Ariana Grande fans heading to her long-awaited London shows will need to rethink what they’re bringing with them.
Strict new entry rules were confirmed ahead of the UK leg of her Eternal Sunshine tour, with Ticketmaster UK announcing that concertgoers attending the singer’s run at London’s O2 Arena will only be allowed to bring clear plastic bags into the venue.
The policy has been described by the ticket distributor as ‘mandatory for admittance to the show’.
The updated guidance means each ticketholder can carry just one transparent bag, with backpacks, handbags, clutches and even tinted or patterned plastic bags all banned.
According to Ticketmaster, clear bags must be made from plastic, vinyl or PVC and measure no larger than 30cm x 15cm x 30cm. Fans can also bring a medium-sized clear freezer or zip-lock bag, provided all of their belongings are visible inside.
‘Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive with only essential items,’ the guidance states.
It also notes that belongings cannot be split across multiple bags, with everything needing to fit into a single transparent bag.
Medical, accessibility, and parent or child-care bags will still be permitted, but only after being inspected by venue security.
Meanwhile, professional cameras and recording devices have also been prohibited, although mobile phones with built-in cameras remain allowed.
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While the rules may come as a surprise to some fans, they are not entirely new for Ariana’s UK concerts.
The same clear bag policy was in place during her Sweetener World Tour in 2019, when she returned to Manchester less than two years after the devastating terrorist attack that killed 22 people following her concert at Manchester Arena in May 2017.
Security at Ariana’s shows has remained especially robust ever since, with bag restrictions becoming a familiar feature of her live performances alongside wider venue safety measures.
The new guidance arrives as excitement builds for the UK leg of the Eternal Sunshine tour, which has already received rave reviews since launching in June.
The pop superstar will perform 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena, beginning on August 15 and running through to September 1, in what marks one of the biggest arena residencies of the year.
Fans are also eagerly awaiting the release of Ariana’s new album, Petal, on July 31, although it remains unclear whether she’ll update the Eternal Sunshine setlist to include songs from the new record.
For now, though, anyone planning to belt out We Can’t Be Friends or Yes, And? in the crowd should make one thing a priority before leaving home: checking that their bag is completely transparent.