Madonna unveils a revised schedule for her “Celebration Tour” after her health recovery.
Madonna has unveiled new tour dates for her Celebration tour after recovering from a severe bacterial infection that led her to intensive care. The tour’s commencement, originally slated for Vancouver, Canada, has been shifted to London on October 14, with several US dates pushed to 2024 or cancelled altogether.
The tour was initially designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of her breakout single, Holiday. This Celebration Tour marks her return to large arenas and stadiums following the theatre-centric Madame X shows in 2019 and 2020, some of which were also postponed or cancelled due to injuries and the pandemic.
Madonna first announced the Celebration tour in January and began rehearsals in April. However, just prior to the opening night, her manager informed the public that she was undergoing treatment in the hospital for a “serious” bacterial infection. In a recent message to her fans, Madonna expressed her gratitude for her family’s support during her health crisis and shared her appreciation for the love she received.
With her health improving, the European leg of the tour is proceeding as planned. Following sold-out performances at the O2 Arena in London, the tour will move on to various countries in Europe before concluding with additional London shows in December. The tour will then cross the Atlantic for shows in New York and Washington before a Christmas break. The rescheduled US, Canada, and Mexico dates will follow.
The logistical challenges of rescheduling have been considerable, including the need for new venues in some cities. A few concerts, including those in Tulsa, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, have been cancelled. Additionally, a Nashville show intended to raise funds for trans rights organisations has also been scrapped. Refunds for these cancelled concerts will be provided to the original ticket purchasers. Some shows in New York and Los Angeles will occur at different venues, with original ticket holders receiving priority access to the rescheduled concerts.
While the setlist for the Celebration tour is not yet disclosed, Madonna had previously solicited input from fans about their preferred songs for the show, asking on social media, “What song would you like to dance to at my show?”