music and stardom.

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A Smaller Tour, A Bigger Purpose

The 32-year-old Ariana clarified that she feels truly grateful and excited about this lighter touring schedule. While 45 gigs may still sound like a lot, she highlighted it's far more manageable than the exhausting tours she once carried out. Over the past few years, she's taken a step back from her busy pop-star routines, instead focusing on acting—most notably playing Glinda in the 'Wicked' films, 'Wicked' and 'Wicked: For Good.'

Grande credits this time away from music and touring, has helped her heal emotionally, rebuild her creative process, and separate the joy of performing from the pressures of fame. "I've just been healing my relationship to music and touring," she told Kidman, explaining that acting gave her new perspective and the strength to set firmer boundaries around her career.

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What Fans Can Expect From the 2026 'Eternal Sunshine' Tour

Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' tour will start in Oakland, California, in June 2026, and will wind through cities in North America and Europe, concluding in London by August. Fans can anticipate an emotional, contemplative concert that combines fan favourites from her previous albums with new songs from her 'Eternal Sunshine' era. For this run, Grande claims to have completely redesigned her creative "system," re-establishing her connection to her passion for music-making while also learning to put aside the toxic aspects of stardom that had previously burdened her.

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She added that she now uses self-care and meditation as coping mechanisms for stressful situations. Because of this, many believe—and she herself has hinted—that the 'Eternal Sunshine' tour could be her "one last hurrah" for a while. Whether or not she plans to pause music for long-term, fans are bracing for a tour that's not just a comeback—but a softer, more grounded return.

Healing, Growth, and a New Chapter

Ariana's recent growth as an artist is closely linked to her reflections. She admits that in her early career, fame came with unexpected emotional tolls, and she often use to internalize criticism or let her ego drive her. She found a way out during her time in the sets of 'Wicked,' not just by physically assuming a role but also by mentally breaking free from rigid routines. She describes her healing as "baby steps," but acknowledges the transformation: things that once felt traumatic or draining now seem to be dissipating.

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'Eternal Sunshine,' her seventh studio album, gave her a platform to express herself creatively and emotionally. As she prepares to bring that music to life on stage again—albeit in a gentler way—Ariana Grande appears ready to embrace this next chapter with gratitude, balance, and a renewed love for what she does.

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