After a long hiatus, it sounds like a major pop star may be hitting the road next year. Musicians often have a funny relationship with touring. Many relish the opportunity to share their songs live and revel in the audience’s participation. Still, it can be a grueling experience for the artist, turning out the same show night after night and keeping their enthusiasm high.
Recent years have seen several notable tours from major singers, including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. However, one notable pop star has been absent from the touring scene lately, as she’s been busy with other exciting projects. Now, that seems poised to change.
Ariana Grande’s Planning A Small Tour For 2026
Her Singing Career May Look Different Going Forward
In a post shared to Instagram,Ariana Grandesuggested she’ll be hitting the road again, for what would be the first time sincetheSweetener World Tourin 2019. The pop star and actress posted a message to her over 370 million Instagram followers on July 10, 2025, telling them not to fret becauseher desire to perform live hasn’t diminished, despite other parts of her career taking off.
“Very silly of you all to assume that just because I have my hands full with many things that I plan to abandon singing & music !!!” she captioned a clip of herself belting out her 2016 tune “Into You.” Grande continued by explaining that singing has always been her salvation, and she’ll bring it with her down other career paths — meaning fans should prepare themselves for a new batch of shows.
Grande didn’t give exact dates when she posted the message about touring again. Instead, the native Floridian saidshe’s working out a plan to do it next year, even if it’s for a short stint. Grande also told fans that she’s having a wonderful time in her career with all the opportunities that have come her way, and she expressed gratitude. “I am having fun,” she wrote. “I feel grateful and excited and inspired, finding a balance between many projects and endeavors I love, and doing it my own way.”
Perhaps she’ll take a page out of Beyoncé’s playbook and only hit certain cities, since Bey only played in nine markets for herCowboy Carter Tour,seven of them being in the U.S., the others in London and Paris.
Elsewhere in her message, the “We Can’t Be Friends” creator told fans that they’ll have to adjust to a new normal, which could mean a number of things. Perhaps she’ll take a page out of Beyoncé’s playbook and only hit certain cities, since Bey only played in nine markets for herCowboy Carter Tour,seven of them being in the U.S., the others in London and Paris. Or maybeGrande will playa bunch of sporadic concert dates and do a series of one-off shows. Either way, hitting the road again won’t be simple for the gifted singer.
Touring Isn’t An Easy Feat For Grande
Her Schedule Is Now Tighter, And She Has PTSD
Grande’s acting career is scorching hot at the moment, thanks to her Oscar-nominated performance of Glinda in the film adaptation ofWicked.She’ll also bestarring in the animated musicalOh, the Places You’ll Go!, directed byWickeddirectorJon M. Chu,scheduled to premiere in March 2028.She’ll be playing alongside Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilsonas well inMeet the Parents 4, recently renamedFocker in Law.
However, it’s safe to say that Grande is still dealing with the tragedy of her 2017 concert in Manchester Arena, where 22 people lost their lives after 22-year-old Salman Abedi let off a homemade explosive in the arena’s foyer. The singer spoke about having post-traumatic stress disorder the following year, saying that she’s unable to talk about the concert without shedding tears. Yes, it’s been eight years since that Manchester show, but it wouldn’t be a far stretch to say that’s not a lot of time to fully heal or come to grips with the tragedy.
Grande is also justone tour removed from the disaster, only being on theSweetener World Toursince then,and she still may have some trepidationabout playing arena concerts. Between that and taking on new film roles, touring will certainly have its new set of challenges, but based on her message, Grande seems ready to tackle them head-on.
