Guide to concerts in 2026

The best concerts to attend this year

Zoe Cohen, Opinion Editor

February 11, 2026

Bruno Mars official tour poster (Courtesy of Bruno Mars)

From small venues to sold-out stadiums, the Greater Washington area is hosting all types of concerts this spring and summer. Experiencing live music is a unique opportunity and brings fans together with shared anticipation, as many popular artists are touring and performing on local stages. Here are some upcoming concerts to keep on your radar this year:

Upcoming Concerts in 2026

Lady Gaga kicking off her tour in Las Vegas, NV (Courtesy of Lady Gaga Now)

Lady Gaga "Mayhem Ball" Tour

On March 23 and 24 at Capital One Arena in D.C., Lady Gaga will continue her “Mayhem Ball” tour, performing songs from her most recent album, “Mayhem.” At the 2026 Grammys, Gaga’s work had seven nominations and won the Best Pop Vocal Album category, along with the Best Dance Pop Recording, for her song “Abracadabra”.

With an opener-less show, Gaga will only be performing her own hit songs on stage, such as “Poker Face,” “Paparazzi” and “Bad Romance.” With ticket prices ranging from $385 to $1,450, both nights of the tour are selling out quickly.

Bruno Mars official tour poster (Courtesy of Bruno Mars)

Bruno Mars "Romantic Tour"

For his first global headline tour in nearly a decade, Bruno Mars will be performing on May 2 and 3 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. “The Romantic Tour” setlist will feature some of Mars’ classic hits, along with new songs from his upcoming album “The Romantic,” releasing on Feb. 27, with tickets costing between $160 to $400+.

Select songs of the tour will feature Anderson Paak, Mars’ opener and former work partner. The duo, known as Silk Sonic, released their Grammy-winning hit “Leave the Door Open” in 2021. Their 2021 album, “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” is known for its R&B style and 1970s funk and similar genres are predicted to appear in Mars’ new album.

“The Great Divide” album cover (Courtesy of Noah Kahan)

Noah Kahan "The Great Divide" album

The hit folk-pop artist, Noah Kahan, recently announced his upcoming album, “The Great Divide,” which will be released on April 24 and accompanied by a summer-long tour. On July 22, Kahan will be performing at Nationals Park in D.C., with Gigi Perez as the opening act. Kahan recently announced his North American tour on Feb. 2, with presale tickets available on Feb. 15.

Pitbull is back. (Courtesy of Pitbull)

Pitbull's "I'm Back Tour"

At Jiffy Lube Live in Gainesville, Virginia, the famous hip-hop singer Pitbull will be performing again this summer, as he did last year. Pitbull will be touring an end-of-summer show on Aug. 19, with tickets ranging from $105 to $585. This large outdoor venue is perfect for enjoying the warm weather.

Pitbull’s “I’m Back Tour” will be at stages across the country, featuring guest rapper Lil Jon and opener, DJ Laz. The set list will include some of Pitbull’s hit songs from the 2000s-2010s, including “Hotel Room Service,” “Give Me Everything” and “Don’t Stop the Party.”

Whether it’s a small venue or a stadium, concerts offer a great opportunity to connect with music in a way that streaming cannot compare. From pop and hip-hop to R&B and folk, there is a wide range of live concerts at local venues in the Greater Washington area, making them a great activity to look forward to in the upcoming months.

About the Contributor

Zoe Cohen, Opinion Editor

Zoe is a member of the class of 2028 and serves as a current opinion editor. She joined the paper as a freshman and previously served as a reporter. Her favorite piece that she has written for the Lion’s Tale is “Opinion: Legacy college admission should be stopped.” Outside of the publication, Zoe is her class treasurer, president of the Steminism club, and volunteers at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and watching movies.

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Guide to concerts in 2026

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