Live music has never been bigger — or more profitable. With streaming reshaping the music industry, artists have turned touring into a global phenomenon, and the numbers are staggering. From Taylor Swift’s record-shattering Eras Tour to Coldplay’s ongoing Music of the Spheres World Tour, these are the tours that have rewritten the economics of live entertainment.
The concert industry’s modern boom traces back decades, but it’s in the 21st century that revenues truly skyrocketed. The first tours to break $100 million were Michael Jackson’s Bad World Tour and Pink Floyd’s Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour in the late 1980s, setting the stage for today’s billion-dollar juggernauts. In 2023, Taylor Swift became the first artist to cross $1 billion in gross revenue, before closing The Eras Tour in December 2024 with a jaw-dropping $2.07 billion — the first tour in history to surpass $2 billion.
Close behind, Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour continues to draw massive crowds worldwide, officially passing the $1.5 billion mark in 2024 with shows still ongoing. Elton John’s five-year farewell trek, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, ranks third, earning $939 million across 330 shows, cementing his final bow as one of the most successful tours ever staged.
Other heavy hitters include Ed Sheeran’s two consecutive top-grossing tours (+−=÷× and ÷), U2’s 360° Tour — which redefined stadium production design — and Bruce Springsteen’s marathon E Street Band Tour, which continues through 2025. Meanwhile, The Weeknd’s futuristic After Hours til Dawn Tour and Harry Styles’ fan-favorite Love On Tour highlight the power of pop to move both hearts and ticket sales.
From the road warriors of classic rock to the pop icons of today, these artists have turned live performance into both art and empire.
Top 10 Highest-Grossing Tours of All Time:
- Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour (2023–2024) – $2,077,618,725
- Coldplay – Music of the Spheres World Tour † (2022–2025) – $1,524,423,680
- Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road (2018–2023) – $939,100,000
- Ed Sheeran – +−=÷× Tour (2022–2025) – $875,700,000
- Ed Sheeran – ÷ Tour (2017–2019) – $776,200,000
- U2 – 360° Tour (2009–2011) – $736,421,586
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – 2023–2025 Tour (2023–2025) – $729,700,000
- The Weeknd – After Hours til Dawn Tour † (2022–2025) – $635,500,000
- Harry Styles – Love On Tour (2021–2023) – $617,325,000
- Pink – Summer Carnival (2023–2024) – $584,700,000