List of most-attended concert tours explained

The following is a list of the most-attended concert tours with at least 3.5 million tickets sold, as well as the tours with the most tickets sold by year and the most tickets sold in a single day. The number of attendances is often considered to measure the success of a tour. However, the most-attended tours do not necessarily generate the largest profit, due to ticket pricing. Rankings of most successful tours are generally based on gross revenue instead of number of attendances.[1] Pollstar and Billboard provide boxscores which are the primary data showing the commercial performance of tours. However, since not all concerts are reported to them, especially before 2000, the number of tickets may rely on estimations by other sources.

Tours may score large total attendances because of their number of shows, which can span multiple calendar years. Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour is the most-attended tour of all time, with 9.6 million tickets sold in 164 shows between 2022 and 2024.[2] Ed Sheeran's ÷ Tour holds the record for the most-attended tour in a year, with 4.86 million people in 2018. U2 scored the annual most-attended tours at least six times since 1997, more than any other act. Meanwhile, Tina Turner, Cher, Madonna, Taylor Swift and Pink are the only women with a tour attended by 3.5 million people or more. According to Pollstar and Billboard, Swift is the only female artist to ever achieve the largest tour attendance in a single year. She also broke the record for fastest-selling tour, with 2.4 million tickets sold in a single day for the first leg of the Eras Tour (2023–2024) in the United States.

Most-attended tours

Over 5 million attendance

style="background:#BFFFC0;"
†Indicates an ongoing concert tour
2023-2024The Eras TourTaylor Swift11 million149[3]
2022–2025Music of the Spheres World TourColdplay9.6 million164
2017–2019÷ TourEd Sheeran8.8 million260
2009–2011360° TourU27.3 million110[4]
1991–1993Use Your Illusion TourGuns N' Roses7 million192[5]
1994–1995Voodoo Lounge TourThe Rolling Stones6.5 million129[6]
2014–2017The Garth Brooks World Tour (2014–2017)Garth Brooks6.3 million390[7]
2018–2023Farewell Yellow Brick RoadElton John6 million330[8]
1989–1990Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle TourThe Rolling Stones6 million115[9]
2019–2024Rammstein Stadium TourRammstein6 million135[10]
2022–2025+–=÷× TourEd Sheeran5.8 million94[11]
1994The Division Bell TourPink Floyd5.5 million112[12]
1996–1998The Garth Brooks World Tour (1996–1998)Garth Brooks5.5 million220
2016–2017A Head Full of Dreams TourColdplay5.38 million114[13]
2016–2019Not in This Lifetime... TourGuns N' Roses5.37 million175
1992–1993Zoo TV TourU25.3 million157[14]
1984–1985Born in the U.S.A. TourBruce SpringsteenE Street Band5 million156[15]
2021–2023Love On TourHarry Styles5 million169[16]

3.5–4.9 million attendance

2021–2025Extraterrestrial World TourJoker Xue4.9 million147[17]
2023–2024Summer CarnivalPink4.8 million103[18]
1997–1998Bridges to Babylon TourThe Rolling Stones4.8 million108[19]
2008–2010Black Ice World TourAC/DC4.8 million168[20]
2005–2007A Bigger Bang TourThe Rolling Stones4.7 million147
1996–1997HIStory World TourMichael Jackson4.5 million82[21]
2005–2006Vertigo TourU24.6 million131[22]
2016–2019A Classic TourJacky Cheung4.5 million233[23]
1987–1989Bad World TourMichael Jackson4.4 million125[24]
2023–2024The Eras TourTaylor Swift4.35 million60[25]
1987–1990A Momentary Lapse of Reason TourPink Floyd4.25 million198[26]
2010–2013The Wall LiveRoger Waters4.1 million220[27]
2016–2019WorldWired TourMetallica4.1 million159[28]
1987–1988Break Every Rule World TourTina Turner4 million218[29]
1997–1998PopMart TourU23.9 million93[30]
2012–2013Wrecking Ball World TourBruce SpringsteenE Street Band3.65 million127
1992–1993Dangerous World TourMichael Jackson3.5 million69[31]
2003–2004Licks TourThe Rolling Stones3.5 million117[32]
2008–2009Sticky & Sweet TourMadonna3.5 million85[33]
2014Where We Are TourOne Direction3.5 million69[34]
2002–2005Cher3.5 million325

Most-attended tours by year

Year! scope="col"
ArtistTour titleTickets soldSourceTop-grossing
tour of the year
1997U2PopMart Tour1.70 millionPollstar[35]
1999NSYNCNSYNC in Concert1.80 millionPollstar
2000No Strings Attached Tour1.65 millionPollstar[36]
2001U2Elevation Tour2.06 millionBillboard[37]
2002Dave Matthews BandDave Matthews Band 2002 Tour1.35 millionBillboard[38]
2003The Rolling StonesLicks Tour3.47 millionBillboard[39]
2004PrinceMusicology Live 2004ever1.47 millionBillboard[40]
2005U2Vertigo Tour3.00 millionBillboard[41]
2006The Rolling StonesA Bigger Bang Tour3.50 millionBillboard[42]
2007The PoliceThe Police Reunion Tour1.85 millionBillboard[43]
2008Bon JoviLost Highway Tour2.15 millionBillboard[44]
2009U2360° Tour3.07 millionBillboard[45]
2010Bon JoviThe Circle Tour1.90 millionPollstar[46]
2011U2360° Tour2.88 millionBillboard[47]
2012Bruce SpringsteenWrecking Ball World Tour2.28 millionPollstar[48]
2013Bon JoviBecause We Can2.65 millionPollstar[49]
2014One DirectionWhere We Are Tour3.43 millionPollstar[50]
2015On the Road Again Tour2.36 millionPollstar[51]
2016ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams Tour2.67 millionPollstar[52]
2017U2The Joshua Tree Tour 20172.71 millionPollstar[53]
2018Ed Sheeran÷ Tour4.86 millionPollstar[54]
20192.45 millionPollstar[55]
2020Trans-Siberian OrchestraChristmas Eve and Other Stories Tour0.88 millionPollstar[56]
2021Harry StylesLove On Tour0.67 millionPollstar[57]
2022ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour3.80 millionPollstar[58]
2023Taylor SwiftThe Eras Tour4.35 millionPollstar

Fastest-selling tours

style="background:#FFB6C1;"
Indicates previous record holder for the fastest-selling tour
Year! scope="col"
ArtistTour titleTickets soldNotes
2023Taylor Swift2.4 millionFirst North American leg[59]
2005Robbie Williamsalign=center style="background:#FFB6C1;" Close Encounters Tour1.6 million[60]
2024AC/DCPower Up Tour1.5 million[61]
2022ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour1.4 millionSecond European leg[62]
2010Take ThatProgress Live1.3 million[63]
2017U21.1 million[64]
2016Guns N' RosesNot in This Lifetime... Tour1.1 million[65]
2000NSYNCalign=center style="background:#FFB6C1;" No Strings Attached Tour1.0 million[66]
2016Bruno Mars24K Magic World Tour1.0 million[67]
2021ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour1.0 millionFirst European leg[68]
2024ShakiraLas Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour0.9 millionLatin American leg[69]
2023RBD0.8 million[70]
2024ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour0.7 milionThird North American leg[71]
2017Ed Sheeran0.7 millionOceanian leg[72]
2023Madonna0.6 million[73]
2009AC/DCBlack Ice World Tour0.5 million[74]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar. AP News. August 11, 2023. September 10, 2023.
  2. Web site: 23 September 2024 . Pollstar 2024 Q3 Business Analysis: Cautious Optimism As Quarterly Box-Office Totals Reveal YOY Growth . live . http://web.archive.org/web/20240924163931/https://news.pollstar.com/2024/09/23/cautious-optimism-in-2024-q3-business-analysis-quarterly-box-office-totals-show-year-over-year-growth/ . 24 September 2024 . 24 September 2024 . Pollstar.
  3. Web site: Why is Taylor Swift so big? She 'wants it more than anyone' . 2024-12-04 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
  4. Billboard Power 100: 27 – U2 & Paul McGuinness. Ray. Waddell. Billboard. February 4, 2012. 18–19. 124. 4. August 30, 2023.
  5. Bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. p. 372
  6. Boyz II Men, Van Halen Tours Among Top 10 of 1995. Billboard. May 7, 2017. August 30, 2023. Karen. Hill.
  7. Web site: Garth Brooks will make history with sold-out 'in-the-round' stadium concert at Petco Park Saturday. The San Diego Union-Tribune. March 4, 2022. August 30, 2023. George. Varga.
  8. Elton John's Farewell Tour Comes to an End With $939 Million and 6 Million Tickets. July 13, 2023. August 30, 2023. Billboard. Eric. Frankenberg. subscription. July 13, 2023. https://archive.today/20230713223721/https://www.billboard.com/pro/elton-john-farewell-tour-ends-939-million/.
  9. Book: Apter, Jeff. High Voltage: The Life of Angus Young - ACDC's Last Man Standing. 185. Black Inc.. 9781925435764. 2017. September 9, 2023. Google Books.
    • News: Harrington . Richard . 1990-01-10 . On the Beat . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-10-17 . 0190-8286.
  10. Web site: 5 August 2024 . NACH DER TOUR 2024.
  11. February 29, 2024 . Coldplay Rules January Boxscore Report with Nearly $59 Million . live . https://archive.today/20240229164015/https://www.billboard.com/pro/coldplay-january-boxscore-58-million/ . February 29, 2024 . February 29, 2024 . Billboard.
  12. Web site: Pink Floyd's 6 greatest live shows of all time. Far Out. May 6, 2021. August 30, 2023. Jack. Whatley.
  13. November 17, 2017. Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams Is Third Highest Grossing World Tour Ever . live . https://archive.today/20220617144520/https://www.billboard.com/pro/coldplay-head-full-dreams-tour-third-highest-grossing-ever/ . June 17, 2022. August 30, 2023. Billboard.
  14. Web site: Great NZ Concerts - U2's Zoo TV Tour. RNZ Concert. February 16, 2016. August 30, 2023.
  15. News: The Boss's Thunder Road to Riches. Time. Janice. Castro. January 26, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228234228/http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1582825,00.html. February 28, 2021. live. August 26, 2023.
  16. Harry Styles' Love On Tour Ends As the Fourth $600 Million Trek Ever. Billboard. subscription. August 7, 2023. August 30, 2023. August 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230809180634/https://www.billboard.com/pro/harry-styles-love-on-tour-fourth-600-million-trek-ever/. Eric. Frankenberg.
  17. Web site: 薛之谦深圳演唱会2024什么时候(时间表+场馆+巡演安排). When will Xue Zhiqian's Shenzhen concert be held in 2024 (schedule + venue + tour arrangement) . July 3, 2024 . Dahe Ticketing Network . zh.
  18. February 29, 2024 . Coldplay Rules January Boxscore Report with Nearly $59 Million . live . https://archive.today/20240229164015/https://www.billboard.com/pro/coldplay-january-boxscore-58-million/ . February 29, 2024 . February 29, 2024 . Billboard.
  19. Web site: 'Bridges To Babylon': Remembering The Rolling Stones' Historic Tour. September 23, 2022. August 30, 2023. Universal Music Group. Richard. Havers.
  20. Web site: The 10 biggest music tours in history. Far Out. November 11, 2022. August 30, 2023. Sam. Kemp.
  21. Web site: In Pictures: A Forbes History Of Michael Jackson's Earnings. Forbes. October 27, 2009. September 1, 2023.
  22. Web site: U2: From joshua trees to palm trees. Reuters. January 1, 2007. August 30, 2023. Jonathan. Cohen. July 23, 2012. https://archive.today/20120723215921/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/01/02/music-u2-dc-idUKN2925649020070102. dead.
  23. Web site: Benson . Ang . Jacky Cheung preparing for new concerts, including a stop in Singapore, within the next six months . The Straits Times . 21 May 2024 . en . 13 March 2023.
  24. Web site: Ten things you didn't know about Michael Jackson's Bad. The Times. subscription. September 14, 2012. August 30, 2023. February 25, 2020. https://archive.today/20200225230320/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-michael-jacksons-bad-pcpjql0nbr8.
  25. News: Taylor Swift Sets All-Time Touring Record With $1 Billion Gross. Gensler. Andy. Pollstar. December 8, 2023. December 8, 2023. December 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231208150250/https://news.pollstar.com/2023/12/08/taylor-swift-sets-all-time-touring-record-with-billion-dollar-gross/. live.
  26. Web site: The 21 biggest concert tours of all-time. Yardbarker. June 14, 2017. August 30, 2023. Fidel. Martinez.
  27. Web site: Riding The Gravy Train: Waters Tops $835 Million With Latest Trek. Pollstar. January 23, 2019. August 30, 2023. Bob. Allen.
  28. Web site: Metallica are now the "biggest all-time touring band". NME. September 19, 2019. August 30, 2023. Will. Richards.
  29. Web site: Highest attendance at a ticketed concert by a female artist. Guinness World Records. August 30, 2023.
  30. Web site: U2: The Complete History of Their Live Tours - Lovetown to Elevation (Part 3 of 4). Hot Press. August 3, 2017. August 30, 2023. Olaf. Tyaransen. Olaf Tyaransen.
  31. Web site: Review: Fabulous 'MJ the Musical' in Chicago. Chicago Tribune. September 2, 2023. August 10, 2023. Chris. Jones.
  32. Further On Up The Road. Billboard. January 17, 2009. August 30, 2023. 10. 121. 2.
  33. Web site: Madonna world tour breaks her own record. Reuters. September 2, 2009. August 30, 2023.
  34. Web site: One Direction. August 30, 2023. The Sky VIP Official Big Top 40.
  35. News: Rolling Stones '97 Tour Tops List of Concert Draws. Washington Post. 1997. September 1, 2023.
  36. Tina Turner the Top Touring Act of 2000. Rolling Stone. December 29, 2000. September 1, 2023. subscription. September 1, 2023. https://archive.today/20230901155813/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tina-turner-the-top-touring-act-of-2000-119986/.
  37. Top 25 Tours. Billboard. December 29, 2001. September 9, 2023.
  38. Top 25 Tours. Billboard. December 28, 2002. September 9, 2023.
  39. Top 25 Tours. Billboard. December 27, 2003. September 9, 2023.
  40. Top 25 Tours. Billboard. December 25, 2004. September 9, 2023.
  41. The top 10 tours of 2005. Entertainment Weekly. December 13, 2005. September 1, 2023. Amy. Ryan.
  42. Top Rock/Pop Tours of '06. Billboard. YE-6. December 23, 2006. February 27, 2021.
  43. Top 25 Tours. Billboard. September 1, 2023. December 22, 2007. 138.
  44. Top 25 Tours 2008. Billboard. 2008. August 31, 2023. Billboard Staff. dead. December 14, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081214070150/https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2008/charts/top25-tours.shtml.
  45. Top 25 Tours of 2009. Billboard. December 11, 2009. August 31, 2023. Billboard Staff.
  46. 2010 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2010. August 30, 2023. dead. January 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110124021651/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/Charts2010/2010YearEndTop50WorldwideConcertTours.pdf.
  47. Top 25 Tours of 2011. Billboard. December 9, 2011. August 30, 2023. Billboard Staff.
  48. 2012 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2012. August 30, 2023. dead. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075532/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2012/2012YearEndTop100WorldwideTours.pdf.
  49. 2013 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2013. August 30, 2023. dead. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075545/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2013/2013YearEndTop100WorldwideTours.pdf.
  50. 2014 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2014. August 31, 2023. dead. December 31, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151231182625/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2014/2014YearEndTop100WorldwideTours.pdf.
  51. 2015 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2015. August 31, 2023. dead. March 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170308232853/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2015/2015YearEndTop100WorldwideTours.pdf.
  52. 2016 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2016. August 31, 2023. dead. February 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213220032/https://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2016/011617top10.pdf.
  53. 2017 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2017. August 31, 2023.
  54. 2018 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2018. August 31, 2023.
  55. 2019 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2019. August 31, 2023.
  56. 2020 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2020. August 31, 2023.
  57. 2021 Pollstar Year End. Pollstar. 2021. August 31, 2023.
  58. Web site: 12 June 2023. Coldplay Add Six New Asian Dates for 2024 . live . https://archive.today/20230625062435/https://news.pollstar.com/2023/06/12/coldplay-add-six-new-asian-dates-for-2024/ . 25 June 2023 . 25 June 2023 . Pollstar.
  59. Web site: Winters . Mike . July 4, 2023 . Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is set to earn a record-breaking $1 billion in sales—here are the 10 highest-grossing tours . August 30, 2023 . CNBC.
  60. Web site: Most tour tickets sold in a day (concerts). September 2, 2023. Guinness World Reocrds.
  61. Web site: AC/DC Sold 1.5 Million Tickets In One Day For Upcoming European Tour: 'It's Staggering'. July 15, 2024. Blabbermouth.
  62. Web site: August 26, 2022. Coldplay Sell 1.4 Million Tickets for 2023 UK and European Tour . live . https://archive.today/20220826214212/https://www.nme.com/news/music/coldplay-sell-1-4million-tickets-for-2023-uk-and-european-tour-announce-new-dates-buy-tickets-3298401 . 26 August 2022 . August 26, 2022 . NME.
  63. News: Take That century's 'fastest selling' album. BBC. November 16, 2010. September 9, 2023.
  64. January 23, 2017 . After 'Joshua Tree' Tour Sells 1.1 Million Tickets in 24 Hours, U2 Adds Shows . Billboard . https://archive.today/20230902200111/https://www.billboard.com/pro/u2-joshua-tree-tour-sells-million-tickets-shows-added/ . September 2, 2023 . September 2, 2023 . subscription.
  65. Jones . Damian . December 12, 2016 . Guns N' Roses sell a million concert tickets in one day . . September 2, 2023.
  66. Web site: November 25, 2005 . Robbie Sets Ticket Sales Record . live . https://archive.today/20230326150825/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/robbie-sets-ticket-sales-record-20051125-ge1baz.html . March 26, 2023 . March 26, 2023 . The Age.
  67. News: Bruno Mars' 24K Magic Tour Sells 1 Million Tickets in 24 Hours. Colin. Stutz. Billboard. November 22, 2016. September 9, 2023.
  68. April 25, 2022 . Revealed: Billboard's 2022 International Power Players . live . Billboard . https://archive.today/20220425175254/https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-international-power-players-2022-list/ . April 25, 2022 . April 26, 2022.
  69. Web site: Aswad. Jem. 2024-10-21. Shakira Announces North American Stadium and Arena Tour Dates for 2025. Variety.
  70. Web site: RBD rompe fenomenal récord: más de 800 mil boletos en 24 horas. January 31, 2023. February 6, 2024. TeleHit. es. Jean G.. Flower.
  71. Web site: 17 October 2024 . Parlophone's Jen Ivory & Josh Jennings on Incredible Demand for Coldplay's US & UK No.1 Moon Music . live . https://archive.today/20241018184018/https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/parlophone-s-jen-ivory-josh-jennings-on-incredible-demand-for-coldplay-s-us-uk-no-1-moon-music/090678 . 18 October 2024 . 18 October 2024 . Music Week.
  72. Web site: March 26, 2017. Third Ed Sheeran Concert at ANZ Stadium Smashes Stadium Tour Record. September 2, 2023. Stadium Australia.
  73. January 20, 2023. Madonna's 'The Celebration Tour' Sells Out New York, London, Paris Dates in Minutes. September 2, 2023. Billboard. Dave. Brooks.
  74. May 26, 2009. AC/DC breaks ticket sales records. September 2, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press.

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