The highest-grossing world tours of 2025 have been revealed, offering a clear snapshot of which artists dominated the global live music industry — and once again, Ireland played a pivotal role in some of the most iconic moments in touring history.
According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Coldplay topped the global rankings, grossing an extraordinary $464.9 million (approximately £347.6 million) between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025. The British band’s dominance is particularly familiar to Irish audiences, with Coldplay long viewing Ireland as one of their most reliable and passionate touring territories. Their previous Irish shows — including sell-out nights at Croke Park and multiple dates at Slane Castle — are still widely regarded as some of the band’s strongest live performances.
Coldplay’s success marks their fourth consecutive year in the Top 5, driven by the sprawling Music of the Spheres Tour, which has now grossed more than $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) and sold an estimated 13.1 million tickets globally. That figure makes it the highest-attended concert tour in history, with further dates already teased for 2027.
While Coldplay dominated 2025, no discussion of iconic touring moments in Ireland can ignore Oasis at Croke Park — still considered the gold standard for live music events in the country. Their landmark shows in Dublin in the 1990s remain a cultural touchstone, often cited by promoters and artists alike as proof that Ireland can host events on par with the world’s biggest markets. To this day, Croke Park remains one of the most coveted venues in Europe, capable of transforming a tour date into a defining career moment.
Ireland’s importance is also reflected in the continued success of artists like Beyoncé, who placed second in 2025 with her Cowboy Carter Tour, grossing $407.6 million (£304.6 million). Her past Irish appearances, including sold-out shows at Aviva Stadium, demonstrated the country’s appetite for large-scale pop spectacles. Similarly, Ed Sheeran, who came ninth this year with $214.5 million, has built an almost unmatched relationship with Irish fans, having played everything from intimate venues to marathon runs at Croke Park, and most recently, his secret gig in the RDS.
@joedotie "This is where it all began" Ed Sheeran played a secret gig for some of his top fans in Dublin's RDS last night. The singer-songwriter's top listeners on Spotify got sent an email yesterday afternoon with details of the intimate set. During the gig, Ed revealed the reason why he wanted to play this gig in Dublin #ireland #dublin #irish #edsheeran @spotifyuk ♬ original sound - JOE.ie
Hip-hop, pop, and alternative genres also continue to thrive in Ireland. Tours by Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Post Malone, and Imagine Dragons have all included Irish dates in recent years, often selling out within minutes. These shows consistently generate major economic boosts for Dublin and regional cities, with hotels, transport, and hospitality sectors benefiting from touring influxes.
The 2025 tour rankings highlight a broader trend: Ireland is no longer just a stopover — it’s a cornerstone market. From Oasis’ legendary Croke Park shows to Coldplay’s record-breaking runs and Beyoncé’s stadium spectacles, Irish crowds have helped shape touring history. As global tours grow fewer but larger, Ireland’s role as a must-play destination looks stronger than ever.
The Top 10 highest-grossing music tours of 2025:
Coldplay – $464.9 million
Beyoncé – $407.6 million
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – $358.7 million
The Weeknd – $336.7 million
Shakira – $327.4 million
Chris Brown – $248.7 million
Imagine Dragons – $241.6 million
Post Malone – $231.2 million
Ed Sheeran – $214.5 million
Stray Kids – $185.7 million
2026 is shaping up to be a hell of a year, concert-wise, with the most iconic dates planned for June - Bon Jovi, Florence + The Machine, Paul Weller, Kodaline and Richard Ashcrof, just to name a few. Will Coldplay hold their number one spot of the highest-grossing tour for 2026? Only time will tell...
