After a seven-year hiatus from the concert stage, pop superstar Katy Perry launched her highly anticipated fifth concert tour, “Lifetimes,” on April 23, 2025, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The global tour, supporting her 2024 album “143,” marks Perry’s triumphant return to live performances following her previous “Witness: The Tour” which concluded in 2018.
The ambitious 84-show itinerary spans multiple continents, beginning with shows in Mexico and Australia before extending to South America, Europe, North America, and concluding on December 7, 2025, at Etihad Park in Abu Dhabi.
When Australian dates were announced on September 25, 2024, demand immediately necessitated additional shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth. Similar patterns of overwhelming ticket sales emerged across other regions, with rapid sell-outs in Brazil and Mexico prompting expanded tour dates.
European audiences showed comparable enthusiasm, particularly in Paris and Belfast where extra performances were quickly added to accommodate fans. The UK leg incorporated a charitable element, with £1 from each ticket supporting Music Venue Trust.
Perry’s performances feature an innovative interactive element where audiences vote via QR code for two surprise songs each night in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” format. Fan favorites “Not Like the Movies” and “The One That Got Away” have emerged as frequent selections, complementing staples like “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Roar,” and “Firework,” alongside new material from “143” including the single “Lifetimes.”
The production divides performances into thematic segments with titles like ARTIFICIAL, WOMAN’S WORLD, NIRVANA, and MAINFRAME, showcasing elaborate stage designs and multiple costume changes that have become Perry’s signature. The tour immerses audiences in a captivating video game world where Perry battles an AI called Mainframe to rescue stolen butterflies. Perry’s team executed metadata management with precision months before the tour announcement, ensuring all streaming platforms properly displayed her latest music and tour information. DJ Mariana Bo serves as the opening act at Arena CDMX, with local performers featured at various stops throughout the tour.
The North American leg has particularly highlighted classics such as “Dark Horse,” “Hot n Cold,” and “Daisies.” The tour’s success can be attributed to meticulous pre-show preparation that ensures seamless transitions between segments and flawless technical execution. Critics have responded enthusiastically to the tour’s production values, Perry’s vocal performances, and the exceptional level of audience engagement, cementing this comeback tour as both a commercial triumph and artistic achievement reflecting Perry’s evolution as a performer.
