The 2018 USA tour brought Adele to arenas across the country, marking her first full US stadium run in over a decade. Fans celebrated a rare chance to hear classics alongside newer material from her album 25.
Each show balanced emotional ballads and powerful anthems, supported by a stripped-down band and gospel choir. This tour exemplified premium live pop, with strong demand driving multiple resales and record-setting grosses.
| Date | City | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-29 | Los Angeles, CA | Rose Bowl | 98,000 |
| 2018-07-04 | Foxborough, MA | Gillette Stadium | 52,000 |
| 2018-07-14 | Minneapolis, MN | U.S. Bank Stadium | 48,000 |
| 2018-07-22 | East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium | 80,000 |
| 2018-08-02 | Chicago, IL | Soldier Field | 60,000 |
Adele Live 20172018 US Setlist Highlights
Opening Medley and Signature Hits
The show opened with a surging band introduction before diving into "Rolling in the Deep" and "Rumour Has It," immediately setting anthemic expectations. Slow builds into "When We Were Young" and intimate verses of "Hello" balanced the set between power and vulnerability.
Encore Moments and Fan Favorites
Encore segments featured emotional calls for singalongs on tracks like "Someone Like You" and closing fireworks on "Set Fire to the Rain." These moments consistently generated peak audience energy and standing ovations.
Concert Production and Stage Design
Production focused on clean visuals, with sweeping LED walls conveying cinematic backdrops while a minimal drum and piano setup kept attention on Adele's voice. Spotlights and subtle pyro highlighted key choruses without overpowering the performance.
Sound engineering emphasized warm midrange clarity, ensuring ballads felt close and cathartic even in large stadiums. Crew changes between band members maintained tight musical cohesion across all US dates.
Ticket Demand and Secondary Market
On-sale windows saw rapid sell-out at major venues, with bots and high-volume buyers challenging casual fans. Secondary listings routinely showed premium pricing well above face value, particularly for dates in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Promoters added extra shows in response to demand, including notable evenings in Chicago and the emotional Foxborough date near Independence Day. Scalper activity peaked around celebrity sightings and rumored surprise songs.
Setlist Patterns Across US Dates
While the main set remained largely consistent, Adele occasionally rotated between "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" and rarer tracks to keep regulars engaged. Band introductions varied nightly, offering small but noticeable differences for attendees who followed along closely.
Key Takeaways from the 2018 US Tour
- Sold-out stadium dates across major US markets demonstrated enduring demand for Adele's catalog.
- Minimalist staging emphasized vocal performance and emotional lyric delivery over spectacle.
- Consistent setlist patterns allowed for reliable singalongs while still leaving room for live surprises.
- Secondary market premiums highlighted the challenge for fans seeking accessible ticket pricing.
- Strong production values and clear sound engineering ensured every seat felt close to the stage.
FAQ
Reader questions
Were there surprise songs during the shows?
Yes, several nights featured spontaneous covers, including classics like "I Will Always Love You" and festival anthems that shifted energy in the moment.
What was the typical stadium seating arrangement?
Most US venues used end-stage configurations with center sections closest to the band, providing clear sightlines but limiting lower bowl availability in some arenas.
Did Adele interact with the audience between songs?
She frequently shared candid stories and thanked fans for their patience, creating a conversational tone that contrasted with the intensity of her vocals. Shows typically ran around two hours, including a short intermission, with the first act focusing on deeper cuts and the second on maximal anthems.