The Mayhem Ball is the eighth concert tour by the American singer Lady Gaga, in support of her album Mayhem (2025). The tour was announced following the strong response to the album, having initially planned only a brief run of outdoor promotional concerts.[1] Gaga chose to perform mainly in arenas instead of stadiums to maintain full creative control over the production. It consists of 87 shows, beginning on July 16, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, United States, and is set to conclude on April 13, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The setlist consists primarily of songs from Mayhem, along with tracks from most of her previous albums. The show received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its theatricality, Gaga's vocal range, and technical aspects such as production design, costumes, and choreography.
Background and development
Gaga's last headlining concert tour, the Chromatica Ball (2022), consisted of a brief itinerary of 20 shows at outdoor stadiums throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.[2] As the tour began, Gaga revealed via social media commentary that she was able to perform without much of the chronic pain caused by her long-term fibromyalgia for the first time "in ages". Health improvements and the tour's positive critical and commercial reception reignited her confidence in her performance and her ability to tour.[3] The tour was chronicled via Gaga Chromatica Ball, a critically acclaimed concert film released on May 25, 2024, in collaboration with HBO and its streaming service, HBO Max.[4]
Alongside editing Gaga Chromatica Ball and completing her duties associated with her role in Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) and its accompanying soundtrack, Gaga spent most of 2023 and 2024 recording what she referred to as "some of the best songs [she] can remember."[5] These sessions culminated in two studio albums, 2024's Harlequin and 2025's Mayhem, the latter of which reached the top of music charts in over 20 countries around the world and was described as a "chaotic blur of genres" focused in Gaga's pop roots.[6] The album was initially supported by the release of three singles, "Die with a Smile", "Disease", "Abracadabra", and a run of promotional concerts that included stops at the 2025 Coachella festival and a free performance to 2.5 million spectators at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[7][8]
Announcements
On March 26, 2025, Gaga announced the Mayhem Ball concert tour through her social media accounts, unveiling an initial run of thirty-two dates in North American and European cities.[1][9][10] Due to an overwhelming commercial response, additional concerts in both continents were announced throughout the next week. These included extra dates in New York City, Paradise, Nevada, London and Paris, among others.[11][12][13][14][15][16] On April 8, 2025, Gaga announced three dates scheduled for December at outdoor stadiums in Australia, marking her first shows in the country in 11 years.[17] Due to initial demand, second shows in both Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, were added to the tour's itinerary.[18][19] On April 22, 2025, following Gaga's performances at Coachella, three shows in San Francisco and four shows in Inglewood were announced.[20] On June 9, 2025, Gaga announced five shows in Japan, scheduled at the Tokyo Dome and Osaka Dome for the following January. This announcement officially extended the tour to 2026.[21] One month later, an additional show in Tokyo was announced due to overwhelming demand.[22] In September 2025, Gaga announced additional dates throughout North America scheduled for 2026, including stops in new cities such as Washington, D.C., Boston, and Saint Paul, Minnesota.[23][24][25]
The tour succeeds a series of outdoor shows that concluded earlier in 2025. Regarding the formal tour and her decision to choose arenas over stadiums or other outdoor venues, Gaga stated:
"I wasn't planning to tour this year after my shows in Singapore, but the incredible response to the new album inspired me to keep things going. We chose arenas this time to give me the opportunity to control the details of the show in a way you simply can't in stadiums—and honestly, I can't wait. This show is designed to be the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings Mayhem to life exactly how I envision it. The Mayhem Ball is officially coming your way. See you soon, monsters."[1]
Hits and Rolling Stone report that the previously announced promotional concerts are also part of this tour.[26][1] However, Live Nation, the official promoter of the tour, lists these concerts separately under distinct titles, suggesting they are not part of the Mayhem Ball.[27]
The show revamps the story line and thematic elements used for previous concerts such as Gaga's headlining 2025 Coachella set and her performance at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The performance, which is dubbed "The Art of Personal Chaos" similarly to the previous shows, sees Gaga battling her internal darkness and fears. Her personal battles are presented in the form of "Mayhem", the character that "tortures" Gaga throughout the show. [28]
Critical reception
Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone praised the July 16, 2025, show in Paradise, writing that "Gaga didn't just revisit [the Coachella show] — she expanded it, sharpened it, sprinkled in some nostalgia, and fully realized the gothic dream she had only just introduced", stating that it felt "more intimate".[28]Billboard's Joe Lynch described the show as "a theatrical, electric and delicious live affair, offering fans charged performances of Mayhem's best songs (some of which are among her all-time best) and previous dance classics that inhabit the same sonic and thematic universe", adding that "despite the heat outside the stadium, the crowd was ready to give it their all once Mother Monster took the stage."[29]USA Today's Melissa Ruggieri stated that the show could "rival any Broadway musical" and described it as a venue "where the pop-goth of 'Abracadabra,' the disco-fied 'LoveGame' and the heart-shattering balladry of 'Shallow' all sound authentic. And where, as Gaga reminded toward the end of the show, everyone is welcome and respected."[30]Variety's Steven J. Horowitz deemed the show "a breathless, finely-tuned spectacular that once again reinforced that when it comes to Gaga, success is never an accident — just a welcome reminder of her many, many talents and, more importantly, how she's continued to refine them."[31] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times reviewed the August 22, 2025 concert at Madison Square Garden and wrote that Gaga "proved to be at the peak of her powers in a campy, excessive and emotional show that connected her past and present with theatricality, humor and precision," describing it as "a crowning moment in nearly two decades of her career."[32]
Commercial performance
Originally planned to have 32 dates, promoter Live Nation added an additional 13 concerts across multiple cities, due to the demand.[15][16] On April 3, 2025, it was reported the tour sold out during the first day of general sale.[33] In their report, Billboard suggested the Mayhem Ball could be Gaga's biggest tour in over a decade, with an estimation of "$100 million to surging toward $125 million". They also said the decision to move from stadiums to arenas could possibly "drive higher prices than on the Chromatica Ball, with far fewer seats available each night".[34]
Set list
This set list is from the July 16, 2025, concert in Paradise.[35][36][37] It may not represent all concerts.
At each concert, Gaga plays a surprise song during the encore, which are usually played from tape with her occasionally singing along.[38] This includes tracks from Artpop (2013)[39][40][41][42] and Born This Way (2011).[38]
During the July 22, 2025, concert in San Francisco, "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne was played at the end of the show, as a tribute to Osbourne following his death.[43]
Beginning with the September 11, 2025, concert in Toronto, "The Dead Dance" was added to the set list during the third act, succeeding "Zombieboy."[49]
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