The year 2019 represented a historic peak for the live music industry, featuring record-breaking global stadium tours from artists such as Ed Sheeran, Pink, and Elton John. As we look back from 2026, these schedules remain essential for music historians, collectors, and fans seeking to verify specific performance dates, setlists, and venue histories from the last full year of uninterrupted global touring.
The Significance of 2019 in Live Music History
From the vantage point of 2026, 2019 stands out as a "golden era" for the touring industry. It was the final year before the global lockdowns of 2020 fundamentally altered the landscape of live entertainment. In 2019, the industry saw unprecedented revenue growth, with the top 100 worldwide tours generating a combined gross of over $5.5 billion.
This year was defined by massive stadium spectacles, the rise of K-pop as a dominant touring force, and several high-profile "farewell" tours that have since become legendary. Understanding the 2019 tour dates requires looking at the specific legs of these tours, which often spanned multiple continents over the course of the twelve-month period.
Top-Grossing Global Tours of 2019
Several artists dominated the headlines in 2019, breaking attendance records and setting new benchmarks for production value. Below is a detailed look at the most significant tours of that year.
Ed Sheeran: The Divide Tour (Conclusion)
Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour is perhaps the most significant entry in the 2019 archives. Having started in March 2017, the tour finally concluded in August 2019. By the time it finished, it had become the highest-grossing and most-attended concert tour of all time (a record it held until Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour years later).
In 2019, Sheeran focused heavily on Europe and South America. The tour dates included a massive run of stadiums in France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Austria. The final dates took place in Sheeran’s home country, concluding with four emotional shows at Chantry Park in Ipswich in late August. For researchers, these specific August 2019 dates represent the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year journey.
Pink: Beautiful Trauma World Tour
Pink’s Beautiful Trauma World Tour was a juggernaut of 2019. Known for her high-flying aerial acrobatics and rigorous vocal performances, Pink spent much of 2019 touring North America and Europe.
The 2019 leg began in North America in March, hitting major arenas like Madison Square Garden and the Staples Center. In the summer of 2019, the tour transitioned to European stadiums, including a notable two-night stand at Wembley Stadium in London. This tour was a massive commercial success, eventually grossing nearly $400 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours by a female artist in history.
Ariana Grande: Sweetener World Tour
The Sweetener World Tour was a defining cultural moment of 2019. Supporting her albums Sweetener and Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande performed across North America and Europe. The tour kicked off in Albany, New York, in March 2019 and featured a headline set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, where she became the youngest artist ever to headline the festival.
The 2019 dates were notable for their aesthetic consistency—using a massive orb and minimalist stage design—and for the high demand for tickets following the success of her singles "7 rings" and "thank u, next." The tour concluded in December 2019 at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Rock and Heavy Metal Icons on the Road
While pop dominated the charts, veteran rock acts and heavy metal legends saw massive turnout for their 2019 schedules.
The Rolling Stones: No Filter Tour
The Rolling Stones continued their No Filter Tour in 2019, specifically focusing on North American stadiums. The tour faced a brief postponement in early 2019 due to Mick Jagger’s heart surgery, but it resumed in June with a triumphant return to Soldier Field in Chicago. The 2019 dates were a testament to the band's longevity, featuring a setlist of "greatest hits" that drew multi-generational audiences.
Metallica: WorldWired Tour
Metallica’s WorldWired Tour was in its fourth year during 2019. The 2019 schedule was particularly focused on the "European Summer Vacation" leg, which saw the band playing massive outdoor venues and stadiums across Europe. One of the most famous dates from this year was their performance at Slane Castle in Ireland in June 2019. The tour also visited Australia and New Zealand later that year, though the final 2019 dates were eventually postponed as James Hetfield entered a treatment program.
The Global Expansion of K-Pop: BTS
2019 was the year K-pop solidified its status as a stadium-level force in Western markets. BTS embarked on their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself tour, which was an extension of their previous world tour but upgraded to stadium venues.
The 2019 dates included historic stops at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and a sold-out two-night run at Wembley Stadium in London. This tour was a pivotal moment for international music, proving that non-English speaking acts could sell out the largest venues in the world.
Farewell Tours: Saying Goodbye in 2019
Several legendary acts utilized 2019 as a year for their final bows (though "final" in the music industry can sometimes be a flexible term).
- Elton John (Farewell Yellow Brick Road): Elton John spent the entirety of 2019 on his massive farewell tour. The 2019 legs covered Europe and North America, featuring a production that utilized high-resolution digital screens to tell the story of his career.
- Kiss (End of the Road World Tour): Kiss began their final tour in January 2019. The first year of the tour was characterized by their signature pyrotechnics and theatricality, visiting arenas across North America and Europe.
- Slayer (Final World Tour): The thrash metal legends Slayer officially concluded their career in November 2019 with a final show at the Forum in Los Angeles. Their 2019 tour dates were a high-intensity farewell to one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal.
Summary of Major 2019 Tour Revenues and Attendance
To understand the scale of the 2019 touring circuit, it is helpful to compare the data provided by industry analysts such as Pollstar and Billboard Boxscore.
| Artist | Tour Name | Key 2019 Regions | Estimated 2019 Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink | Beautiful Trauma | North America, Europe | $215 Million |
| Elton John | Farewell Yellow Brick Road | Global | $212 Million |
| Ed Sheeran | Divide Tour | Europe, South America | $211 Million |
| Metallica | WorldWired Tour | Europe, Australia | $175 Million |
| The Rolling Stones | No Filter Tour | North America | $177 Million |
| BTS | Speak Yourself | North America, Europe, Asia | $170 Million |
| Ariana Grande | Sweetener World Tour | North America, Europe | $146 Million |
How to Verify Historical 2019 Tour Dates
If you are looking for a specific concert date from 2019, several reliable archives exist. Whether you are checking for insurance claims, memorabilia verification, or personal nostalgia, these resources are the standard:
Official Artist Archives
Most major artists maintain a "Past Dates" or "Archive" section on their official websites. For example, Ed Sheeran's official site and Elton John's tour history provide chronologically listed dates, venues, and often the supporting acts that performed with them.
Fan-Sourced Databases (Setlist.fm)
Setlist.fm is one of the most comprehensive resources for 2019 tour dates. It provides not only the date and location but also the exact songs played, the time the artist took the stage, and fan comments regarding the performance. Because it is community-edited, it often contains smaller club dates and festival appearances that might be missing from corporate databases.
Industry Trade Publications
For professionals, Pollstar and Billboard are the primary sources for verified data. They provide "Boxscore" reports that include the number of tickets sold (attendance) versus the number of tickets available (capacity), as well as the total gross revenue for each specific 2019 date.
Major 2019 Music Festivals
Tour dates in 2019 were not limited to solo artist treks; the festival circuit was at its peak.
- Coachella (April 2019): Headlined by Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, and Ariana Grande.
- Glastonbury (June 2019): Featured Stormzy, The Killers, and The Cure as headliners.
- Lollapalooza (August 2019): Headlined by Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, and The Strokes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the highest-grossing tour of 2019?
While Ed Sheeran's Divide Tour holds the record for the highest-grossing tour overall, Pink's Beautiful Trauma World Tour was the highest-grossing individual tour specifically within the 2019 calendar year, according to Pollstar's 2019 Year-End reports.
Did Taylor Swift tour in 2019?
Taylor Swift did not have a traditional world tour in 2019. After concluding her Reputation Stadium Tour in late 2018, she spent 2019 promoting her album Lover. She performed at various one-off events, such as the Wango Tango festival, the Prime Day Concert, and the City of Lover concert in Paris, but she did not embark on a full tour that year.
How can I find the setlist for a 2019 concert?
The most reliable way to find a 2019 setlist is to use Setlist.fm. Search for the artist and the specific city or date. You can also find concert reviews in local newspapers from the day after the show, which often list highlights of the performance.
Were there any major tour cancellations in 2019?
Yes, notable cancellations included several dates of Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tours II due to health issues, and the postponement of the Rolling Stones' No Filter leg in the spring of 2019. Additionally, Metallica postponed their Australia and New Zealand dates in late 2019.
Who opened for Ariana Grande on her 2019 tour?
For the North American leg of the Sweetener World Tour, the primary opening acts were Normani and Social House. For the European leg, she was joined by Ella Mai and Social House.
Practical Recommendations for Researchers
If you are documenting 2019 tour dates for a publication or personal project in 2026, always cross-reference fan-sourced data (like Setlist.fm) with at least one official source (like an artist's archived website or a Billboard Boxscore). Discrepancies often occur with festival dates or "secret" warm-up shows. For high-fidelity research, checking the venue's own historical archives can provide the most accurate information regarding door times and local opening acts that may not have been part of the larger tour package.
