Abel Tesfaye, known worldwide as The Weeknd, is set to bring his monumental After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour to Asia for the first time in 2026. The 11-show run, produced by Live Nation, will kick off on September 20 at Tokyo's Belluna Dome and will traverse major cities across the continent before concluding on November 4 at TM Stadium National in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This announcement marks the final leg of a global tour that has shattered records and redefined the concert experience for millions of fans.
The Asian leg includes multiple-night stands in several key markets. The Weeknd will perform two shows each in Jakarta (September 26-27 at Jakarta International Stadium), Singapore (October 2-3 at National Stadium), Seoul (October 7-8 at Goyang Stadium), and Hong Kong (October 30-31 at Kai Tak Stadium). Single dates are scheduled for Tokyo (September 20), Bangkok (October 11 at Rajamangala Stadium), and Kuala Lumpur (November 4). Support acts for the tour will be Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts and Japanese DJ ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, adding a unique local flavor to the stadium shows.
The After Hours Til Dawn tour originally launched in July 2022 and has since become the highest-grossing tour ever by a male solo artist. According to the press release, the tour has sold 7.5 million tickets across 153 shows and surpassed the $1 billion mark in global grosses last year. These figures place The Weeknd in an elite group of touring artists that includes U2, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift. The North American leg alone included more than 40 sold-out stadium shows, with the singer becoming the top-grossing Black male artist in history at venues in New York, Denver, Santa Clara, Seattle, Edmonton, Montreal, Orlando, Arlington, and Houston.
For fans eager to secure tickets, the on-sale process is staggered across markets. An artist presale will begin on Monday, May 18 (except for the Seoul dates), with fan registration open through Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET. A Visa presale follows on Tuesday, May 19, in select markets, with additional presales throughout the week ahead of the general onsale on May 21. Timing varies by market; notably, the general onsale for the Japan show will be announced at a later date. Given the tour's massive demand, fans are encouraged to register early to maximize their chances.
The Weeknd’s current tour cycle has been marked by spectacular production, including elaborate stage designs, cutting-edge lighting, and immersive visual narratives that echo the dark, cinematic themes of his albums After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022). The setlist typically weaves together hits from these albums alongside classics from his earlier work, providing a comprehensive journey through his discography. The singer’s ability to sell out stadiums worldwide is a testament to his enduring appeal and his evolution from an enigmatic R&B reclusive to a global pop phenomenon.
Born in Toronto to Ethiopian immigrant parents, Abel Tesfaye first gained attention in 2010 with a series of mixtapes that blended dark R&B with electronic and indie influences. His debut studio album, Kiss Land (2013), was a critical success, but it was his 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness that skyrocketed him to superstardom, featuring the No. 1 singles “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills.” Subsequent albums Starboy (2016), My Dear Melancholy (2018), and the aforementioned After Hours and Dawn FM have consistently topped charts and earned him multiple Grammy Awards. In 2023, he even made history as the first artist to simultaneously occupy the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Die for You,” “Blinding Lights,” and “Save Your Tears.”
The announcement of Asian dates fills a significant gap in the tour’s geographic coverage. While the singer has performed extensively in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania, Asia had been conspicuously absent from the itinerary. This leg will allow millions of fans in the region to finally experience the spectacle live. The choice of venues—all world-class stadiums—underscores the scale of the production. Belluna Dome in Tokyo, for example, is the largest multi-purpose dome in Japan, while Jakarta International Stadium is one of the newest and most modern arenas in Southeast Asia.
The inclusion of local support acts is also a strategic move to connect with regional audiences. Creepy Nuts, a Japanese hip-hop duo comprising rapper R-Shitei and DJ Matsu, have gained a massive following in Japan and across Asia with their energetic performances and viral hits like “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born.” ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, known for his high-energy DJ sets blending electronic and hip-hop, is another rising star in the Japanese music scene. By pairing them with The Weeknd, the tour not only boosts ticket sales but also provides a platform for local talent.
The After Hours Til Dawn tour’s Asian leg comes at a time when the live music industry in the region is recovering strongly from the pandemic. Countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand have seen a surge in concert tourism, with international acts increasingly scheduling multiple shows to meet demand. The Weeknd’s tour is expected to generate significant economic impact for host cities, from hotel bookings to local spending. In 2024, the tour drew billions in ticket revenue and created thousands of temporary jobs across production, security, and hospitality sectors.
In addition to the Asian dates, The Weeknd has also announced 2026 European and U.K. legs for the summer, as well as recently completed shows in Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. The global scale of the tour is unprecedented for a male solo artist. Industry analysts attribute this success to a combination of factors: a dedicated fanbase, high-quality production, strategic pricing, and effective use of social media and streaming to build anticipation. The Weeknd’s partnership with Live Nation has been particularly fruitful, leveraging the promoter’s global network to optimize routing and timing.
As the tour heads into its final act, the Asian leg will likely be a highlight. For many fans, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the artist perform in the context of his magnum opus. The setlist is expected to include fan favorites like “Blinding Lights,” “Starboy,” “I Feel It Coming,” and “Take My Breath,” along with deeper cuts that showcase the breadth of his artistry. With more than 7.5 million tickets already sold, the tour is a testament to The Weeknd’s durability in an ever-evolving music landscape. The Asian dates will not only close out a historic journey but also cement his legacy as one of the most successful touring artists of the 21st century.
Source: Billboard News