\nThe Weeknd performs during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In the center of the catwalk stood a massive statuette of the \u201cSexy Robot\u201d by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama \u2014 a golden figure leaning forward with her arms stretched behind her back.<\/p>\n
Flanked by columns of masked backup dancers covered in red from head to toe, The Weeknd entered in a black and gold cloak and black mask.<\/p>\n
He kicked the night off with his 2025 track, “The Abyss,” singing, “Let’s end it all, the world’s not far behind \/ So what’s the point of staying? \/ It’s going up in flames.”<\/p>\n
The first few tracks, which included “Wake Me Up,” “After Hours,” “Starboy” and “Heartless,” set the tone for the show.<\/p>\n\n\nThe Weeknd performs during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It felt like a dark, gritty universe ripped from the streets of “Blade Runner” or the “The Hunger Games.” His red company \u2014 who bore a “Handmaid’s Tale” resemblance \u2014 hit angular choreo with the precision of a Greek chorus.<\/p>\n
The Weeknd’s bright, soulful voice never faltered, and as red lights washed over the stadium, he ushered fans into another dimension.<\/p>\n
The Weeknd tears up from warm Nashville welcome, confirms future tours<\/h2>\n After his first half-dozen songs, The Weeknd slowly removed his mask.<\/p>\n
As he saluted the crowd, beaming, The Weeknd looked out at the audience and tears welled in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\nThe Weeknd performs during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
“That might have been the warmest welcome on tour, man. Thank you guys so much,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Weeknd said it was his first time at Nissan Stadium and his first time performing at a stadium in Tennessee. “Who would have thought?” he said. “I’m so grateful.”<\/p>\n
Last time he visited Music City was on his “Starboy Tour” in 2016, The Weeknd said, which was nearly a decade ago. “Y’all miss me?” he asked.<\/p>\n\n\nThe Weeknd performs during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
He launched into the next part of the show, cycling through his hits like 2015’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Often” and “The Hills” with a theatrical flare that brought the heat, sometimes literally. Hot fireballs burst around the catwalk so close the audience could feel the warmth.<\/p>\n
Laser lights flashed while the crowd’s light up bracelets, which were given out as fans filed into the stadium, blinked coordinated colors.<\/p>\n
“Open Hearts” and “Cry For Me” brought Nissan into a galactic-feeling discotheque, while “S\u00e3o Paulo,” a 2025 song with Anitta whisked the audience away to a Brazilian nightclub.<\/p>\n
Fans bought into every moment.<\/p>\n
Feeling the love, The Weeknd shouted out the city in almost every song, sometimes more than once.<\/p>\n\n\nFans watch The Weeknd perform during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
“You might not believe me, I say this every show but I gotta be honest with you: This might be the craziest show on the entire tour,” The Weeknd said.<\/p>\n
“I feel like I’m at home right now … and I’m not ever gonna make that mistake, man, I’m never skipping Nashville ever again (on tour). And there’s gonna be a lot more tours, man, I’m gonna promise you that.”<\/p>\n
The Weeknd duets with Playboi Carti, sings with audience member<\/h2>\n Other highlights included an appearance from opener Playboi Carti, who duetted with The Weeknd on two tracks and a couple songs later, when The Weeknd ventured out into the crowd.<\/p>\n
He shared the mic with a fan as he ran around the stadium, interacting with the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\nThe Weeknd performs during his After Hours Til Dawn concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hits “Call Out My Name,” “Die For You,” and “Save Your Tears” landed in the show’s second half, with The Weeknd bringing powerful vibrato-laced vocals.<\/p>\n
The concert began to wrap up with 2020’s “Blinding Lights” and newer track “Without a Warning” while graphics displayed a giant golden door closing and the lights went black.<\/p>\n
The Weeknd performed a four-song encore, ending with “Moth to a Flame” as red fireworks shot above the stage, bursting columns of fire, and fans chanting along.<\/p>\n
The crowd had journeyed from after hours all the way to dawn, and we’d reached the end of the road.<\/p>\n
And though it may be the end of The Weeknd’s touring journey, the Nashville audience was loud and clear: We’ll welcome Abel Tesfaye back to our city’s stages anytime.<\/p>\n