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NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Why Ed Sheeran's return to New Zealand for Loop tour hits all the right notes
The tour announcement was made at a private media event in Sydney this week, held at the Lord Dudley Hotel in Paddington, which had been completely transformed into the 'Old Phone Pub' for the occasion – a nostalgic nod to the album's lead single. Complete with retro signage and classic British pub charm. The upcoming New Zealand shows promise all-new stage production, immersive visuals, and of course, those intimate acoustic moments that Sheeran does like no one else. It's been said that Play draws inspiration from Indian, Persian and Irish musical traditions. Somehow, that global influence makes perfect sense for an artist who's as comfortable on a stage in London as he is hiding out in little New Zealand. 'I love New Zealand,' Sheeran said to a pub full of music journalists. 'Every time I'm in New Zealand, I keep saying to my wife we should move here, and then we get back home and realise it's a long way from family. But I love touring New Zealand, and it's more of an excuse to be there for a month as well, rather than just be there for a weekend.' Sheeran's soft spot for New Zealand is no secret. He's called Wellington his favourite city, and over the years he's even slipped away here with his young family – without fuss. But there's something quite special about his return to Christchurch too, a full 11 years since he last played there. 'I remember the first time playing in Christchurch, just being excited that I was playing outside of the two major big cities – and I felt the same thing when we played Dunedin,' Sheeran recalled. 'I'm from a place like that, so it feels special when music tours go to places that aren't necessarily like the capital city.' The timing couldn't be better. Kiwis are hungry for live music, especially post-pandemic, and Sheeran remains one of the rare global artists who can fill a stadium while making it feel like a jam session in your lounge. There's no doubt that tickets will vanish quickly – and rightly so. It's hard to explain Sheeran's magic to anyone who hasn't witnessed it live. It's the way he loops himself into a one-man symphony. It's the awkward charm, the feeling that somehow, even from the back of Mt Smart, he's singing just to you. Despite the massive stages, chart-topping records and global fame, Sheeran still approaches music with the same sense of joy and humility that made him a star in the first place. That human connection. For him, success is only about doing what he loves, on his own terms. 'I think the biggest success that I've had in my life is doing a job that I love,' Sheeran said. 'Music is an enjoyable thing – it shouldn't ever feel like a job or a chore.' In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, Ed Sheeran's return to New Zealand feels like a reminder of what music can do: bring us together. And Kiwis have always shown up for Ed. Brin Rudkin travelled to Sydney courtesy of Frontier Touring. Ed Sheeran: The Loop Tour NZ Auckland - Friday, January 16 - Go Media Stadium Wellington - Wednesday, January 21 - Sky Stadium Christchurch - Saturday, January 24 - Apollo Projects Stadium Frontier Members can access presale tickets from Monday, July 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public from Tuesday, July 29. For full tour and ticket information, visit
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Ed Sheeran excitedly announces Australian tour at virtual Sydney press conference
After much speculation, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he will return to Australia for his all-new Loop Tour in 2026. The global superstar will perform eight massive shows at stadiums across the country in January, February and March next year, performing in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. He will also perform three shows in New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The live shows promise to be filled with surprises and new music, as well as his biggest hits. Sheeran himself excitedly shared the news with Aussies at a virtual press conference on Tuesday, dialling in from London to the Lord Dudley Hotel in Sydney's Woollahra. The iconic Lord Dudley Hotel was transformed into the 'Old Phone Pub' for the day – a pop-up pub concept created by Sheeran that first featured in the music video for his new track Old Phone, which is the lead single from his upcoming album Play, out September 12. Sheeran was last in Australia in 2023 for his sold-out Mathematics Tour, which sold more than 1 million tickets across Australia and New Zealand. His previous, Divide Tour in 2018, currently holds the record for the highest-selling tour in Australasian history with 1.1 million tickets sold. The announcement comes after weeks after Sheeran hinted that a tour Down Under was imminent. In June, the four-time Grammy winner posted a TikTok of himself sightseeing in Madrid, Spain, during a break in touring. 'Came to Madrid for the shows, stayed for the vibes,' he captioned the video at the time. When a fan randomly commented on the TikTok, 'How does coming back to Australia soon sound to you?' Sheeran replied, 'Start of 2026.' It took a few weeks, but the singer finally gave confirmation today, with tickets to his highly anticipated shows going on sale on Tuesday, July 29. Ed Sheeran – The Loop Tour 2026 tickets and Australian and New Zealand dates Telstras Plus Member Pre-sale (AU shows) via Runs 48 hours from Friday, July 25. Frontier Member Pre-sale via Runs 24 hours from Monday, July 28. Tickets sales begin: Tuesday, July 29 (times staggered, see below): GO Media Stadium, Auckland – Friday, January 16 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (2pm NZST) Sky Stadium, Wellington – Wednesday, January 21 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (1pm NZST) Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch – Saturday 24 January On sale: Tuesday 29 July (4pm NZST) Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Saturday, January 31 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (3pm AWST) Accor Stadium, Sydney – Friday, February 13 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (1pm AEST) Accor Stadium, Sydney – Saturday, February 14 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (1pm AEST) Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Friday, February 20 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (4pm AEST) Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Saturday, February 21 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (4pm AEST) Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – Thursday, February 26 On sale: Tuesday 29 July (3pm AEST) Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – Friday, February 27 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – Thursday, March 5
