After 14 albums, 38 top 10 hits, 11 tours, and the esteemed title of biggest-selling female recording artist of all time, Madonna more than earned a victory lap.
That’s why her twelfth global jaunt –– a greatest-hits retrospective with nearly 80 shows across the globe dubbed “The Celebration Tour” –– is nothing short of iconic, historic, and well, celebratory.
The tour kicked off in October 2023 with a three-night run at the O2 Arena in London.
And with every show since, Madge has reminded us why she’s the Queen of Pop –– bringing fans to tears, reinventing iconic moments, and making headlines with special guests and off-the-cuff comments.
It’s no surprise that tickets sold out in record time. New Yorkers snatched up seats for three shows within 15 minutes; Parisians bought out the arena in under seven minutes, and tickets for London’s first two shows were gone within 20 minutes.
Fittingly, in 2023, Rolling Stone dubbed it “one of the most popular shows of both this and next year.”
If you weren’t able to see the herstory-making spectacle in person, worry not.
Ahead of its expected closing show in Mexico City this April, we’re diving into the lore, history, and preparation behind Madonna’s most ambitious (and successful) tour ever.
Here are 25 fascinating facts about Madonna’s Celebration Tour.
wooly101
Did you see the video Madonna insulting a disabled fan because he was sitting in his wheelchair and not standning. The woman has issues with reality.
[email protected]
She didn’t realize the lady was in a wheelchair. She apologized immediately.
Gabby
Dude You clearly did not see the video because it was a girl not a guy in a wheelchair. Madonna has built her career on getting people to get up and dance. She made a mistake and apologized. I was there and the woman was ushered backstage to meet Madonna after the show. The fan has since come out and said she has no issues with Madonna’s innocent mistake, why should you?
storm45701
Oh no, she made a mistake. How awful. She should be tarred and feathered, right? Madonna apologized and the fan forgave her. Thus, end of story. People are fallible, even celebrities. People have got to STOP jumping to instant cancellation. Move on.
sam83
And the fan didn’t care and said Madge couldn’t see her
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-fan-wheelchair-responds-1235635183/amp/
Gabby
I have seen the show twice, one of my favourite concert experiences.
storm45701
I would argue that “Express Yourself” is one of Madonna’s top five overall hits (with “Vogue”, “Like A Virgin”, “Into the Groove”, and “Like A Prayer” taking the other four spots) so it’s strange it wasn’t included in the original set list. I’m glad they rectified this error.
Mr.Gavin Elster
As far as the real, young generation: the kids under 40, that go to Coachella, Burning Man and download the “new” music, Madonna is sort of what Rudy Vallee was to the Beatles generation. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Rudy could get a 1920’s “kollege krowd” on their feet, singing through a megaphone! He was the bee’s knees. I guess Madge could take the semi-classy Marlene Deitrich or Mae West route? But she doesn’t need the money.