Music Column

     Some may have noticed that many extremely popular musical artists are going on concert tours this year, including Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, The Weeknd, and BTS, just to name a few. This is not actually unusual; tours are very important for musical artists, as they generate a large amount of their income, and every year, there are many popular artists touring. Take, for instance, 2025, when the popular artists touring included Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA. 

If one wants to see such a popular artist on tour, though, it can be difficult, as ticket prices tend to be exorbitant. Harry Styles, specifically, has received some backlash for the price of tickets for shows on his Together, Together tour. According to an article by Pollstar published last December, the average cost for a ticket for one of the 2026 Top 100 Worldwide Touring Artists was $132.62. Tickets for Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour, for example, averaged about $204.47, according to the Boardroom on Facebook. In contrast, the cost for a ticket for one of Mr. Styles’ tour concerts linger around $300 to $400. He has yet to make any comments regarding outrage concerning his prices.

On a more positive note, 2026 marks the thirteenth year that the K-Pop group BTS has been active since their debut album was released in 2013. Following the group’s mandatory service in the South Korean military beginning in 2022-2023, the members of BTS have returned from the three-year hiatus with their 5th studio album, Arirang. Along with this, the Bangtan Boys have also prepared for their Arirang World Tour, which is set to begin on April 9th this year. This tour will reportedly continue until 2027 and be held in cities across the globe.

Similar to BTS, artist Bruno Mars is set to begin The Romantic Tour on April 10th this year after his last tour concluded on November 5th, 2024. This tour comes in conjunction with his fourth studio album, titled The Romantic, which was his first solo album in almost a decade. Mars’ vocals on the album have been acclaimed, but The Romantic has also received mixed reviews from critics, specifically concerning its lack of innovativeness and originality. Masterman sophomore and avid Bruno Mars fan Abdourahimou Ndiaye, though, enjoys the album. “I really liked the variety of the songs on the album,” he tells us. “It's not Bruno Mars' best album in my opinion, but I still recommend that you listen to it, and it won't take much of your time either, considering it has about 30 minutes of runtime."

As for tours that are currently active, British artist Raye is currently in the middle of her tour, This Tour May Contain New Music, a live event featuring music from her new  album This Music May Contain Hope, which is set to release on March 27, 2026. As for Raye, I am so so so excited to hear the full album,” says Alison Samuel (‘28). “I love the song she has already released called ‘Nightingale Lane’. She is such an amazing singer and utilizes her voice to the fullest extent.” Beginning on January 26, 2026, in Poland, the tour still has two months worth of touring until it ends on May 20, 2026. Along the way, Raye is set to perform at The Metropolitan Opera House here in Philadelphia on April 19. 

In terms of upcoming music, Lana Del Rey is also set to make headlines with her upcoming album, Stove. While singles “Henry, Come on,” “Bluebird,” and “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” have come out in the last year, the full album is set to be released sometime in 2026. Supposedly, this album will purely contain country music, a strong contrast to her common label as a pop artist. Despite this change, her song “Bluebird” still contains Del Rey’s signature melancholic vibe, something that many “Lanatics” (a term used by devoted Lana Del Rey fans to refer to themselves) may look forward to when the full album is released. 

With everything considered, 2026 appears to be chock-full of upcoming events for music enthusiasts. Whether you’re a fan of K-Pop, pop, rock, rap, or country, this year should have something in store to make you excited.