The Weeknd ignites Strawberry Arena with dazzling visual effects and emotional highs

The Weeknd arrives at Strawberry Arena with a show that certainly doesn't work with small gestures.

The stage is built on several levels and extends into a long ramp over the arena floor. On one part stands a gigantic gold-colored statue firing green laser beams over the audience. Add fire, fireworks, heavy smoke, and a lighting rig that constantly changes the arena's atmosphere.

The audience also becomes part of the show. Everyone has received LED wristbands that light up during the concert, and when thousands of small lights shine simultaneously, Strawberry Arena transforms into a vast sea of light. It looks really impressive.

Tonight I've chosen to stand on the floor among the fans. Partly to experience the concert from the audience's perspective, and partly to observe reactions up close when The Weeknd launches into the big hits and the show levels up.

At the very front by the security barrier, I also think the sound is really good. The vocals come through clearly, and there's plenty of punch in the music without the bass taking over. I've stood in the front row at enough concerts where the sound gets much muddier than this, so here the production definitely gets a plus.

The audience is engaged from the first moment, and for large parts of the concert, it's a complete singalong. With songs like "Starboy", "Take My Breath", "Can't Feel My Face", "The Hills", "I Feel It Coming", and "Die for You", there's plenty of material Strawberry Arena recognizes instantly.

But 38 songs is a lot.

I notice several times during the evening that the concert falls into something of a lull. It's not bad, but the energy drops and I lose a bit of that feeling of constantly wanting to know what will come next.

Luckily, that usually doesn't last long. The Weeknd often needs only to bring out the next big chorus to get Strawberry Arena going again.

The Weeknd also seems to be enjoying the reception.

"Stockholm, I love you," he says several times throughout the evening.

Eventually, he flips it and asks if Stockholm loves him back.

The thunderous roar that follows leaves little room for doubt.

When the arena show becomes personal

One of the evening's finest moments comes when The Weeknd goes all the way down to the barrier. There he hands the microphone to a girl at the very front and lets her take over the singing in front of the whole arena.

He then continues along the front row, literally shaking hands with visitor after visitor.

I stand at the very front myself, and it's precisely moments like these that make a difference. In the midst of a production where almost everything is gigantic, the direct connection with the audience becomes something entirely different.

On stage, dancers in red robes and gold masks also move. Combined with heavy smoke that sometimes covers the stage floor and the dark lighting, parts of the concert take on an almost ceremonial feel.

I find it refreshing to see a major arena production where the dancers' visual expression isn't based on undress. The red robes, gold masks, and choreography are more than enough to create a strong visual impression and fit very well into The Weeknd's dark stage world.

The Weeknd also uses the entire enormous stage setup. He moves from the main stage all the way to the far end of the long ramp, thus coming closer to the audience in other parts of the arena.

At regular intervals, large pillars of fire shoot up from the stage, and the heat is palpable where I am at the front. At other times, smoke lies thick over the stage floor, changing the scene's entire feel.

There's always something happening visually, but not every moment needs to hit you over the head with the next big effect.

Playboi Carti enters

About halfway through the concert, The Weeknd is joined on stage by Playboi Carti.

Together, they perform "Timeless" and "Rather Lie".

For me, it's a welcome break in the long setlist. It brings a different energy to the stage and gives the concert a little spark before The Weeknd continues through his immense song catalog.

It's also needed on a night where the pace ebbs and flows.

"Save Your Tears" awakens the whole arena

In the latter part of the concert, some of the moments I believe work best arrive.

When "Save Your Tears" begins, Strawberry Arena truly comes alive. It's complete singalong and suddenly it feels like everyone in the arena is participating.

Then comes "Less Than Zero" before it's time for "Blinding Lights".

Before "Blinding Lights", the laser lights sweep across the arena, building the atmosphere before the first familiar notes play.

Then, not much more is needed, really.

The entire Strawberry Arena sings.

But for me, one of the evening's strongest moments actually comes after the song.

The Weeknd remains, visibly moved as he takes in the audience's reaction. A tear or two slips out.

"Stockholm, I love you."

After a night of immense amounts of technology and effects, suddenly none of it is needed at all.

Just him and the audience are enough.

Strawberry Arena fills with blue balloons

After "Without a Warning", The Weeknd leaves the stage.

The lights go out and Strawberry Arena lies in darkness. About half a minute later, a single beam of light breaks through.

There he stands again.

When "House of Balloons" starts, the arena fills with gigantic blue balloons bouncing over the audience.

Filling the arena with balloons during a song called "House of Balloons" might not be the evening's most subtle idea, but I like it. After so much dark scenography, it becomes a much more playful feature and, above all, it looks really cool when the enormous blue balloons bounce over the sea of people.

"Moth to a Flame" ends it all

After 37 songs, only one remains.

"Moth to a Flame" closes the night and there's no reason to hold back. The light show ramps up another notch, fire erupts from the stage, and fireworks burst around the set.

It's fully maxed out.

When the last notes fade, the drummer tosses his sticks to the crowd and after 38 songs, the concert is over.

And I leave Strawberry Arena with somewhat mixed feelings.

The Weeknd has a song catalog that very few artists can match. When "Save Your Tears" and "Blinding Lights" get an entire arena singing together, it's hard not to get swept away.

But I can't shake the feeling that 38 songs is a lot. I think the concert would have benefited from being trimmed somewhat. Some of the sections where the energy dips could have disappeared without the show losing anything. Perhaps quite the contrary.

What's also interesting is that some of the moments that stay with me the most aren't about the big effects.

It's the girl at the very front who gets the microphone.

It's The Weeknd walking along the barrier, holding hands with us in the front row.

It's how visibly moved he becomes after "Blinding Lights".

And it's the moment when "Save Your Tears" starts, and Strawberry Arena suddenly comes alive.

But of course, there's also everything else.

The gigantic statue. The dancers in their red robes and gold masks. The LED wristbands lighting up the arena. The fire felt on your face at the very front. The blue balloons bouncing over the crowd.

When the songs, the audience, and the whole stage setup hit the right note simultaneously, I stand there at the front and really only think one thing:

This is damn powerful.

Note: The photos in this article are from previous The Weeknd concerts and were not taken during the show at Strawberry Arena.

Video from Strawberry Arena, August 9, 2026. Courtesy of XO Records. Filmed by Evan Larsen.