RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR

Beyoncé

BEYONCÉ GOES ON THE WORLD TOUR - RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR

After the enormously successful release of Beyoncé's seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE, the world star is coming to Sweden with her RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, her first solo tour in over six years. The world tour premiers at Friends Arena in Stockholm on 10 May 2023!

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Dates & times

Thursday May 11, 2023

Before the visit

Before the visit

General admission 11 may, 650-1495 sek, general admission 10 may, wheelchair 11 may, wheelchair 10 may, res hit från hela sverige.

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Beyoncé Kicks Off Her Renaissance World Tour In Stockholm, Sweden: Watch Performance And Stage Videos, See Photos, View The Setlist & More

Beyoncé returned to the stage with her hotly anticipated Renaissance World Tour, which saw the singer perform a three-hour set that included multiple live debuts of 'Renaissance' tracks and other classics.

BeyHive assemble: The moment has finally arrived. Beyoncé officially kicked off her 56-date Renaissance World Tour tonight in Stockholm, Sweden. Launching with a sold-out show at the Friends Arena in the Swedish capital, the tour marks Queen Bey's first tour in nearly five years and first solo tour in seven years. The world tour is in support of her GRAMMY-winning and history-making 2022 album , Renaissance , and also marks the first time she performed songs from the album on stage. 

Across a three-hour, 36-song set, which was split into seven acts, Beyoncé delivered an expansive, dazzling set spanning her broad and celebrated discography, including many live debuts of Renaissance tracks like "CUFF IT," "BREAK MY SOUL," "PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA," "VIRGO'S GROOVE," and many more. She also performed several Beyoncé classics like "Run the World (Girls)," her Megan Thee Stallion collab " Savage Remix ," "Crazy in Love," "Formation," and more.

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden.

*Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden | Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood*

Released last July, Renaissance is Beyoncé's seventh solo album, all of which have topped the U.S charts. Renaissance garnered Beyoncé eight of her nine GRAMMY nominations at the 2023 GRAMMYs ; she was also nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media for her original song "Be Alive" from the film King Richard .

Read More: A Timeline Of Beyoncé's GRAMMY Moments, From Her First Win With Destiny's Child to Making History With 'Renaissance'

At the 2023 GRAMMYs, she took home four GRAMMY Awards — including Best Dance/Electronic Recording for "Break My Soul," Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for Renaissance , Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Plastic Off The Sofa," and Best R&B Song for "Cuff It" — setting the record as the artist with the most GRAMMY wins of all time . When nominations for the 2023 GRAMMYs were announced last November, she was the most nominated artist for that GRAMMY Award year; she is currently tied with her husband and occasional music partner, Jay-Z , for the most GRAMMY nominations ever, counting 88 nominations each.

Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour continues across Europe through late June and then heads to North America in July.

Below, check out the full setlist , view photos, watch videos, and see fan reactions from the BeyHive from the first night of Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour.

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden.

*Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden | Photo: Andrew White*

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden.

*Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden | Photo: Mason Poole*

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of her Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Opening Act

The Signboard (Video Introduction)

Dangerously in Love 2 (Live Debut - Shortened)

Flaws and All

I'm Goin' Down ( Mary J. Blige cover)

RENAISSANCE

RENAISSANCE (Video Introduction)  

I'M THAT GIRL (Live Debut - Extended spoken intro)

COZY (Live Debut)

ALIEN SUPERSTAR (Live Debut)

Lift Off (JAY Z & Kanye West cover)

7/11 (Dancers Interlude)

MOTHERBOARD

MOTHERBOARD (Video Interlude)

CUFF IT (Live Debut)

ENERGY(Live Debut)

BREAK MY SOUL (Live Debut)

OPULENCE (Video Interlude)

Formation (Shortened)

Diva (Shortened)

Run the World (Girls) (Shortened)

MY POWER (Live Debut - Shortened)

BLACK PARADE (Live Debut)

Savage (Remix) (Megan Thee Stallion cover) (Live Debut)

Partition (Shortened)

ANOINTED (Video Interlude )

CHURCH GIRL(Live Debut)

Get Me Bodied (Shortened)

Before I Let Go (Maze featuring Frankie Beverly cover)

Rather Die Young

Love on Top

Crazy in Love

Freedom(Band Jam. Interlude)

ANOINTED - PT. 2

Love Hangover ( Diana Ross song) (Sung by the choristers)

PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA (Live Debut)

VIRGO'S GROOVE (Live Debut)

Naughty Girl

MOVE (Live Debut)

HEATED (Live Debut)

THIQUE (Live Debut)

ALL UP IN YOUR MIND (Live Debut)

Drunk in Love

MIND CONTROL

MIND CONTROL (Video Interlude)

AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (Live Debut)

PURE/HONEY (Live Debut)

SUMMER RENAISSANCE (Live Debut)

How Many GRAMMYs Has Beyoncé Won? 10 Questions About The 'Renaissance' Singer Answered

Post Malone holds and acoustic guitar and looks at the crown during his Super Bowl LVIII performance

Photo: Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Post Malone's Country Roots: 8 Key Moments In Covers and Collaborations

Ahead of Posty's upcoming performance at the Stagecoach Festival, catch up on the many ways he's been dabbling in country music since the beginning of his career.

Since Post Malone burst onto the mainstream nearly a decade ago, he has continued to flaunt his genre-defying brand of musical brilliance. For his latest venture, it’s time for gold grills and cowboy hats: Posty’s going country.

Though his musical origins are in rap, Malone has seamlessly traversed pop, R&B, and blues, always hinting at his deep-seated country roots along the way. In the last year, his long-standing affinity for country music has moved to the forefront, with appearances at the CMA Awards, a country-tinged Super Bowl LVIII performance, and a feature on Beyoncé ’s COWBOY CARTER . Next up, he’ll make his debut at California's Stagecoach Festival alongside some of country music’s biggest names — and pay tribute to some of the genre greats.

While it’s unclear exactly what the Texas-raised hitmaker will be singing, his 45-minute set on Saturday, April 27 is labeled “Post Malone: Performs a special set of country covers.” After years of performing covers for and alongside country stars, the performance is arguably one of the most full-circle moments of his career thus far.

Ahead of his Stagecoach premiere, read on for some of Posty's biggest nods and contributions to the country music scene over the years — that could culminate in his own country album soon enough. 

A Slew Of Classic Country Music Covers

Malone has a history of channeling his musical heroes, often pulling on his boots to deliver heartfelt covers. He's paid tribute to country icons many times, including covers of Hank Williams Jr .'s classic, "There's A Tear In My Beer” in a 2018 fan-favorite video . 

During a 2022 Billy Strings tour stop at The Observatory in Los Angeles, Malone made a surprise appearance and used the moment to honor Johnny Cash alongside Strings. The pair delivered an acoustic duet of Cash's infamous murder ballad, "Cocaine Blues."

And just this year, Malone covered Hank Williams Sr. during a surprise performance at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. On April 3, he closed out the annual Bobby Bones' Million Dollar Show with a rendition of Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues." 

A Longtime Kinship With Dwight Yoakam

Malone has long collaborated with Dwight Yoakam , marking a friendship and professional partnership that spans his career. Yoakam is a GRAMMY-winning trailblazer known for his pioneering blend of honky tonk, rock and punk that shook up the country scene in the 80's with his blend of "cowpunk." 

The pair frequently joined forces on Yoakam's SiriusXM Radio spot "Greater Bakersfield," where one standout 2018 appearance features Malone covering Yoakam's own “Thousand Miles From Nowhere” as the two laugh, strum and belt out the lyrics together in perfect harmony. 

On April Fool's Day in 2021, they playfully teased fans with the prospect of a double country album release — which may not seem so far-fetched three years later.

It's fitting that Malone would find such deep inspiration in folks like Yoakam, a man who first rode onto the country scene with a new take on a traditional sound. Much like Yoakam bridged generations with his music, Malone brings a new yet familiar energy to the country scene, embodying the spirit of a modern cowboy in both style and sound.

A Country Tribute To Elvis

Malone teamed up with Keith Urban for a duet rendition of "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" during the "Elvis All-Star Tribute Special," which aired on NBC in 2019. Originally written and performed by blues musician and songwriter Jimmy Reed , "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" was famously covered by Presley and commemorated through Urban and Malone's unique blend of modern guitar-slapping country-rock charisma. 

That wasn't Malone's only country collab that night, either. He also covered Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" alongside Blake Shelton , Little Big Town and Mac Davis .

A Celebration Of Texas With Country Legends

In March 2021, Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila, hosted the "We’re Texas" virtual benefit concert, to help Texans coping with that year's disastrous winter storms during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Following performances by George Strait , Kacey Musgraves , Willie Nelson , and Miranda Lambert , Malone — who moved to Dallas when he was 10 — served as the night's final entertainer. He performed Brad Paisley 's "I'm Gonna Miss Her" followed by Sturgill Simpson 's "You Can Have The Crown" backed by Dwight Yoakam.

A Rousing Tribute At The 2023 CMA Awards

At the 2023 CMA Awards, Malone joined country stars Morgan Wallen and HARDY on stage to cover late icon Joe Diffie ‘s “Pickup Man” and "John Deere Green." Malone's first-ever performance at the CMAs felt more like a reunion than a debut, with Malone right at home among his collaborators.

“I’ve manifested this for years," HARDY told Audacy's Katie Neal. "Slight flex here, but I started following [Post Malone] when he had like, 300k Instagram followers. I was on the 'White Iverson' terrain, like the first thing that he ever put out and I was like, ‘this is dope,’ and I've been with him ever since.” 

After the performance, Malone hinted to Access Hollywood that it might be the start of a new chapter. When asked if a forthcoming country album would be in the works, he answered, “I think so. Yes, ma'am.” (More on that later.)

A Countrified Appearance At Super Bowl LVIII

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Before Beyoncé announced COWBOY CARTER in a Verizon Super Bowl ad , Malone offered Super Bowl Sunday's first country-themed clue at the top of the night with his tender rendition of "America The Beautiful." Sporting a bolo tie and brown suede, Malone delivered his patriotic performance with a characteristically country drawl while strumming along on acoustic guitar before Reba McIntire 's star-spangled rendition of the national anthem. 

Malone's performance followed in the footsteps of a long line of country artists who have kicked off the national sporting event, which started with Charley Pride in 1974 and has included Shania Twain , Faith Hill and Garth Brooks . 

A Tip Of The Hat To Toby Keith

During a performance at the American Rodeo in Arlington, Texas, on March 9, Malone paid tribute to the late Toby Keith , who passed away in February . After pouring one out and taking a sip from a red solo cup (an homage to Keith's playful hit of the same name), Malone performed a cover of "As Good As I Once Was" for the Texas rodeo crowd.

His TikTok video of the performance quickly garnered over 4 million views, sparking enthusiasm among fans for more country music from him. "Sir. I'm now begging for a country album," wrote one user in a comment that has received over 11,000 hearts.

A (Potential) Full-On Country Album

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His much-teased country album may not be too yonder. After confirming that a country album was in the works during a live Twitch stream on his channel, Malone has spent much of this year teasing forthcoming new work. There is no scheduled album release date as of press time, but Malone has shared snippets of new songs including “ Missin’ You Like This” and dropped sneak peeks of collaborations with Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Ernest, and Luke Combs . 

In February, Malone posted a sample of a collaboration with Combs, "I Ain't Got A Guy For That," the first in a series of song snippets shared across his social channels. 

On March 20, Malone posted a reel to Instagram featuring a video of himself seated on a stool, smoking a cigarette and singing along to a track that opens with Wallen singing, “It takes two to break a heart in two,” as Malone comes in to deliver a blow with the line, “Baby you blame me, and baby I’ll blame you." The track, shared with the caption (and supposed song title) "I had some help," was first announced in a now-deleted social media post by Wallen at the end of 2023. 

No matter when the album may come, Post Malone’s Stagecoach set will only up the anticipation for some original country music from the star — and from the looks of it, fans and genre stars alike are more than ready for it.

12 Must-See Acts At Stagecoach 2024: Tanner Adell, Charley Crockett & More

Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award onstage during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, April 1.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Beyond Country: All The Genres Beyoncé Explores On 'Cowboy Carter'

On 'COWBOY CARTER,' Beyoncé is free. Her eighth studio album is an unbridled exploration of musical genres — from country to opera and R&B — that celebrates the fluidity of music and her Texas roots.

"Genres are a funny little concept, aren't they? In theory, they have a simple definition that's easy to understand. But in practice, well, some may feel confined."

With those words, spoken on "SPAGHETTII" by Linda Martell — the first commercially successful Black female artist in country music and the first to play the Grand Ole Opry solo — Beyoncé provides a proxy response to her original call on Instagram 10 days before COWBOY CARTER was released: "This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album." 

She delivered on that promise with intent. Through a mix of homage and innovation, Beyoncé's latest is a 27-track testament to her boundless musicality and draws  from a rich aural palette. In addition to its country leanings, COWBOY CARTER includes everything from the soulful depths of gospel to the intricate layers of opera. 

Beyoncé's stance is clear: she's not here to fit into a box. From the heartfelt tribute in "BLACKBIIRD" to the genre-blurring tracks like "YA YA," Beyoncé uses her platform to elevate the conversation around genre, culture, and history. She doesn't claim country music; she illuminates its roots and wings, celebrating the Black artists who've shaped its essence.

The collective album proves no genre was created or remains in isolation. It's a concept stoked in the words of the opening track, "AMERIICAN REQUIEM" when Beyonce reflects, "Nothing really ends / For things to stay the same they have to change again." For country, and all popular genres of music to exist they have to evolve. No sound ever stays the same.

COWBOY CARTER's narrative arc, from "AMERICAN REQUIEM" to "AMEN," is a journey through American music's heart and soul, paying tribute to its origins while charting a path forward. This album isn't just an exploration of musical heritage; it's an act of freedom and a declaration of the multifaceted influence of Black culture on American pop culture.

Here's a closer look at some of some of the musical genres touched on in act ii, the second release of an anticipated trilogy by Beyoncé, the most GRAMMY-winning artist of all-time: 

Before COWBOY CARTER was even released, Beyoncé sparked critical discussion over the role of herself and all Black artists in country music . Yet COWBOY CARTER doesn't stake a claim on country music. Rather, it spotlights the genre through collaborations with legends and modern icons , while championing the message that country music, like all popular American music and culture, has always been built on the labor and love of Black lives. 

It's a reckoning acknowledged not only by Beyoncé's personal connection to country music growing up in Texas, but the role Black artists have played in country music rooted in gospel, blues, and folk music. 

Enter The World Of Beyoncé

Country legends, Dolly Parton ("DOLLY P", "JOLENE," and "TYRANT"), Willie Nelson ("SMOKE HOUR" and "SMOKE HOUR II"), and Martell ("SPAGHETTII and "THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW") serve mainly as spoken-word collaborators, becoming MCs for Queen Bey. Some of the most prolific country music legends receiving her in a space where she has been made to feel unwelcome in music (most notably with the racism surrounding her 2016 CMA performance of "Daddy Lessons" with the Dixie Chicks ) provides a prolific release of industry levies. Martell, a woman who trod the dark country road before Bey, finally getting her much-deserved dues appears as an almost pre-ordained and poetic act of justice. 

"BLACKBIIRD," a version of the Beatles ' civil rights era song of encouragement and hope for the struggle of Black women is led softly by Beyoncé, backed by a quartet of Black female contemporary country songbirds: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. 

Beyoncé holds space for others, using the power of her star to shine a light on those around her. These inclusions rebuke nay-sayers who quipped pre-release that she was stealing attention from other Black country artists. It also flies in the faces that shunned and discriminated against her, serving as an example of how to do better. The reality that Beyoncé wasn't stealing a spotlight, but building a stage for fellow artists, is a case study in how success for one begets success for others. 

Read more: 8 Country Crossover Artists You Should Know: Ray Charles, The Beastie Boys, Cyndi Lauper & More

Gospel, Blues, & Folk (American Roots)

As is Beyoncé's way, she mounts a case for country music with evidence to back up her testimony. She meanders a course through a sequence of styles that serve as the genre's foundation: gospel, blues, and folk music.

"AMERIICAN REQUIEM" and "AMEN" bookend the album with gospel-inspired lyrics and choir vocals. The opener sets up a reflective sermon buoyed by  the sounds of a reverberating church organ, while the closer, with its introspective lyrics, pleads for mercy and redemption. The main verse on "AMEN", "This house was built with blood and bone/ The statues they made were beautiful/ But they were lies of stone," is complemented by a blend of piano, and choral harmonies. 

Hymnal references are interlaced throughout the album, particularly in songs like "II HANDS II HEAVEN" and in the lyrical nuances on "JUST FOR FUN." In the later track, Beyoncé's voice soars with gratitude in a powerful delivery of the lines, "Time heals everything / I don't need anything / Hallelujah, I pray to her." 

The gospel-inspired, blues-based "16 CARRIAGES" reflects the rich history of country songs borrowing from the blues while simultaneously calling back to songs sung by field laborers in the colonial American South. "Sixteen dollars, workin' all day/ Ain't got time to waste, I got art to make" serves as the exhausted plea of an artist working tirelessly long hours in dedication to a better life. 

Rhiannon Giddens , a celebrated musician-scholar, two-time GRAMMY winner, and Pulitzer Prize recipient, infuses "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" with her profound understanding of American folk, country, and blues. She plays the viola and banjo, the latter tracing its origins to Sub-Saharan West Africa and the lutes of ancient Egypt. Through her skilled plucking and bending of the strings, Giddens bridges the rich musical heritage of Africa and the South with the soul of country, blues, and folk music.

Pop, Funk, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll  

All in, Beyoncé is a pop star who is wrestling with labels placed on her 27-year career in COWBOY CARTER . Fittingly, she brings in two other pop artists known for swimming in the brackish water between country and pop, Miley Cyrus and Post Malone . Her intentional inclusion of two artists who have blurred genres without much cross-examination begs the question, Why should Beyoncé's sound be segregated to a different realm? 

On "YA YA" Linda Martell returns as the listener's sonic sentinel, introducing the track like a lesson plan: "This particular tune stretches across a range of genres. And that’s what makes it a unique listening experience." The tune sinks into the strummed chords of Nancy Sinatra 's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" before leaping into a fiery dance track that features reimagined lyrics from the Beach Boys , with soulful vocal flourishes and breaks that show the throughline connection between '60s era rock, funk, and pop music.

Robert Randolph lends his hands on "16 CARRIAGES" with a funk-infused grapple on his pedal-steel guitar. It's a style he honed through his early years touring and recording with his family band and later in his career as an in-demand collaborator working with names including the Allman Brothers , and Norah Jones . 

The lesson is solidified as the album transitions into an interlude on "OH LOUISIANA," featuring a sped-up sample of a classic track by Chuck Berry. This moment emphasizes the pop superstar's nod to civil rights era music history, spotlighting a controversial artist celebrated for his pioneering contributions to rock 'n' roll. (It's a part of music history Beyoncé knows well, after starring as Etta James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records , a veiled biopic of the legendary Chicago label Chess Records.)

Classical & Opera

Opera was missing from many listeners' Beyoncé Bingo card, but didn't surprise those that know her background. Beyoncé was trained for over a decade starting at an early age by her voice teacher David Lee Brewer, a retired opera singer who once lived with the Knowles family. 

COWBOY CARTER gives sing-along fans a 101 opera class with "DAUGHTER." In Italian, Beyoncé sings passages from the 1783 Italian opera "Caro Mio Ben," composed by Giuseppe Tommaso Giovanni Giordani. The aria is a classic piece of vocal training that fittingly shows off her full range — taking us back to the earliest days of her vocal teachings.

Hip-Hop & R&B

Midway through the album on "SPAGHETTII" Beyoncé announces, "I ain't no regular singer, now come get everythin' you came for," landing right where expectations have confined her: in the throes of a romping beat, experimenting with sounds that blend hip-hop with R&B and soul. The track notably highlights the talent of Nigerian American singer/rapper Shaboozey, who also shows up to the rodeo on "SWEET HONEY BUCKIN'" brandishing his unique mix of hip-hop, folk-pop, and country music. 

Beyoncé worked with longtime collaborator Raphael Saadiq on this album, a career legend in the R&B industry, who lends his mark to several tracks on which he wrote, produced, and played multiple instruments. Beyoncé also utilizes the Louisiana songwriter Willie Jones on "JUST FOR FUN," an artist who draws on a contemporary blend of country, Southern rap, and R&B in the hymnal ballad. 

The violin-heavy "TYRANT" and "SPAGHETTII" both underscore hip-hop's long love affair with the classical string instrument (See: Common 's " Be ," and Wu Tang Clan 's " Reunited " as the tip of that particular iceberg) with a blend of soulful R&B lyrics paired with beat-based instrumentalization. 

In a world quick to draw lines and label sounds, Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER stands as a vibrant mosaic of musical influence and innovation. Ultimately, Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER isn't seeking anyone's acceptance. As a Texan once told she didn't belong, her critical response claps back at this exclusion.  It's also a reminder that in the hands of a true artist, music is limitless.

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Beyonce Cowboy Carter Takeaways Hero

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Beyoncé Is The Genre-Bending Queen On 'Cowboy Carter': 5 Takeaways From Her New Album

On 'act ii' of her three-part album trilogy, Beyoncé explores the world of country and beyond — and makes a statement with every track.

When Beyoncé released RENAISSANCE in July 2022, she revealed that the album would be part of a "three-act project." One year and eight months later, she delivered on her promise in a big, bold way with act ii: COWBOY CARTER .

The expansive 27-track project finds the star experimenting with country, folk and Americana, pushing the boundaries of genre in a way she never has before — and, in classic Bey fashion, serving up a poignant response to naysayers.

"It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn't," she shared in an Instagram post the week before the album's release. "But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive."

From thoughtful cameos to old-school instrumentation, COWBOY CARTER is the culmination of everything that makes Beyoncé one of the most influential artists of her time, flexing her knack for statement pieces as well as her versatility. 

Here are five key takeaways from Beyoncé's long-awaited new album, COWBOY CARTER .

It's Not Country, It's KNTRY

Beyoncé revealed the COWBOY CARTER track listing in a rodeo-inspired concert flyer posted to Instagram on March 27. The artwork shared an important tag at the bottom: "Brought to you by KNTRY Radio Texas."

KNTRY Radio is a fantasy station with a wide open format created for COWBOY CARTER , and hosted by Willie Nelson in two short "SMOKE HOUR" interludes. Throughout the album, you'll hear samples of old songs by Chuck Berry and other classic artists. 

As Beyoncé stated in another pre-release Instagram post, COWBOY CARTER isn't a country album. Instead, popular styles are blended together in surprising ways to create a new sound that's purely Beyoncé. (There's even a moment, on "DAUGHTER," where she sings a verse from a famous Italian opera called "Caro Mio Ben.")

Whether through an intro, an interlude or a powerful verse, it's clear that Beyoncé and her guests are trying to open minds musically with these songs. " If there's one thing you can take away from our set today, let it be this," Nelson said in the second of his two "SMOKE HOUR" radio-style interludes on the album. "Sometimes you don't know what you like and someone you trust turns you on to some real good s—. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I'm here."

It's A Unique Continuation Of Her Mission

COWBOY CARTER begins the same way as it ends, with Beyoncé proclaiming, "Them big ideas are buried here, Amen," in the intro of opener "AMERICAN REQUIEM," and then "Them old ideas are buried here, Amen" in the last line of closer "AMEN."

Those statements reflect exactly what Beyoncé set out to do with COWBOY CARTER : celebrate the Black community's roots within the country space, while addressing the lack of cultural acceptance of it. The album celebrates Blackness in the way she's always done, but in a way that feels even more revolutionary.

This is perhaps best exhibited in the trap-infused track "SPAGHETTII." "Genres are a funny little concept, aren't they?" asks Linda Martell — who was the first Black woman soloist to appear at the Grand Ole Opry — on the song's intro. "In theory, they have a simple definition that's easy to understand/ But in practice, well, some may feel confined."

As Beyoncé adds in the first verse, "Now we on a mission, tried to turn me to the opposition/ I'm appalled 'bout the proposition/ Y'all been played by the plagiaristic, ain't gonna give no clout addiction my attention."

Beyoncé has long been at the forefront of honoring Black culture, and COWBOY CARTER is her most boundary-pushing addition to the conversation yet — and she hopes to change the "old ideas" into "big ideas."

It Takes Her Cinematic Love To The Next Level

It's no secret that Beyoncé loves her visuals. Though COWBOY CARTER isn't a visual album like some of her previous releases, a press release revealed that each of the songs on the album are inspired by Western films. In a statement, Beyoncé named five specific films as primary influences: The Harder They Fall , Killers of the Flower Moon , Urban Cowboy , The Hateful Eight , and Five Fingers For Marseilles . 

Several of the COWBOY CARTER visuals have elements of Western films, from the desert and mountainous landscapes of "AMERIICAN REQUIEM" and "OH LOUISIANA" to the rainy ashtray in "AMEN." And it's likely not a coincidence that a track called "SPAGHETTII" ended up on an album inspired by Westerns. 

Beyoncé even made a new catchphrase out of the most famous Western movie actor of all time on "BODYGUARD," where she declares she'll "John Wayne that ass."

It's Her Most Organic Sound Yet

Pivoting from the electronic landscape of RENAISSANCE , Beyoncé favors analog instruments over digital sounds on COWBOY CARTER . As "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" foreshadowed, there's plenty of banjo, boot-stomping beats and guitar plucks — and even Beyoncé's fingernails as percussion — across the album.

Raw instrumentation is also sprinkled throughout, particularly on "FLAMENCO" and her stunning cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird" (whose title is given an act ii twist as "BLACKBIIRD"). And if anything sounds a little unpolished, Beyoncé wants you to know it was completely intentional.

"With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones," Beyoncé explained in a press statement . "I didn't want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature."

It's Another Family Affair

Now that Beyoncé's first-born daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, has played a prominent role in her mom's career — winning a GRAMMY in 2021 for her part in "Brown Skin Girl" and famously dancing on the RENAISSANCE World Tour — it was time for her little sister to shine.

Six-year-old Rumi Carter contributes an intro on "PROTECTOR," by asking Bey if she can "hear the lullaby." Though Rumi isn't featured in the rest of the track, hearing her voice at the beginning makes the song's sweet sentiment all the more impactful: "And I will lead you down that road if you lose your way/ Born to be a protector," Beyoncé sings on the chorus.

With so much to uncover in COWBOY CARTER , Beyoncé already has the anticipation high for the final part of her album trilogy. Will act iii feature Rumi's twin brother, Sir Carter? Will the rumors of Beyoncé exploring her rock side be true? We'll hopefully find out soon enough, but for now, get lost in the world of COWBOY CARTER — a testament to Beyoncé's prowess as an ever-evolving trailblazer. 

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Beyonce

Beyoncé's New Album 'Cowboy Carter' Is Here: Check Out The Featured Artists, Cover Songs, And Tracklist

Beyoncé's highly anticipated 'COWBOY CARTER' opens up a Pandora's box of American lore, and the deep connections between Blackness and country music. Here's the rundown of the album's featured artists, cover songs and tracklisting.

Beyoncé 's act ii is upon us — say hello to COWBOY CARTER .

On March 29, the 32-time GRAMMY winner unleashed the follow-up to her acclaimed 2022 album, RENAISSANCE . While COWBOY CARTER hints "Bey goes country," the LP is more of a psychedelic opus, with glimmers of country twang and style.

Across a sprawling 27-song tracklist of inspired originals flecked with covers and interpolations, Queen Bey takes us on a rodeo ride through so many musical universes, paying homage to the Beatles , Chuck Berry , Willie Nelson , Dolly Parton , Linda Martell, and more.

Clearly, there's a treasure trove here — more than enough to keep the Beyhive abuzz throughout 2024. GRAMMY.com is here to help you pore over every twangy lick, mega-guest star and lyrical implication. 

As you dive into Beyoncé's astonishing new album, read on for some of the fundamentals of COWBOY CARTER.

The Tracklisting

Two days prior to COWBOY CARTER 's release, Bey released the tracklist — fittingly, in the form of a rodeo poster. And much to the delight of the Beyhive, it's nearly double the length of its 16-track predecessor, RENAISSANCE .

Check out the rodeo poster, as well as the complete track listing, below.

AMERIICAN REQUIEM

16 CARRIAGES

SMOKE HOUR WILLIE NELSON

TEXAS HOLD 'EM

ALLIGATOR TEARS

SMOKE HOUR II

JUST FOR FUN

II MOST WANTED

LEVII'S JEANS

THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW

OH LOUISIANA

DESERT EAGLE

RIIVERDANCE

II HANDS II HEAVEN

SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN'

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

The Cover Songs

Among two dozen dazzling Beyoncé originals,   COWBOY CARTER   features covers of the Beatles' "Blackbird," Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and Chuck Berry's "Oh Louisiana."

"BLACKBIIRD" (retitled from "Blackbird," with an   act ii   flavor) is a   Paul McCartney   song, credited to Lennon-McCartney and featured on 1968's   The Beatles , commonly known as   The White Album . The song's civil rights inspiration makes it more than a worthy selection: the use of McCartney's original guitar and foot-tapping track makes it especially ear-grabbing.

"JOLENE" is a Dolly Parton classic, similarly given symphonic heft by Bey; Parton offers a radio-like intro on the   COWBOY CARTER   rendition.

In Parton's pre-"JOLENE" intro, "DOLLY P," she connects "Jolene" to Bey's immortal line "Becky with the good hair" from the   Lemonade   track "Sorry": "You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when, except she has flamin' locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same."

"OH LOUISIANA" is a Chuck Berry deep cut from 1971's undersung   San Francisco Dues ; a flicker of Berry's "Maybellene" appears in "SMOKE HOUR WILLIE NELSON," which also features interpolations of Roy Hamilton's "Don't Let Go" and Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Down By The River Side."

Similarly, "YA YA" contains glimmers of Tommaso Giordani's "Caro Mio Ben,"   Lee Hazelwood 's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'," and   the Beach Boys ' "Good Vibrations."

Beyoncé has always displayed razor-sharp intent with her collaborators, and   COWBOY CARTER   is no exception.

The featured guests highlight a slew of   rising Black stars   in the   country scene . "BLACKBIIRD" spotlights four budding female artists, Brittney Spencer, Renya Roberts, Tanner Addell and Tiera Kennedy; Willie Jones shows off his chops on "JUST FOR FUN"; and country-rap fusionist Shaboozey stars on two tracks, "SPAGHETTII" and "SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN.'"

She also welcomes two country-loving pop stars,   Miley Cyrus   and   Post Malone , who make appearances on "II MOST WANTED" and "LEVII'S JEANS," respectively. And along with Parton, Beyoncé honors two more country greats with two aptly titled homages: fellow Texan   Willie Nelson   appears on "SMOKE HOUR WILLIE NELSON" and "SMOKE HOUR II," and trailblazer Linda Martell "The Linda Martell Show"

Perhaps Beyoncé's cutest collaborator is her six-year-old daughter, Rumi Carter, who makes her adorable debut on "PROTECTOR."

With that, venture forth into   COWBOY CARTER   — another quintessentially Bey statement of purpose and prowess.

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  • 1 Beyoncé Kicks Off Her Renaissance World Tour In Stockholm, Sweden: Watch Performance And Stage Videos, See Photos, View The Setlist & More
  • 2 Post Malone's Country Roots: 8 Key Moments In Covers and Collaborations
  • 3 Beyond Country: All The Genres Beyoncé Explores On 'Cowboy Carter'
  • 4 Beyoncé Is The Genre-Bending Queen On 'Cowboy Carter': 5 Takeaways From Her New Album
  • 5 Beyoncé's New Album 'Cowboy Carter' Is Here: Check Out The Featured Artists, Cover Songs, And Tracklist
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Beyoncé Kicks Off Renaissance World Tour in Sweden — Her First Solo Concert Outing in 7 Years

Beyoncé performed 36 tracks for nearly three hours during the show, including various songs from her seventh studio album Renaissance

beyonce world tour sweden

Beyoncé is back onstage.

The singer, 41, kicked off her The Renaissance World Tour at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday, marking her first solo concert outing in seven years.

During the sold-out show, Beyoncé performed 36 tracks for nearly three hours, including various songs from her seventh studio album Renaissance , such as "Alien Superstar," "Cuff It," "Pure/Honey" and "Plastic Off the Sofa."

The concert's set list also featured numerous hits that showcased Beyoncé's decades-long career , including "Crazy in Love," "Partition" and "Love on Top."

Beyonce's husband JAY-Z and daughter Blue Ivy , 11, were also in attendance to show their support during the concert, which is produced by Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

During her set, Beyoncé wowed in a series of elaborate designer outfits that complimented each portion of the show.

The mom of three kicked off the evening in an Alexander McQueen fall 2023 look, per Vogue , before she transitioned into a silver bodysuit that featured a circular cutout across her torso.

Beyoncé then donned other glamorous looks through the night, including a pearl-embellished Balmain bodysuit, a dress that changed color thanks to a UV light, and another bodysuit that featured hands with red nail polish placed strategically around her body.

The singer — who is affectionately known as Queen Bey by her loyal legion of fans — even transformed into an actual bee at one point, sporting a yellow-and-black striped Mugler look with metal antennae.

Beyoncé couldn't help but tease fans during the show too, hinting that her Queen status is the reason why the long-awaited visuals for her Renaissance album, which came out last July, haven't been released yet.

Right before performing her 2016 hit "Formation," Beyoncé stood onstage with her backup dancers in tow, as a voice read aloud quotes that flashed on screen behind her.

"I know you hear me," the voice began. "You've asked for the visuals. You've called for the queen. But a queen moves at her own pace. Bitch."

Then adding that Beyoncé "decides when she wants to give you a f---ing taste" of the visual components, the voice concluded, "So get your fork and your spoon if you got one."

RELATED VIDEO: Beyoncé Gets Emotional as She Breaks Record for All-Time Grammy Wins: 'Thank You So Much'

The Renaissance World Tour marks Beyoncé's first solo tour since 2016's The Formation World Tour. She would later go on to headline Coachella in April 2018, before she and JAY-Z, 53, took part in their On the Run II Tour months later.

The European leg of Beyonce's latest tour will make stops in Belgium, England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, before the North American leg of the tour kicks off on July 8 in Toronto, later ending in New Orleans on Sept. 27.

Beyoncé's BeyGOOD initiative, which she founded in 2013, will play a prominent role during each concert stop, according to a press release.

"BeyGOOD will continue its legacy of philanthropy, building out this focus on economic equity by supporting organizations that serve marginalized and underserved communities with access to scholarships, opportunities for internships that lead to job placement, and resources to support entrepreneurship," the release said. "In various cities throughout the tour, BeyGOOD will support entrepreneurs through Black Parade Route luncheons, celebrating small business owners, with grant opportunities being awarded and a foray of services with global partners to promote business sustainability. One thousand small businesses will be supported with a commitment totaling one million dollars."

"BeyGOOD will also support students through scholarship funds that will be given to colleges and universities in ten different cities along the tour. Each school will be given one hundred thousand dollars and will select the student recipients," the statement continued, adding that BeyGOOD's total scholarship commitment during The Renaissance World Tour "will be one million dollars."

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Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Kicks Off in Sweden: Setlist, Stage, Merch, and More

By Jazz Monroe , Allison Hussey , and Evan Minsker

Beyonc at opening night of Renaissance World Tour

At Stockholm’s Friends Arena today, Beyoncé kicked off her first tour in four and a half years, bringing Renaissance to the stage for the very first time. She performed for three hours in the Swedish capital with no opening act. She gave live debuts to “ Break My Soul ,” “ Virgo’s Groove ,” “ Cuff It ,” and other tracks from the record. For her closing performance of “Summer Renaissance,” she rode atop a flying disco horse. Check out the setlist, plus some photos and video from the show, below. Also, see the stage and some merchandise.

Renaissance , released last July, was Beyoncé’s seventh No. 1 album . It won her a handful of Grammy Awards — Best Dance/Electronic Recording , Best Traditional R&B Performance , Best R&B Song , and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album —making her the most decorated artist in Grammys history. (Her sometime collaborator Diplo responded with an apparent bit of snark that may or may not have been misinterpreted.) Nonetheless, by marquee pop standards, she ran a low-key campaign, and her relative scarcity has bolstered intrigue around the tour.

So far, Beyoncé has released no videos from Renaissance , and “Break My Soul” was the only official single. Before tonight, she had performed live just once since the release— controversially , at a private event in Dubai. That concert , for an audience of celebrities and special guests, featured a cover of Etta James’ “At Last” and songs spanning Beyoncé’s career up to Renaissance , but no tracks from the album itself.

The tour continues tomorrow with a second night in Stockholm; the North American leg starts in Toronto on July 8.

Dangerously in Love Flaws and All 1+1 / I’d Rather Go Blind / I’m Going Down I Care I’m That Girl Cozy Alien Superstar / Sweet Dreams Lift Off 7/11 Cuff It Energy Break My Soul Formation Diva Run the World (Girls) My Power Black Parade Savage Church Girl Get Me Bodied Before I Let Go Rather Die Young Love on Top Crazy in Love Green Light Freedom Plastic Off the Sofa Virgo’s Groove Naughty Girl / Say My Name / Rocket Move Heated Thique All Up in Your Mind Drunk in Love America Has a Problem Pure/Honey Summer Renaissance

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Everything We Learned from Night One of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour

Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour Opening Night - Stockholm

I t’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for: Beyoncé finally kicked off her Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden , Wednesday night. This comes close to a year after the release of her seventh album, RENAISSANCE , a period during which she has rarely acknowledged the album with interviews or public performances of the new music, nor put out any music videos to accompany the songs. Nonetheless, the BeyHive was still buzzing with excitement on social media as they shared clips of the stage, the merchandise, the view from different VIP sections, and, most importantly, the artist performing the songs live for the first time.

Beyoncé is gearing up for a second night at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. As she gets ready to hit the stage, let’s take a look at what was revealed in the first show that might offer an indication of what could happen on the rest of the highly anticipated tour. A lot has already happened—from Bey herself addressing the lack of visuals to her celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, in keeping with the themes of the album.

Here’s everything we learned from night one of the Renaissance World Tour.

Beyoncé said not to rush a queen for music videos

omg not beyoncé addressing the visuals i’m crying 😭 #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/xQ9AkBCp3p — rasmus (@rasmusbravado) May 10, 2023

If we haven’t learned by now, Beyoncé releases things when she is good and ready . This is her first solo album since 2016’s Lemonade , so we can’t act surprised that she told her fans to be patient and stop asking about the music videos. Her last solo albums, Lemonade , Beyoncé , and The Gift (a concept album for The Lion King ), all had visual components that included music videos for each song. This built up the expectation that RENAISSANCE would get the same treatment.

Beyoncé is online and knows her fans have been hounding her, and she has finally responded. During a break on the first night, a disembodied voice addressed the crowd as the words it spoke were displayed on stage: “Aww, you mad? Well, there’s no remedy for that, bitches… I know you’ve asked for the visuals. You’ve called for the Queen. But a Queen moves at her own pace, bitch. Decides when she wants to give you a f-cking taste. So get your fork and your spoon if you got one.”

She is cutting out some of her biggest hits to make room for the new album and deep cuts

Attendees at the concert in Stockholm filmed every moment for the world to see on social media, and many of Beyoncé’s fans were quite surprised by some of the songs she decided to perform. She opened the show with “Dangerously In Love” from her debut album of the same name and ran through a string of popular songs, both mainstream hits and fan favorites. At the opening night show, she also performed songs like “Rather Die Young,” “Flaws and All,” and “Black Parade,” which have not gotten much attention from Beyoncé in recent memory.

Beyonce - Rather Die Young 🎤 SINGGGGGG!!!! #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/MEZwAVYNWk — ram (@oyyram) May 10, 2023

Some of Beyoncé’s most popular songs, many of which she has made a point to perform on past tours, are notably missing from the set list. “Run The World” fans, do not worry: she still performs the song. But those who are fans of “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies,” and “Halo,” a notorious closer for Beyoncé—as evidenced by the Homecoming concert film and her Formation World Tour— may be disappointed.

Beyoncé did NOT perform her hit songs “Single Ladies”, ”If I Were a Boy” and “Halo” at the opening night of her #RENAISSANCEtour show in Sweden. pic.twitter.com/ejXi5b7fXf — Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) May 10, 2023

Beyoncé brought back the Les Twins, who have accompanied her on multiple tours and performances

The Les Twins, Laurent and Larry, were approached by Beyoncé years ago after a video of them dancing went viral and they appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . They were invited to perform with Beyoncé at the Billboard Music Awards in 2011, and she took them on the road with her for the Mrs. Carter World Tour, her joint On The Run Tour with Jay-Z, and her Coachella performance in 2018 . Her fans were excited to see the Les Twins back on stage with her for this new tour.

Beyoncé performing Thique and Les Twins are officially back 😭 #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/zPKiGAPCjG — J (@wenttojarrett) May 10, 2023

It was gay as hell: An unabashed celebration of the LGBTQ+ community

In the lead-up to the album, Beyoncé dedicated the project to her Uncle Johnny, who battled HIV when she was young. He is referenced in the song “HEATED,” and in the outro of the song, Beyoncé takes on the role of MC at a ball (a queer dance party) where she starts “reading.” All of these influences took center stage at the Renaissance World Tour and will make a strong statement when it comes stateside in July, given the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country.

BEYONCÉ IS HEATED😭😭😭 #RENAISSANCEtour pic.twitter.com/ddL9s1ByUA — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) May 10, 2023

One of the biggest displays of affection for her queer fans came even before the concert started. As concertgoers poured into the stadium, they were greeted with a fake TV error screen, but if you look closely, some of the colors are different. This error screen has the colors of the progress pride flag, which includes colors from the transgender pride flag, as well as brown and black to indicate the greater discrimination experienced by those members of the community. Twitter users joked, “Nashville is gonna be ready to arrest Beyoncé for this, lord Jesus,” referencing the state’s attempt to ban drag shows and broader attempts across the US to infringe on trans people’s rights.

Nashville is gonna be ready to arrest Beyoncé for this lord Jesus pic.twitter.com/jAz6ObNSEQ — 💫 (@heyjaeee) May 10, 2023

There is also a ball that happens in the show. Beyoncé makes space for her dancers to vogue and dance to her song, “PURE/HONEY.”

BEYONCÉ HOSTING A BALL IS SO WILD TO ME OMG pic.twitter.com/1JwnRMX8TR — pocket (@islandthembo) May 10, 2023

Some people might recognize Honey Balenciaga from The House of Balenciaga, which appeared in season two of HBO Max’s Legendary . She was seen voguing on stage with the rest of Beyoncé’s dancers.

@legendaryvoguex HONEY BALENCIAGA @Honey. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE IT GIRL #RENAISSANCE ♬ original sound - Legendary Vogue X

As we’ve seen with other tours from major artists like Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and the 1975, their fervent fan base will keep everyone up to date on all the song changes, new outfits, and surprises that these artists pull out of their bag of tricks on the road. As we’ve seen with Swift’s notoriously sold-out Eras Tour, her fans made sure to give people who couldn’t get tickets a chance to see the tour play out online. Based on how night one played out, it seems like Beyoncé’s fans will be doing the same for those of us stuck at home.

Correction, May 11: The original version of this story misgendered Honey Balenciaga. She uses she/her pronouns.

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Watch CBS News

Beyoncé dances with giant robot arms on opening night of Renaissance World Tour

May 10, 2023 / 8:44 PM EDT / CBS News

Beyoncé kicked off her 57-date Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday with futuristic panache. 

The set design on the opening night of the global superstar's second all-stadium solo tour appeared to be her most ambitious to date. Videos posted on social media showed pyrotechnics, disco balls, giant moving robots , and even a shiny, metallic tank that Beyoncé rode while singing.

The tour is in support of Beyoncé's seventh solo studio album, "Renaissance. It is her first solo tour in nearly seven years. The Formation World Tour in 2016 supported her album "Lemonade." 

Beyoncé sang all 16 songs from "Renaissance" at the tour's opening show, marking the first time she'd performed any of them live. Several older songs from her expansive catalog made their live debuts as well, including the Grammy-winning "Black Parade," "Lift Off" and "Savage Remix," her number-one hit with Megan Thee Stallion. 

Beyoncé started the show with four straight ballads, including her 2003 "Dangerously In Love 2," an unconventional move by a singer known to open her concerts with fast-paced smash hits like "Crazy In Love," "Run the World (Girls)," and "Formation." 

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the Renaissance World Tour at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Beyoncé then launched into songs from "Renaissance," with performances replete with a futuristic set design — including those robotic arms — and queer, Black and trans-inspired choreography that evoked the themes and tenor of her latest acclaimed album. 

Dancing energetically alongside a legion of backup dancers wearing blonde wigs and glitzy silver leotards, the 41-year-old mother of three sang (and rapped) with the power and pristineness that's put her in a distinct category of pop performers. Her athleticism doesn't seem to have waned since her astonishingly aerobic headlining sets at Coachella in 2018. 

The performers' outfits were as outlandish and ultramodernist as the show's set design, ranging from a gold bodysuit inspired by Loewe's Fall 2022 collection to a giant bee costume — a sartorial embrace of her designation as "Queen Bey." Another outfit appeared to be transformed by UV light while she was wearing it. 

Beyoncé ended the show with a performance of the album's final track, "Summer Renaissance," while perched atop a gleaming, crystalline horse — evoking the "Renaissance" album cover — and later being hoisted above the crowd  amid a cloud of glittery confetti.  

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood

Wednesday marked just the second live performance for Beyonce in nearly three years. Before her January show at the opening of Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, Beyoncé hadn't performed in front of a live audience since she sang at Kobe Bryant's memorial in February 2020. She co-headlined her last world tour with her husband, Jay-Z, in 2018. 

Forbes on Monday predicted the Renaissance World Tour could earn nearly $2.1 billion — $500 million more than Taylor Swift's "Eras" world tour is expected to make and more than the revenue from all of Beyoncé's previous concerts combined. 

Beyoncé has announced that she will provide support for students and entrepreneurs throughout the Renaissance World Tour by giving out a total of $2 million through her BeyGOOD Foundation . The foundation's BeyGOOD initiative, founded in 2013, has undertaken various philanthropic endeavors in the U.S. and worldwide, including providing aid to communities affected by natural disasters, promoting education and supporting programs that address issues such as housing scarcity and mental health. It has also provided grants to small, Black-owned businesses — a focus since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Beyoncé
  • Entertainment

S. Dev is a news editor for CBSNews.com.

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So excited, so exotic — Beyoncé’s a seasoned professional — and her Renaissance tour cycle is officially upon us.

Queen Bey kicked off her global tour Wednesday at the Friends Arena in Stockholm with the first of 57 sold-out shows. Tens of thousands of fans converged there to see the most-decorated Grammy Award winner in history perform during her first tour in more than six years.

Beyoncé strikes a pose in a silver outfit with her hands over her head in front of a translucent silver horse

Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour is 3 hours long with no opener. Here’s the rumored set list

Beyoncé has been keeping details about her highly anticipated Renaissance tour tightly under wraps. But a few clues have emerged before the first show.

May 15, 2023

For the record:

11:27 a.m. May 15, 2023 A previous version of this story said that Beyoncé would be perfoming at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 2 and 3. She will be performing at the Inglewood venue on Sept. 1, 2 and 4.

The “Break My Soul” hitmaker brought the crowds, the dance music, enormous set pieces and the crystals, cowboy boots and sparkling bodysuits during the three-hour-long show, which featured a whopping 37-song set spanning her two-decade career.

Bey kicked off her ambitious set with her 2003 solo-album title track “Dangerously in Love,” moved through the 2011 female empowerment anthem “Run the World (Girls),” as well as every one of the 16 tracks from her latest album, “Renaissance,” including “Cuff It,” “Break My Soul,” “Church Girl” and “Alien Superstar.” She closed the show with “Pure/Honey” and “Summer Renaissance,” according to the Associated Press and Billboard .

“Renaissance is a monster blockbuster concert experience on a different plane,” the Guardian said in its review. “Dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex, body positivity and feminine Black pride, the near three-hour spectacular plays out in front, behind and, at times, inside a football-pitch-wide high-definition video screen designed to assault the senses at dizzying scale.”

A woman posing on the floor in a black cowboy hat and bodysuit

Beyoncé extends ‘Renaissance’ world tour, will now play two SoFi shows

Beyoncé has added seven more dates to her ‘Renaissance’ world tour after ‘fan demand exceeded the number of available tickets by more than 800%.’

Feb. 1, 2023

“Fans who had complained in recent months about the lack of music videos for ‘Renaissance’ hits were in for a treat Wednesday as video projections and animations took center stage,” the AP reported. “The rapid succession of costume changes and decor shifts was baffling. The singer played on interactions between a digital and physical world where robotic devices make space for weird silver moon rovers or an inflatable horse. Even Queen Bey herself morphs into a cybernetic character. Seems confusing? It was.”

The New York Times described it as a spectacle that was “part retrofuturism and part disco fantasia.”

The first night also included Bey thanking fans for coming to see her, as well as dancing robot arms and nods to Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down,” Britney Spears’ “Toxic” , husband Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Lift Off” and a remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage.” She also paid tribute to her Destiny’s Child roots and worked in music from her other hit albums, “Beyoncé,” “B’Day,” I Am… Sasha Fierce,” “Lemonade” and “Lion King: The Gift.”

Beyonce in a deep-neck dress sitting in a reflective room

A leak threatened to disrupt her meticulously plotted rollout, but no matter: ‘Renaissance’ is as musically (and sexually) provocative as any album in 2022.

July 28, 2022

The 41-year-old performer also had nine costume changes , in what Vogue dubbed “club-ready couture creations.” The perennial showgirl’s custom looks, all styled by Shiona Turini , included a UV-color-changing dress by Anrealage, a bejeweled Loewe bodysuit, an Alexander Wang bodysuit, a custom Coperni , a Balmain pearled corset inspired by her collaboration with designer Olivier Rousteing that debuted earlier this year, and a holographic dress created by London-based designer David Koma.

While fans largely ate up the performance, some were convinced that the singer was injured during the concert because she wasn’t delivering many of her signature dance moves. The Daily Mail reported that she opened the show with a series of ballads and was taking more breaks throughout, leading some to believe that she was recovering from a rumored foot injury. Four months ago, speculation surfaced about Bey having a secret foot surgery following her performance in Dubai at the opening of Atlantis the Royal — her first concert since 2018.

The New York Times also noticed her subdued moves: “[F]or one of pop’s ultimate dancing queens, Beyoncé’s performance was far less physical than on past tours. She often seemed to keep her feet stationary while shaking her upper body, and appeared to favor one leg. She spent much of one song sitting atop a prop.” Her reps did not comment on the performance.

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Forget the leaks, Beyoncé’s new album ‘Renaissance’ has officially arrived. Catch up on all the album’s most important lyrics.

July 29, 2022

Beyoncé is set to take the stage again Thursday in Stockholm before heading to Brussels and Cardiff, Wales, next week. The Renaissance tour dates span 40 cities in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States and will include three shows in California. Beyoncé will play Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (Aug. 30) and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (Sept. 1, 2 and 4) before the tour concludes in New Orleans in late September. Her originally announced Sept. 3 show at SoFi Stadium was rescheduled for Sept. 1.

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Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics, celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.

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Here’s Everything That Happened During Beyoncé’s Once-in-a-Lifetime ‘Renaissance’ Tour Opener

By Brittany Spanos

Brittany Spanos

The moment Beyoncé fans have been impatiently waiting for finally arrived on Wednesday: The superstar kicked off her highly anticipated Renaissance World Tour in Sweden , filling up Stockholm’s 50,000-seat Friends Arena with excited spectators, many who had flown from all corners of the world to witness the surprises what Beyoncé had in store. Hundreds of thousands more people at home scrambled to find livestreams on TikTok and Instagram and watch the event for themselves.

The show had a twist start: Instead of throwing a Studio 54-esque party right off the bat, Yoncé arrived on stage in a gold suit with her band, a giant, heavenly cloud scene on the stage-wide screen behind her. She sang “Dangerously in Love,” a song she hasn’t performed live since 2009, and a ballad. It was like she was her own opening act (there were no other opening acts, for the record), showing off her vocals effortlessly through a handful of songs she doesn’t sing often: “Flaws and All,” “1+1” and “I Care.” She even tossed in a cover of Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down,” to boot. She was chatty and joyful the whole time, shedding the type of icy diva-stare she owns during most shows.

Beyoncé covering “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige at the #RWT2022 . My life is finally complete! #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/dsCPTGx092 — 🥂 (@afroesthetic) May 10, 2023

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In between stage settings, fans got to see some long-awaited visuals, which included mix of new material and old footage from her past videos, often as megamixes of her songs played over them. She perfectly broke up Renaissance — and played the album in full, as many had hoped — creating mini-worlds around them. During the Opulence portion, she performed atop a mechanical structure that seemed to take the place of a bull or horse for her verse from Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage Remix.” The structure then carried Bey through a pair of robot legs as she prepared for the next section. Later, she performed “Plastic Off the Sofa” from a giant shell and wore a bee costume while delivering the news on KNTY TV.

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The finale was a showstopper. She flew from the stage atop the disco horse seen on the album cover for “Summer Renaissance” and gave thanks to the audience, dancers and band from a harness that carried her off the horse. It was a mystical end to a once-in-a-lifetime show from one of pop’s greatest live performers.

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Beyoncé performs during the opening night of the Renaissance World Tour on 10 May at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden

Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour review – a dizzying three-hour spectacular

Friends Arena, Stockholm Queen Bey’s first solo headline tour in seven years is a lavish leap forward for live entertainment, dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex and Black pride

E ven without Taylor Swift’s Ticketmaster-melting Eras Tour nipping at her heels, it wouldn’t do for a star as compulsively ambitious as Beyoncé to merely protect her status as the greatest pop show on Earth. Not when her first solo headline tour since 2016 could instead push 21st-century live entertainment another lavish leap forward.

Titled after the Texan’s disco glitter bomb post-pandemic party album of the same name , Renaissance is a monster blockbuster concert experience on a different plane. Fifty-seven stadium dates globally, starting in Stockholm, are projected to gross as much as £1.9bn ($2.4bn) by the time the tour ends in New Orleans late September. Dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex, body positivity and feminine Black pride, the near three-hour spectacular plays out in front, behind and, at times, inside a football-pitch-wide high-definition video screen designed to assault the senses at dizzying scale.

The BeyHive, as Beyoncé’s fans collectively style themselves, are buzzing pre-show as they flood into the venue from around the world for their first chance proper to see their queen live since 2018’s On the Run II co-headliner with Mr B, Jay-Z. Dressed head to toe in official tour merch, including a cap and hoodie both emblazoned with the word “THIQUE”, Mykwain Gainey has been to 20 Beyoncé shows over the past two decades and has spent nearly £2,000 to fly here from New York. “To see her transcend, and become what she has become, especially as a Black woman, is exciting,” he enthuses.

Beyoncé in Stockholm on Wednesday. With many of the show’s 36 songs abridged, the tempo was relentless.

Brazilian Yhes Bezerra wears a spangly cowboy hat like the one sported by Beyoncé in the tour poster, except theirs is homemade; sticking on the thousands of tiny mirror panels took nine hours. They were determined to come to the opening night to avoid social media spoilers about what to expect. “I want everything to be a surprise,” Bezerra smiles.

Beyoncé appears first in a video cut scene, laid out luxuriously across the giant screen semi-naked in dimensions big enough to be visible from space. And yet, once she emerges in the flesh – all sequins, shoulder pads and that megawatt smile, drinking in the crowd’s screams – she begins disarmingly with a slew of her rawest soul songs. By the second, Flaws and All, she already appears to be fighting back tears, whether of release or gratitude or both. It’s an opening that seems designed to strip away artifice, if only to provide some sharp contrast for the heavily technologically augmented spectacle about to follow.

Harking back to early house and techno and the ecstatic utopia of the dancefloor, a segment dedicated to the Renaissance album ensues with Beyoncé done up something akin to the Maschinenmensch in Metropolis. She grinds with a dozen backing dancers to the jittery reggaeton of her boss bitch mission statement I’m That Girl, then dances with some actual robots (a pair of mechanical arms) during Cosy. Were all that not semi-hallucinogenic enough, Alien Superstar interpolates narcissistic anthem I’m Too Sexy by 90s dance-pop twosome Right Said Fred.

Beyoncé performing on Wednesday

With many of the setlist’s whopping 36 songs abridged, the tempo is relentless. Blink and you’ll miss dancers popping out of the stage like champagne corks, or Beyoncé’s powerhouse band getting wheeled into occasional view on a tall stepped riser (shades of Beychella), such as during Chic-style feelgood funk workout Cuff It. “Y’all having a good time, Stockholm?” our host inquires, wiping an imperceptible bead of sweat from her brow. “Me too.”

Black Parade finds Beyoncé cruising the stage atop what looks like a kind of lunar rover. Somewhat comically, it exits up the gusset of a pair of massive splayed legs. Later she sings Plastic Off the Sofa stretched out in a clamshell. Come Crazy in Love, the show finally gets the enormous disco ball it seems to have long craved, dangled from the rafters for only a bit longer than the time it takes for the crew to get it up there and back down.

Bass-quaking, envelope-pushing Black power anthem Formation is a powerful political statement in any setting. Performed in a kind of virtual cathedral, horny southern rap and gospel cocktail Church Girl (sample lyric: “drop it like a thottie, drop it like a thottie”) might just be intended to provoke. But by Beyoncé’s own standards, it’s hard not to read Renaissance as a show much lighter on overt socio-political messaging than it is sheer, unfettered, mildly chaotic indulgence. And who could blame her?

In a final, unsubtle, retro-futuristic fanfare, Bey summons Bianca Jagger’s iconic Studio 54 moment by gliding through the air on a glitter-encrusted white horse while Summer Renaissance – which samples Donna Summer’s I Feel Love – blares. The disco history references may or may not be landing with the mostly young BeyHive, but that’s not really the point. By rewiring dance music past in a sensory overload of truly stunning ambition and stamina, Beyoncé is writing some history of her own.

The Renaissance World Tour continues until 27 September, see https://tour.beyonce.com/ for dates

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The Renaissance Started in Sweden

The first shows of her tour make it clear: we are living in the beyoncéverse..

Portrait of Hunter Harris

There is a certain hierarchy between Wednesday, night one of Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour, and Thursday, night two of Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour. I heard it first on the Delta flight from JFK to Stockholm as an almost entirely Black — and almost entirely Beyoncé-bound — boarding group took our seats. One man asked another what night he was seeing the show. “Thursday!” the guy answered. Night two, or, as far as his seatmate was concerned, night last . I swear I could hear the reply sizzle as it hit skin: “ Ohhhh , well it will still be fun!”

For two nights this week, Stockholm became the capital of Black Planet, the epicenter of all internet activity , when the Renaissance tour — Beyoncé’s first solo tour in seven years and two(-ish) albums — took over the city. After a viral TikTok tipped off fans that floor seats abroad were selling for one-tenth the cost of tickets in New York or Los Angeles (with enviably close seats that cost $2,000 in the U.S. going for less than $200 in Stockholm) those fans booked entire Eurotrips around Beyoncé. They got on the plane wearing compression socks for Beyoncé. A film programmer from Los Angeles told me her hotel had a sign in the elevator specifically for the Hive. She remembered it saying “Welcome to Beyoncé.” Every Black person she’d met so far in Stockholm has traveled here for the show — except for one couple from Seattle who just came because it’s spring.

Stockholm is a pleasant but quaint city to start a global tour in. Is that the polite way to say even locals seemed to find it random? During a walk around the city Tuesday afternoon, I could count other Black people I passed on one hand — and one was a poster promoting the Shondaland show Queen Charlotte . “There’s been some mixed reception,” Charles Ray Hamilton, a TV writer living in Los Angeles, told me. “Going through customs, they ask why you’re here. I said I’m here for the Beyoncé concert. The customs agent rolled her eyes and said, ‘Ugh, why did I even ask?’ She turned to the other agent and started speaking in Swedish.” Not to say that every Stockholmer was anti-Renaissance: In stores and at restaurants, every local seemed to know someone who wouldn’t miss it. When I walked around Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town, a few hours ahead of the show, I saw a man in official tour merch recognizable from fans’ posts. Two 20-somethings had white glitter cowboy hats hanging down their backs.

At the stadium close to sunset, half the crowd came to dance in on-theme sequins, glitter, and chrome, and the other half came to dance in whatever was comfortable. A pregnant woman from Denver, in a shimmery silver disc shift dress, asked me to take a video of her, her sister, and her best friend fanning their merch fans emblazoned with the number ten — a reference to the lyrics for “Heated” ( Ten ten ten across the board ). Three other fans were confused about what a merch T-shirt proclaiming “NO SKIPS” meant. “No skips? What does it mean? Should I know what it means?” one said. “I don’t care what it means. I just want it,” insisted another.

beyonce world tour sweden

The fans I spoke to said they had no expectations for the show. Maybe this was because of the lack of visuals from an artist who has released not one visual album but three . That afternoon, I’d convinced myself that the lack of music videos was intentional. That it wasn’t the result of a stalled corporate partnership. Maybe it was just the result of Beyoncé’s well-documented perfectionism. (Perhaps there were too-white candles , as she’d said once while giving notes during a rehearsal.) I had taken shots of her Kool-Aid. I had given in to the spin: It was actually better that there weren’t any music videos. It was radical that there weren’t any. In a hotel lobby close to the stadium, I asked a news-producer-artist-nomad in his 30s what he expected from the show without videos to memorize and mimic . “There is no conception,” he said. “The Bible says eyes have not seen, ears have not heard.” We both cackled.

When the show started, it didn’t start with a bang — it started with a ballad. Clouds, peachy and lavender in their golden-hour glow, glided across a screen that spanned the stage. There was Beyoncé, in a custom Alexander McQueen catsuit, a mic stand, and a deep cut. “I love you I love you I love you,” she began, singing “Dangerously in Love 2.” It’s a track that always sounded slight on its album. Only when it was released from its mix in live shows could it become a big gutsy ballad. In Stockholm, to an audience bracing themselves for Lights! Fire! Glitter! Flash! the song’s pleading landed with an emotional wallop. Three more ballads followed: “Flaws and All,” “1+1” (with covers of Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind” and Rose Royce’s “I’m Going Down” mixed in) and “I Care.” You will eat your greens at Beyoncé’s table. She sang the songs in a fit, in a fever, in vocal runs that circled and surrounded.

beyonce world tour sweden

Then we got subterranean with glitter and grime. First came the Renaissance thesis statement , opener “I’m That Girl.” The album sprawls and spins: “Cozy” doesn’t lead into “Alien Superstar” as much as it drips . Onstage, she met the moment in bursts: the Renaissance songs are mostly played in dazzling triptychs with old material to bridge the gaps. “I’m That Girl,” “Cozy,” and “Alien Superstar” were cut off by “Lift Off,” a forgettable track from Watch the Throne on which she did backing vocals. “Cuff It,” “Energy,” and “Break My Soul” followed with the last turning into “Formation.” We decamped to some classic tentpoles and newer unperformed music until the album’s final three-song run became the show’s kicker. The ballad openers were starting to look like dealer’s choice. Those songs wouldn’t fit in the tour’s IV drip of desire and adrenaline.

Renaissance comes from the gut, from a thumping, humping, throbbing core that wants to love and fuck and twirl and thrill. In the three-hour show, Beyoncé plugged us in to her motherboard. She is cyborg Beyoncé, who needs a power source and is the power source. We watched her ride a chrome tank down a platform to the second stage. We watched as she was drilled and posed and coiffed by mechanical arms. Onscreen, we zoomed through fiber-optic cables and in and out of her cyborg scaffolding. For Renaissance ’s lovey-dovey songs, she emerged from a clamshell. For earlier anthemic hits, she was bouncing and grinding atop the pit.

beyonce world tour sweden

She’s 41 now and beginning her seventh world tour, so the show finds savvy ways to let her rest. The chrome tank was a chair. The mechanical arms almost functioned as a tripod. She growled the call and response on “Heated” instead of dancing to it. For “Church Girl” and some songs from 4 , she was the stationary centerpiece amid a dozen dancers. But who cares? Her most memorable set pieces have been a walk and a chair . “When they invented walking they never dreamed it could ever look that good,” Seth Meyers tweeted during her 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show — a line I think about every time she simply strides across a stage.

Beyoncé has played with robot imagery before — in 2008 for I Am … Sasha Fierce . But that is perhaps the era fans are least enthusiastic to return to. The bifurcation of that album, divided between ballads and anthems, between Beyoncé the woman and Sasha Fierce the militaristic pop superhero, feels like old tech. Maybe Beyoncé herself feels the same way: Only two I Am songs makes the cut, and rejoice that it’s not “Single Ladies,” except for a few seconds during an interlude. “Diva” feels fresh again with the spicy horns from “Countdown” mixed beneath and the added delight of Lil Uzi Vert’s “I Just Wanna Rock” dance. (The high was deflated when she followed with “Run the World,” that didactic, unimaginative first draft of a 2011 feminist-empowerment anthem, but the crowd still roared its approval.) “Black Parade,” a random Lion King– era loosie whose pandemic-summer release never let it be the moment, gets a raucous celebration sandwiched between “Run the World” and the “Savage” remix verse , which made that chrome-mirror tank bounce — a fun nod to both Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion’s Houston roots. “Move” announces itself as the most underrated Renaissance track, playing all the way up to every seat in the rafters.

When Beyoncé played Coachella in 2018 and made the accompanying Homecoming concert documentary , she was navigating a history of a Black experience — HBCU homecomings — and of her own career. That set list was syllabus and index in one. But Renaissance is not a guided tour in the same way. It’s a multiverse. There is so much Beyoncé music now, so many permutations of her single vision. Sometimes, the show zoomed past it all too quickly: A few videos from her 2013 self-titled album flashed onscreen with the most screen time given to “Flawless.” Blink and you’d miss a medley that includes “Rocket” and “Dance for You.” Another interlude blended “End of Time” with her Jay-Z Carters collab “Heard About Us.” I heard two chords of “Freakum Dress” and maybe four more of “Blow,” although no set list I’ve seen shared online has tracked these hidden mixes. The “hiiiiiigher” runs in “Family Feud” were layered under the opening organ of “Lovehappy,” soundtracking an interlude.

beyonce world tour sweden

Some Beyoncé movements that she included in this show have become her standards: One way or another, she will find a way to speed up the throbbing end of “Partition.” “Love on Top” and a cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” have been a package deal since the first On the Run tour. As early as the Beyoncé Experience tour, a ballet barre has risen from the ground as something sexy to dance off and around. The ballads from 2011’s 4 , which she has often called her favorite album — including during this show — were overrepresented to balance out Renaissance ’s dance-heavy scope. But I noted the near-total absence of Lemonade . She’d chosen “Formation” and a bit of “Freedom” from that album but nothing else. It makes sense: There is no guilt or wrath in this show — only direct orders. (“Eat it, eat it, eat it eat it eat it! ”) Her “Telephone” verse, on that Lady Gaga collab, would’ve slotted nicely here. Ditto “Countdown” and “End of Time.” That said, after years of lobbying — if you’re in line, stay in line — we got “Halo” and “Single Ladies” off the set list, so let me be quiet.

Renaissance was influenced by ballroom and reveres it. When Les Twins — the pair of French dancers who have been her frequent flanks over the years — tried out a death drop onstage, it felt like cosplay, especially when ballroom star Honey Balenciaga was right there to slay a costume-change dance break a few moments later. The staging was enormous and ambitious: the tank, the glitter horses, the mechanical arms swinging fans and frames. The first act pushed out a set piece including a huge glitter horse and her band arranged on glittering stage risers — only to roll it back in a moment later. Others were better deployed: Bey reported from a “KNTY4NEWS” broadcast desk in a deluxe queen-bee suit by Thierry Mugler with yellow and black body armor and an antenna-topped headpiece that was crown and command center all in one. This was just one of the extravagantly fashion costumes overseen by stylist Shiona Turini ( a former contributing editor for the Cut ) . She sent the star out in a David Koma dress that I can only describe as looking like the future, a shimmering, sexy, handsy Loewe catsuit, a pearl-adorned black bodysuit for “Church Girl.”

beyonce world tour sweden

Like its star, the Renaissance tour shows its work. A final set list appears in the tour book annotated with Beyoncé’s handwriting. The scaffolding wasn’t peeking out, it’s on display, and a dozen lighting rigs fluttered up and down, bobbing like piano keys. The interludes teased the still-unreleased music videos, Brooklyn block parties, grainy vintage ballroom footage. The pre-“Formation” interlude addressed the lack of music videos with text onscreen: “You’ve called for the queen. But a queen moves at her own pace, bitch. She decides when she wants to give you a fucking taste. So get your fork and your spoon if you got one.”

Beyoncé will always do the most, but sometimes the show double-checks its boxes: The small act of swaggily wearing sunglasses as Beyoncé while singing “Church Girl” is more rousing than, say, UV lights changing the color of a cloak. After the show, I discussed it with a friend who was in the VIP pit on opening night. It’s hard, I told him, because Beychella was the greatest performance to ever happen anywhere — hyperbole, maybe, but who else has such a total command of their own catalogue. Renaissance is nothing more and nothing less than another excellent Beyoncé concert. The show zags against the major pop tours this year: Taylor Swift is on a (literal) tour through her neatly defined Eras. Madonna is launching her own retrospective Celebration tour. But Beyoncé already did all that with Beychella. In this show, the logic of her latest album, its lush mixing and interpolating, is applied to her whole catalogue. The closest it gets to recreating a video set are the five mic stands that rise for her performance of “Love on Top.” Otherwise, Beyoncé isn’t living in her past but sampling it, making old songs sound new.

At the end of the show, Beyoncé crossed the arena atop Reneigh — her fans’ name for her disco-ball horse — to perform the Donna Summer–sampling “Summer Renaissance.” As the pyrotechnics flashed and glitter shot up from the stage like a geyser, she crossed back alone, draped in a cape. She was Glinda the Groove Witch, dropping good vibes below.

beyonce world tour sweden

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Beyoncé Opens 'Renaissance' World Tour in Stockholm Sweden

First Look Photos: Beyoncé Opens ‘Renaissance’ World Tour in Stockholm Sweden

Mail

Global cultural icon Beyoncé started her RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR with a sold-out concert in Stockholm, Sweden’s Friends Arena. The show featured powerful dance music from her seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE , which has been widely successful.

beyonce world tour sweden

It was an emotional return to the global stage, after a five-year hiatus, and the performance was mesmerizing for the 46,000 fans in attendance. The concert included songs like “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA,” “COZY,” and “BREAK MY SOUL” from the new album, as well as iconic hits from Beyoncé ‘s previous discography such as “Flaws And All,” “Crazy In Love,” and “Love On Top.” The concert lasted almost three hours.

Parkwood Entertainment is producing the 2023 tour, which comprises 56 dates and is being promoted by Live Nation. The tour will continue with a second night in Stockholm, followed by additional shows throughout Europe in May and June. Beyoncé will perform five sold-out shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before heading to North America for shows in July, August, and September.

beyonce world tour sweden

READ MORE : Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ World Tour Projected to Clear $2 Billion, Will Pass Taylor Swift’s Tour by $500M

Fans have the opportunity to access exclusive VIP experiences in Europe, such as the Pure/Honey On Stage Risers. This exclusive opportunity allows fans to watch the show from the stage, with dedicated services. Fans can also receive early access to the General Admission BeyHive VIP and Club Renaissance areas, which are immersive experiences surrounding the stage. For more information on these experiences, visit VIP Nation Europe: Beyoncé – Renaissance World Tour. For complete ticketing and additional information, please visit beyonce.livenation.com and tour.beyonce.com.

As she has done on previous tours, Beyoncé will continue to make a difference offstage through her BeyGOOD initiative. Founded in 2013, BeyGOOD is now a public charity that supports people and programs around the world. On this tour, BeyGOOD will focus on economic equity by supporting organizations that serve marginalized and underserved communities with access to scholarships, internships that lead to job placement, and resources to support entrepreneurship.

Throughout the tour, BeyGOOD will support entrepreneurs through Black Parade Route luncheons, which celebrate small business owners and offer grant opportunities and services with global partners to promote business sustainability. A commitment of one million dollars will support one thousand small businesses.

BeyGOOD will also provide scholarship funds to colleges and universities in ten different cities along the tour. Each school will receive one hundred thousand dollars and will select the student recipients. BeyGOOD’s total scholarship commitment during the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR will be one million dollars.

READ MORE : Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” Becomes Her Longest-Running Solo Hot 100 Single

Tiffany & Co. is the official jeweler of the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR and a noted partner of Beyoncé. The company is committed to conducting itself responsibly, sustaining the natural environment, prioritizing diversity and inclusion, and positively impacting the communities in which it operates.

You can see pictures from opening night below and the full run of tour dates.

20230510 RWT Stockholm Andrew White AW1 3503 V1 TP

RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR DATES:

May 10, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends Arena

May 11, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends Arena

May 14, 2023 – Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium

May 17, 2023 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality Stadium

May 20, 2023 – Edinburgh, UK – BT Murrayfield Stadium

May 23, 2023 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light

May 26, 2023 – Paris, FR – Stade de France

May 29, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

May 30, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

June 01, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

June 03, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

June 04, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 

June 08, 2023 – Barcelona, ES – Olympic Stadium

June 11, 2023 – Marseille, FR – Orange Vélodrome

June 15, 2023 – Cologne, DE – Rhein Energie Stadion

June 17, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff Arena

June 18, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff Arena

June 21, 2023 – Hamburg, DE – Volksparkstadion

June 24, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park

June 27, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy

June 28, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy

NORTH AMERICA

July 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

July 9, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

July 12, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field

July 15, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium

July 17, 2023 – Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium

July 20, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Huntington Bank Stadium

July 22, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium

July 23, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium

July 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field

July 29, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

July 30, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Aug. 01, 2023 – Boston, MA – Gillette Stadium

Aug. 03, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium

Aug. 05, 2023 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field

Aug. 09, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium

Aug. 11, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Aug. 12, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Aug. 14, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Aug. 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium

Aug. 18, 2023 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium

Aug. 21, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Dome at America’s Center

Aug. 24, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium

Aug. 26, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium

Aug. 27, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium

Aug. 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – Levi’s Stadium

Sept. 01, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

Sept. 02, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

Sept. 04, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

Sept. 11, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place

Sept. 13, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

Sept. 18, 2023 – Kansas City, MO – GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium

Sept. 21, 2023 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium

Sept. 23, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium

Sept. 24, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium

Sept. 27, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars Superdome

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Watch Beyoncé Kick Off Her Renaissance World Tour In Sweden

beyonce world tour sweden

Andrew White

Beyoncé released a new album, Renaissance , almost a year ago, and it was one of the best albums of 2022 . Back in February, she announced its accompanying world tour , which kicked off at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden tonight.

The Renaissance tour will run through Europe until the end of June; she’ll pick back up in North America just a week later, and her last scheduled show for now is in New Orleans on September 27. This is Beyoncé’s first full-fledged tour since 2018’s On The Run II, which she co-headlined with Jay-Z. These would be her first proper shows since then, too, except in January she performed a concert at an exclusive resort in Dubai for a reported $24 million paycheck.

At that Dubai show, she didn’t perform anything from Renaissance , though, which means all the Renaissance songs she performs in Stockholm are live debuts. She opened the set with “Dangerously In Love,” the first time she’s performed the Destiny’s Child track since 2009.

Check out some photos, video, and the setlist from the show, which is still going on, below.

Beyoncé abre a " #RenaissanceWorldTour " com 'Dangerously in Love'. pic.twitter.com/rPnBK9jN4s — PAN (@forumpandlr) May 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/beyonceaccess/status/1656368338560249862

https://twitter.com/beyoncepress/status/1656368144967954438

https://twitter.com/beyoncepress/status/1656372901677789209

Beyoncé rocks her hips as she transitions from “Diva” into Lil Uzi Vert’s “I Just Wanna Rock.” pic.twitter.com/zQBkzpSKK2 — Rap Alert (@rapalert6) May 10, 2023
Beyoncé covering “I’m Going Down” by Mary J Blige at the #RENAISSANCEWorldTour pic.twitter.com/Qy7Dl5mWmd — RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR (@RenaissanceWT) May 10, 2023
Beyoncé performing ‘COZY’ with two robot arms at the Renaissance World Tour. pic.twitter.com/936GC5WkYj — Pop Base (@PopBase) May 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/beyonceaccess/status/1656385700684505090

https://twitter.com/VividFilm_/status/1656386326600507394

Beyoncé transforms her dress with UV light during the Renaissance World Tour. pic.twitter.com/7ljjC964nu — Pop Base (@PopBase) May 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/beyoncepress/status/1656396595506626560

https://twitter.com/RenaissanceWT/status/1656402339568275457

https://twitter.com/BeyLegion/status/1656367241686839314

Video of the stage!!!!! Beyoncé #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/BFqx2tj622 — MoreReesesPlease (@morereeses13) May 10, 2023
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

SETLIST: “Dangerously In Love” “Flaws And All” “1+1” “I’m Goin’ Down” (Mary J. Blige Cover) “I Care” “I’m That Girl” “Cozy” “Alien Superstar” “Lift Off” “Cuff It” “Energy” “Break My Soul” “Formation” “Diva” “Run The World (Girls)” “My Power” “Black Parade” “Savage (Remix)” “Partition” “Church Girl” “Get Me Bodied” “Before I Let Go” “Rather Die Young” “Love On Top” “Crazy In Love” “Plastic Off The Sofa” “Virgo’s Groove” “Move” “Heated” “Thique” “All Up In Your Mind” “Drunk In Love” “America Has A Problem” “Pure/Honey” “Summer Renaissance”

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Beyoncé announces Renaissance World Tour

Six months after dropping her “Renaissance” album last summer, Beyoncé has announced a world tour with stops in Europe and North America.

The megastar announced the news Feb. 1 on her website and in a post on Instagram .

"RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR 2023," she captioned a photo on Instagram of her riding a silver horse — a picture that matches the art on her album cover .

The Renaissance World Tour is Beyoncé’s ninth tour as a solo artist. It kicks off in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 10, and remains in Europe for the following two months. Her first tour date in the U.S. is July 12 in Philadelphia.

Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 6., beginning with a presale for members of BeyHive ( register here ). Citi credit card holders can also take advantage of another presale here .

Fans eyeing North American tour dates can register for a Verified Fan code with Ticketmaster here .

All 53 of the tour stops are below and on Beyoncé's website .

What are Beyoncé's tour dates?

May 10, Stockholm, Sweden

May 14, Brussels, Belgium

May 17, Cardiff, United Kingdom

May 20, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

May 23, Sunderland, United Kingdom

May 26, Paris

May 29, London

May 30, London

June 2, London

June 6, Lyon, France

June 8, Barcelona, Spain

June 11, Marseille, France

June 15, Cologne, Germany

June 17, Amsterdam, Netherlands

June 18, Amsterdam, Netherlands

June 21, Hamburg, Germany

June 24, Frankfurt, Germany

June 27, Warsaw, Poland

July 8, Toronto

July 9, Toronto

July 12, Philadelphia

July 15, Nashville, Tennessee

July 17, Louisville, Kentucky

July 20, Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 22, Chicago

July 23, Chicago

July 26, Detroit, Michigan

July 29, New York City

July 30, New York City

Aug. 1., Boston

Aug. 3, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Aug. 5, Washington, D.C.

Aug. 6, Washington, D.C.

Aug. 9, Charlotte, North Carolina

Aug. 11, Atlanta

Aug. 12, Atlanta

Aug. 16, Tampa, Florida

Aug. 18, Miami

Aug. 21, St. Louis, Missouri

Aug. 24, Phoenix, Arizona

Aug. 26, Las Vegas

Aug. 30, San Francisco

Sept. 2, Los Angeles

Sept. 3, Los Angeles

Sept. 11, Vancouver

Sept. 13, Seattle

Sept. 18, Kansas City, Missouri

Sept. 21, Dallas, Texas

Sept. 23, Houston, Texas

Sept. 24, Houston, Texas

Sept. 27, New Orleans, Louisiana

beyonce world tour sweden

Randi Richardson is a reporter for NBC News' TODAY.com based in Brooklyn.

Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour: See all the epic photos and fashions

See all the dazzling photos from the "Cuff It" singer's tour.

Beyoncé is currently making her way through the North American leg of her Renaissance World Tour and captivating concertgoers with her dazzling performances and fashion moments.

The Grammy-winning singer most recently performed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Tuesday night and will perform next at FedExField in Summerfield, Maryland, Aug. 5-6.

MORE: Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy appears onstage during Paris show

Here are some of Beyoncé's most stunning looks from her shows so far:

PHOTO: Beyoncé performs onstage during the "Renaissance World Tout" at MetLife Stadium on July 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Beyoncé first kicked off her world tour in Europe in May, wowing audiences with her vocals, theatrics and style choices in major cities including, Paris, London and Barcelona.

One standout look came during her first show in London, when she stepped out onstage in a red bespoke Off-White bodysuit, which was covered in 40,000 red hotfix crystals , according to the label.

PHOTO: Beyonce performs onstage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, May 29, 2023 in London.

She also wore a custom bee-inspired look from Mugler.

PHOTO: Beyonce performs onstage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, May 29, 2023 in London.

The singer's 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter has also appeared on the Renaissance World Tour stage. Blue Ivy made her tour debut during her mom's show in Paris . She also took the stage during Beyoncé's concert tour stop in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium.

PHOTO: Blue Ivy Carter perform onstage during the Beyoncé “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, May 29, 2023 in London.

See more of Beyoncé's showstopping looks below:

PHOTO: Beyonce performs onstage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, May 29, 2023 in London.

MORE: Beyonce announces 'Renaissance' world tour for 2023

PHOTO: Beyonce performs onstage during the opening night of the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Read on for everything you need to know about Beyoncé's world tour.

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When did Beyoncé announce the world tour?

Seven months after the release of her seventh studio album, "Renaissance," the "Cuff It" singer took to Instagram to announce her Renaissance World Tour .

The tour is her first solo tour in more than six years.

When did the Renaissance tour start?

The Renaissance World Tour kicked off Wednesday, May 10, at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

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According to the Friends Arena website , the show was slated to run for three hours.

PHOTO: Fans of US musician Beyonce queue to enter to the Friends Arena to watch her first concert of the World Tour named "Renaissance", in Solna, north of Stockholm on May 10, 2023.

MORE: Beyonce teases new release 'Break My Soul,' dropping at midnight

When does the tour run until.

In addition to Stockholm, Paris, London and Barcelona, the European leg of her tour made stops in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. Beyoncé's final European show was in Warsaw, Poland, on June 28.

The North American leg of the world kicked off in Toronto at Rogers Centre on July 8. Following her show at FedExField -- which is located just outside Washington, D.C. -- the singer will head to Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; and Tampa, Florida.

Beyoncé's final scheduled performance of the tour will be held Oct. 1 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

When was the last time Beyoncé toured?

Beyoncé's last solo tour was the Formation World Tour in 2016, which followed the release of her sixth studio album, "Lemonade."

In 2018, she toured with her husband Jay-Z, for the On The Run Tour.

What is the Renaissance World Tour setlist?

During her tour, Beyoncé has performed songs off her latest album, including "Cuff It," "Heated" and "Virgo's Groove."

At her first tour stop in Stockholm on May 10, she sang a number of fan favorites, including "1+1," "Run the World (Girls)," "Get Me Bodied," and "America Has a Problem," among others.

Beyoncé's "Renaissance" album was released on July 29, 2022, after it was leaked two days prior. The album is the first part of a three-act project and features a total of 16 tracks with collaborations from artists such as Drake, Tems and Pharrell Williams.

MORE: Beyonce officially drops 'Renaissance' album, thanks fans for 'unwavering support'

In an Instagram post, the singer said that "Renaissance" was recorded over three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world," she said. "It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. ... It was a beautiful journey of exploration."

How to get Beyonce 2023 tour tickets

While tickets to see the singer on tour sold out quickly in many cities around the world when sales began in February, fans can still purchase tickets on Ticketmaster.

This article was originally published on May 10, 2023.

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Bedazzled and jet lagged, the Beyhive swarms Stockholm for ‘Renaissance’

Meet the superfans who traveled to sweden for the first stops on beyoncé's “renaissance” world tour.

beyonce world tour sweden

From her hotel room overlooking Friends Arena in Stockholm, Breyana Anderson could clearly hear the music. She could feel it, too. A thundering bass echoing against her windows as she tried to adjust her sleep to a new time zone — just hours after landing in the city May 3.

The sounds woke her up at midnight and then again around 3 a.m. At one point, she even heard a woman’s distant voice speaking faintly into a microphone, issuing orders. That voice was unmistakably Beyoncé’s, Anderson said, as the pop icon rehearsed for the first show of her “ Renaissance ” world tour.

Sleep would have to wait.

Because after navigating a complex Swedish ticketing site, hand-stitching her concert attire, flying thousands of miles on three connecting flights and resolving a distressing hotel booking mishap, Anderson was finally in Stockholm and being treated to a preview of Beyoncé’s long-awaited return to the global stage.

“It was like I had a private concert with just me,” said Anderson, a 30-year-old designer and entrepreneur from Columbus, Ohio. “It made me even more excited for the tour.”

Sidestepping the massive demand for tickets in North America, Anderson is among the droves of U.S.-based fans who opted for the European leg of Beyoncé’s world tour. Many of them swarmed to her first shows Wednesday and Thursday in Stockholm, where the weakening Swedish krona allowed them to secure seats that were hundreds of dollars cheaper than comparable ones in U.S. cities. Their strategy underscores the lengths to which fans are willing to go, especially in the midst of a post-pandemic concert boom , when some of the world’s biggest entertainers have emerged with new projects.

The resurgence is a surprise to industry experts, who expected a more measured return to live events — “not a tsunami,” as live-music analyst Jason Mercer described in a recent interview with Axios . But increasingly fierce fan demand and subsequent ticket fiascos, from Taylor Swift’s presale nightmare to the congressional hearing and antitrust probe it ignited, signal a more intense era of concertgoing.

The saga of securing Beyoncé tickets

For Anderson, who enjoyed Beyoncé’s performance from the coveted “Renaissance Club” section during Wednesday night’s show, the presale mania, jet lag and long lines outside the arena were all worth it.

“I’m speechless,” she said, moments after the concert ended. “Like, I don’t know the word for what that was. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t excellent — it was beyond that.”

At Beyoncé’s first solo tour in seven years, the artist dazzled a sold-out crowd of 46,000 concertgoers with a nearly three-hour performance, devoid of any opening act. Fans who spoke to The Washington Post described it as a euphoric experience that conjured waves of nostalgia as Beyoncé interwove songs that span her 20-year catalogue as a solo artist.

“I’ve seen Beyoncé kill it and be super high-energy, but it kind of gave an essence of, ‘I’ve earned the right to curate an experience that makes me feel at ease and at peace and soft.’” said Mercedes Arielle, a travel content creator from Dallas. “It was nice to just see her leaning into her vocals and not having to be all over the stage, somersaulting, gyrating and doing all the things.”

Even before the main event, Anderson was already savoring the best trip of her life, she said.

Joined by her mom, Cynthia Boye, the pair took Stockholm by storm: They indulged in local cuisine, caught a boat ride through the archipelago; witnessed the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Royal Palace; navigated — and briefly lost themselves — in one of the world’s most beautiful metro systems; and marveled at the cherry trees still blooming in Kungsträdgarden park.

In an email to The Post, Visit Stockholm attributed the high levels of tourism and nearly full hotel occupancy rates in the city to the “Beyoncé Effect.” According to the agency’s press officer, Birgitta Palmér, visitors from the United States, Germany and Britain accounted for the largest number of bookings in the city. “There is a good reason to expect next week’s talk of the town to be the concerts at Friends Arena,” Palmér said.

In the Beyhive community, buzz has already reached a fever pitch. Concertgoers live-streamed long stretches of the show, sharing electrifying glimpses of the sets. Fans unveiled their meticulously curated attire — a swirl of textures, beads, shimmering rhinestone and bedazzled cowboy hats. Potential clues about Beyoncé's forthcoming projects ignited a Twitter frenzy of fan theories . And scenes from inside the arena flooded social media: A colossal disco ball, tour merchandise, a massive Progress Pride flag emblazoned on the stadium screen and gender-neutral restrooms. With the rollout and overarching concept of the “Renaissance” tour, many agreed , Beyoncé had unlocked “a new level of mothering.”

But she’s not just “mother,” a term coined by queer people of color in ballroom culture.

“I felt like I’d grown up with her,” said Charles Ray Hamilton, a 35-year-old TV and film writer from Los Angeles. “For me and for many of her fans, it’s kind of like that sense of being a cousin or she’s our big sister — but our big sister who happens to be an alien superstar.”

That was the energy Hamilton channeled for his concert look.

“I found something that, to me, screams ‘Alien Superstar,’” he said, describing a funky designer top he bought last-minute in Stockholm. “I think it fits the themes of that song in particular — that however you feel outside of the norm, your uniqueness is untouchable.”

Hamilton, who had riser seats in the VIP section, said Beyoncé interacted with his group throughout the night, even blowing a kiss in their direction at one point. “We were close enough to see a lot of details, the costuming, the production design and really feel the music viscerally,” he said.

That music strikes a particular chord with him — especially the album’s debut single “Break My Soul,” a banger that encourages listeners to release themselves from the bonds of stress, anger and overwork.

Indeed, just hours before he boarded his flight to Europe last week, Hamilton stood along the picket lines at Netflix to join members of the Writers Guild of America in a massive strike against television and movie studios.

Following trips to Amsterdam and Paris next week, Hamilton said he’ll return to the United States with a fresh outlook on his career.

“The show really inspired me to return to my passion projects and to keep writing what I love and what is most specific to my soul,” he said. “And so much of the album is about living life in a way where you fight for your rights, and so I’m definitely all the more motivated to fight with the Writers Guild for what we deserve.”

How Beyoncé honors Black queer culture in ‘Renaissance’

Such is the power of Beyoncé.

Arielle, the Dallas travel content creator, also cited the performer as an influence on her life and career. “She’s just an amazing talent and a reflection of what it means to hone your craft and work really hard,” she said. “I think that is something that we all can learn from and try to emulate in some way, shape or form.”

But Arielle wields influence of her own, too. With her large social media following and savvy travel knowledge, she aided scores of fans in securing Stockholm concert tickets and travel deals. She even connected with a few during the show. One woman told Arielle that she and 15 friends made it to Stockholm because of Arielle’s advice. Another woman brought Arielle to tears after sharing that the influencer inspired her to see more of the world.

“I think that a lot of times Black women have a very complicated relationship with, like, what we feel access looks like and what we feel like we can do,” Arielle said. “So for me, this is just another example that the world is really ours. It’s just a matter of being strategic about finding ways to make the things that you want to do possible.”

Months ago, Anderson joked about snagging “Renaissance” tour tickets in Stockholm — she didn’t think it would actually happen. But everything had been aligned from the start, she said — including the mishaps and misadventures.

“It all just worked out perfectly,” Anderson said. “This has been one of the best trips of my life.”

beyonce world tour sweden

Beyoncé Announces Her Renaissance World Tour 2023: All We Know

preview for "Everything is Love" for Beyoncé and Jay-Z

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Beyoncé kicked off Black History Month with the announcement the world has been waiting months for: Her Renaissance World Tour is happening, this year. Bey unveiled the news with a simple Instagram post: “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR 2023.” She did not immediately provide more information, but more is obviously coming.

So, what is known so far about her tour? What can the world expect? Here, we've gathered everything released so far.

When is the Renaissance World Tour happening?

  • May 10: Stockholm, Sweden @ Friends Arena
  • May 14: Brussels, Belgium @ King Baudouin Stadium
  • May 17: Cardiff, Wales, U.K. @ Cardiff Principality Stadium
  • May 20: Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K. @ BT Murrayfield Stadium
  • May 23: Sunderland, U.K. @ Stadium of Light
  • May 26: Paris, France @ Stade de France
  • May 29: London, U.K. @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • May 30: London, U.K. @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • June 8: Barcelona, Spain @ Olympic Stadium
  • June 11: Marseille, France @ Orange Vélodrome
  • June 15: Cologne, Germany @ Rhein Energie Stadion
  • June 17: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Johan Cruijff Arena
  • June 21: Hamburg, Germany @ Volksparkstadion
  • June 24: Frankfurt, Germany @ Deutsche Bank Park
  • June 27: Warsaw, Poland @ PGE Narodowy
  • July 8: Toronto, Canada @ Rogers Centre
  • July 12: Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field
  • July 15: Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium
  • July 17: Louisville, KY @ L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • July 20: Minneapolis, MN @ Huntington Bank Stadium
  • July 22: Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field Stadium
  • July 26: Detroit, MI @ Ford Field
  • July 29: East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
  • August 1: Boston, MA @ Gillette Stadium
  • August 3: Pittsburgh, PA @ Acrisure Stadium
  • August 5: Washington, DC @ FedEx Field
  • August 9: Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium
  • August 11: Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • August 16: Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium
  • August 18: Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium
  • August 21: St. Louis, MO @ Dome at America's Center
  • August 24: Phoenix, AZ @ State Farm Stadium
  • August 26: Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
  • August 30, San Francisco, CA @ Levi’s Stadium
  • September 2: Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium
  • September 11: Vancouver, BC @ BC Place
  • September 13: Seattle, WA @ Lumen Field
  • September 18: Kansas City, MO @ Arrowhead Stadium
  • September 21: Dallas, TX @ AT&T Stadium
  • September 23: Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
  • September 27: New Orleans, LA @ Caesars Superdome

Where can you get tickets?

Tickets for the North American leg of the tour will be available through Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Feb 6, with an exclusive presale to BeyHive members, according to a Live Nation press release.

Verified Fan registration is now open. Once you register, you'll be placed in a lottery system that determines which fans get invited to purchase tickets. Registration alone doesn't guarantee tickets. If you're selected, you'll get an access code the day before tickets go on sale. Everyone else will be placed on a waitlist. According to Live Nation, this process is intended to help Ticketmaster weed out the resellers and verify your account so that actual fans get priority to buy tickets.

Citi cardmembers will have a special Citi Presale after the Verified Fan process. Get more details here . Verizon will also offer an exclusive presale through their customer loyalty program Verizon Up .

Will Beyoncé be using Ticketmaster like Taylor Swift to sell tickets?

Yes, but given what happened with Taylor Swift's Eras tour (and the fact it led to Congressional hearings about Ticketmaster ’s practices), it seems very likely both Beyoncé and Ticketmaster would want to avoid repeating that mess. That most likely explains the usage of the Verified Fan system.

Where will Beyoncé be playing?

The Renaissance World Tour will hit 40 cities in North America and across Europe. Stops include Paris, London, Amsterdam, Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, and many more.

What has Beyoncé said about the Renaissance World Tour?

She just announced it was happening with a post on February 1. Her website didn't immediately contain any more details. But during the Wearable Art Gala in October 2022, she appeared to confirm it would start this summer, as a backstage tour with her mother Tina Lawson was up for auction at the event.

Will Beyoncé be performing at the Grammys (on February 5) and sharing more tour details there?

Not clear yet, but she is the most nominated artist at the ceremony . On January 21, Variety reported that “ talks with show producers are ongoing for a possible onstage appearance ” by Beyoncé.

What can we expect from the tour on stage?

Beyoncé hasn't shared that yet either, but given the artistry she put into her recent Dubai show , it's fair to say we can expect no less than excellence, elaborate costumes, and an incredible experience.

This post will be updated the moment more detail is released.

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beyonce world tour sweden

Beyoncé announces dates for 'Renaissance' world tour

beyonce world tour sweden

Beyoncé  is going on tour for the first time in about four years.

The singer announced dates for the 2023 "Renaissance" world tour on Wednesday. The tour will kick off in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 10. The first stop in the U.S. is on July 12 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Other cities include Nashville, Detroit, Tampa, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Kansas City.

Beyoncé drops new album 'Renaissance'

Beyoncé drops new album 'Renaissance'

The music artist's seventh record was released in July.

Tickets  are being sold in different groups by city. And you can register for the presale if you are a BeyHive member, a Citi card holder, a Verizon customer or a Verified Fan with  Ticketmaster .

"Renaissance" is Beyoncé's latest album. Released on July 29, it went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

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Beyoncé returned to the stage last month, playing a show in Dubai for the opening of a resort. However, she reportedly did not perform any songs from "Renaissance."

Fans are hoping Beyoncé may give a preview of her upcoming tour at  the Grammys  later this month. She is nominated for nine awards.

Click here for the full list of tour dates and locations .

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Beyoncé single-handedly increased inflation in Sweden, economist says

  • Beyoncé kicked off her blockbuster Renaissance tour in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • The shows attracted a surge in hotel stays which impacted the country's inflation, an economist said.
  • Economist Michael Grahn told The Wall Journal he considered it a "Beyoncé blip."

Insider Today

The Beyhive swarmed hotels in Stockholm, Sweden, for  the opening of Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour , resulting in an ever-so-slight bump in the country's inflation, one economist estimated.

"Basically, her fans vacuumed hotels around Stockholm with a radius of some 40 miles," Michael Grahn, an economist at Danske Bank,  told The Wall Street Journal , adding that the phenomenon contributed around 0.2 percentage points to the country's inflation. 

It now has experts worried about how another big act could impact Sweden's economy — Bruce Springsteen will perform for three nights in Gothenburg later this month. 

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The "blip," as Grahn called it, may have been minor, but it came amid an already high month inflation-wise for the country. Economists predicted a more significant drop in inflation in May, to around 9.2%, but ended up with a rate of 9.7%, per the Journal. 

On Wednesday, Sweden Statistics, a government agency, said restaurants and hotels added 0.3 percentage points to the rate while recreation and culture metrics contributed 0.2 percentage points, according to  The Financial Times .

"Beyoncé is responsible for the extra upside surprise this month," Grahn added to The Financial Times. "It's quite astonishing for a single event. We haven't seen this before."

In addition to paying for lodging near her shows, Beyoncé fans are known to drop major coin for the icon — even more so than Taylor Swift's similarly rabid fanbase, thanks in part to merchandise spending . Forbes estimated that Bey will rake in around $2.1 billion from her tour, a cool $500 million more than what Swift is expected to earn from her Eras tour.

The company behind Beyoncé's tour, Parkwood Entertainment, didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

beyonce world tour sweden

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Beyoncé Surprises Toddler With Gifts After He Calls Her His Friend in Viral TikTok

The video has nearly two million likes on TikTok.

By Rania Aniftos

Rania Aniftos

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Beyoncé

Beyoncé has a new bestie.

It all started when a TikTok user named Bea Fabregas shared an adorable video of her two-year-old toddler named Tyler asking where Bey is during a pizza date. When Fabregas explained that she doesn’t know the 32-time Grammy winner personally, Tyler insisted that Beyoncé is his “friend.”

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Bey made time for her new buddy Tyler among a busy year for the superstar. She’s fresh off the release of her long-awaited, country tinged album Cowboy Carter , which debuted at No. 1 on the  Billboard 200  albums chart (dated April 13). Cowboy Carter  also launched at No. 1 on  Billboard ’s Top  Country  Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales  charts . She’s the first Black woman ever to have led the Top Country Albums list, dating to its January 1964 inception. 

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Designer who worked on Beyonce tour unveils Eurovision stage for Malmo

Olly Alexander is representing the UK.

beyonce world tour sweden

The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo will put performances in the centre of the arena.

Broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) unveiled the stage set up on Thursday, where the acts including the UK’s representative Olly Alexander will perform at Malmo Arena.

beyonce world tour sweden

The 68th event, which coincides with 2024 being the 50-year anniversary of the Swedish group Abba winning the competition in 1974 with Waterloo, will see acts coming to the city for rehearsals from Saturday.

The stage was designed by lighting and screen content designer Fredrik Stormby from Green Wall Designs and production designer Florian Wieder and created across around six months.

Green Wall Designs was previously involved in projects that created the 2023 Eurovision stage, when Loreen won with Tattoo in Liverpool, as well as contributing to Abba Voyage in London and Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour.

beyonce world tour sweden

The 360-degree experience sees the cross-shaped stage placed in the middle of the arena with movable LED cubes, LED floors, lights, video and stage technology.

The focal point is above the stage, which features the lighting and video walls.

Mr Stormby said: “We are excited to deliver a spectacular show in our home country and for audiences across the world.”

Years & Years singer Alexander will perform his dance-infused track Dizzy at the first semi-final on May 7 but is already through to the last battle in the competition along with others in the “big five” France, Germany, Italy and Spain as well as last year’s winner Sweden.

Eurovision is being held in Malmo, Sweden, with the grand final on May 11.

beyonce world tour sweden

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IMAGES

  1. Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour: Opening Night Photos

    beyonce world tour sweden

  2. Beyonce Kicks off Renaissance Tour in Sweden and Setlist

    beyonce world tour sweden

  3. Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour: See all the epic photos and fashions

    beyonce world tour sweden

  4. Beyonce Renaissance Tour Setlist: Night 1 in Stockholm, Sweden

    beyonce world tour sweden

  5. Beyonce's Renaissance Tour: Opening Night Photos

    beyonce world tour sweden

  6. Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour kicks off in Sweden

    beyonce world tour sweden

VIDEO

  1. Beyonce World Music Wards FULL PERFORMANCE

  2. Beyoncé

  3. Beyoncé

COMMENTS

  1. Beyoncé

    After the enormously successful release of Beyoncé's seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE, the world star is coming to Sweden with her RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, her first solo tour in over six years. The world tour premiers at Friends Arena in Stockholm on 10 May 2023! YOUR TICKETS ARE IN THE TICKETMASTER APP. Download the Ticketmaster app to use ...

  2. Beyoncé Kicks Off Her Renaissance World Tour In Stockholm, Sweden

    BeyHive assemble: The moment has finally arrived. Beyoncé officially kicked off her 56-date Renaissance World Tour tonight in Stockholm, Sweden. Launching with a sold-out show at the Friends Arena in the Swedish capital, the tour marks Queen Bey's first tour in nearly five years and first solo tour in seven years.

  3. Beyoncé Kicks Off Renaissance World Tour in Sweden

    The singer, 41, kicked off her The Renaissance World Tour at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday, marking her first solo concert outing in seven years. During the sold-out show ...

  4. Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour Kicks Off in Sweden: Setlist ...

    Fans of US musician Beyonce queue to buy merchandise at the Friends Arena as they arrive to watch her first concert of the World Tour named "Renaissance", in Solna, north of Stockholm on May 10, 2023.

  5. Beyonce's Renaissance Tour: What We Learned From Night One

    Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood. I t's the ...

  6. Beyoncé dances with giant robot arms on opening night of Renaissance

    May 10, 2023 / 8:44 PM EDT / CBS News. Beyoncé kicked off her 57-date Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday with futuristic panache. The set design on the opening night of the ...

  7. Beyoncé Renaissance Tour Starts in Sweden: Set List, Videos

    Everything that happens on opening night of Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour in Stockholm, Sweden including celebrity appearances, track list, visuals, memes, and staging.

  8. Cuff it! Beyoncé launches Renaissance tour in Sweden

    Beyoncé extends 'Renaissance' world tour, will now play two SoFi shows. July 28, 2022. The 41-year-old performer also had nine costume changes, in what Vogue dubbed "club-ready couture ...

  9. Beyonce Renaissance Tour Setlist: Night 1 in Stockholm, Sweden

    05/10/2023. Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood ...

  10. Beyoncé 'Renaissance' Tour Opener Kicks Off in Sweden

    The moment Beyoncé fans have been impatiently waiting for finally arrived on Wednesday: The superstar kicked off her highly anticipated Renaissance World Tour in Sweden, filling up Stockholm's ...

  11. Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour review

    Beyoncé performs during the opening night of the Renaissance World Tour on 10 May at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood

  12. Review: Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour Begins in Stockholm

    Concert review and scene report from Stockholm, where Beyoncé's Renaissance tour started on May 10. This is Beyoncé's first solo tour in seven years and the Beyhive traveled to hear her play ...

  13. First Look Photos: Beyoncé Opens 'Renaissance' World Tour in Stockholm

    May 11, 2023. Global cultural icon Beyoncé started her RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR with a sold-out concert in Stockholm, Sweden's Friends Arena. The show featured powerful dance music from her ...

  14. Renaissance World Tour

    The Renaissance World Tour was the ninth concert tour by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé.Her highest-grossing tour to date, it was staged in support of her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022). The tour comprised 56 shows, beginning on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden, and concluding on October 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.It was Beyoncé's first tour since the On the Run II ...

  15. Watch Beyoncé Kick Off Her Renaissance World Tour In Sweden

    News May 10, 2023 2:45 PM By James Rettig. Beyoncé released a new album, Renaissance, almost a year ago, and it was one of the best albums of 2022. Back in February, she announced its ...

  16. Beyonce announces Renaissance world tour dates

    Beyonce reveals Renaissance tour dates. The Renaissance World Tour is Beyoncé's ninth tour as a solo artist. It kicks off in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 10, and remains in Europe for the ...

  17. Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour: See all the epic photos and fashions

    Beyonce performs onstage during the opening night of the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Read on for everything you need to ...

  18. Beyoncé's 2023 tour sees fans flying to Sweden amid high ticket demand

    Meet the superfans who traveled to Sweden for the first stops on Beyoncé's "Renaissance" world tour. By Janay Kingsberry. May 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Mercedes Arielle channeled "Disco ...

  19. Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour 2023: Dates, Venues, Details

    The Renaissance World Tour will hit 40 cities in North America and across Europe. Stops include Paris, London, Amsterdam, Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles ...

  20. BEYONCE'S RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR OPENING NIGHT! Stockholm, Sweden

    Hello! This is my footage from the Renaissance World Tour on 10 May 2023 in Stockholm Sweden! Every single video is recorded by me, and if you want to use an...

  21. Beyoncé announces dates for 'Renaissance' world tour

    Beyoncé is going on tour for the first time in about four years. The singer announced dates for the 2023 "Renaissance" world tour on Wednesday. The tour will kick off in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 10. The first stop in the U.S. is on July 12 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

  22. Beyoncé Single-Handedly Increased Inflation in Sweden

    The Beyhive swarmed hotels in Stockholm, Sweden, for the opening of Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour, resulting in an ever-so-slight bump in the country's inflation, one economist estimated.

  23. Devin Louis

    953 likes, 42 comments - creolekid on May 15, 2023: "睊 RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR 睊 @beyonce #SWEDEN #OpeningNight #RWT #RenaissanceWorldTour".

  24. Beyoncé Surprises Toddler With Gifts After Viral TikTok

    Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood Watch Latin ...

  25. Designer who worked on Beyonce tour unveils Eurovision stage for Malmo

    Mr Stormby said: "We are excited to deliver a spectacular show in our home country and for audiences across the world." Years & Years singer Alexander will perform his dance-infused track ...