There was no need to save your tears for another day. The Weeknd gave fans everything they came for and more during his return to SoFi Stadium on Tuesday, June 25.
For more than two hours, the Canadian pop star—born Abel Tesfaye—delivered a flawless, high-octane performance packed with cinematic visuals, soaring vocals, and enough pyrotechnics to make even longtime fans feel like they were seeing him for the first time. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a masterclass in what it means to be a pop icon in 2025.
With four shows at SoFi Stadium, continuing through June 26, 28-29, The Weeknd now holds the record for most sold-out shows by a male artist at the Inglewood venue, bringing his total to seven following three sold-out dates in 2022.
It’s a title well-earned. As part of the final North American leg of his After Hours Til Dawn tour, the performance was less a concert and more a cinematic experience — theatrical, immersive, and commanding.
The stage itself resembled a post-apocalyptic cityscape, complete with crumbling buildings, towers of fire, and a towering chrome statue designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. Red-robed figures moved ritualistically across the stage like a dystopian chorus, adding to the drama as The Weeknd emerged masked in black and gold. The look, paired with his commanding entrance, set the tone: the star as cult leader, ushering his devoted fans into a world all his own.
It wasn’t long before he slowly removed the mask, greeted by a stadium erupting in cheers. “Well, that’s a warm welcome, Los Angeles. Thank you,” he said with a chuckle, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. From there, he launched into a set that pulled from every chapter of his now 15-year career.
Songs seeped seamlessly into one another, like a live mixtape with no skips. Tracks like “Starboy,” “The Hills,” and “I Can’t Feel My Face” lit up the stadium—literally—thanks to synchronized wristbands handed out to fans that glowed in sync with the music.
But the show wasn’t just about hits. For his longtime “XO” faithful fans, he included deeper cuts like “Kiss Land,” “I Was Never There,” and “High for This.” At one point, he even ran into the crowd, giving two lucky fans a chance to sing “Out of Time” with him—one of the evening’s most heartfelt moments.
And of course, there was “Blinding Lights,” which turned the 70,000-capacity venue into a neon-lit choir.
About midway through, The Weeknd brought out rapper Playboi Carti, who’s acted as support while on tour, to perform their tracks “Timeless” and “Rather Lie,” turning the energy up another notch. His backup band, led by producer Mike Dean, kept the momentum sharp and seamless all night, while the dancers in red added surreal theatricality to the performance.
Vocally, the pop mogul was in top form. His falsetto rang effortlessly through the massive venue with barely a break—no visible water, no long pauses—just hit after hit, delivered with a presence that was equal parts polished and passionate.
Even for those who wouldn’t consider themselves die-hard fans, the show served as a masterclass in showmanship. If anything, it reaffirmed why he remains one of pop’s most compelling and enigmatic figures.
And while The Weeknd has hinted that this may be the final chapter for his alter ego, Tuesday night felt like the culmination of everything he’s built. A cinematic spectacle. A pop sermon. A history-making moment under the California night sky—and he’s just getting started.