Ed Sheeran launched the Australian leg of his Loop Tour at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, with two scheduled performances over the weekend. The concerts marked Sheeran's first return to the venue in three years, with projections for over 55,000 attendees at each show. The tour is set to continue across major Australian cities following the Perth engagement.
Sheeran's Loop Tour commenced in Perth with projections for over 55,000 attendees at each show, marking his first return to Optus Stadium in three years.
Perth Engagement: Loop Tour Kicks Off
Sheeran's Australian tour commenced on Saturday night at Optus Stadium, playing to a crowd of over 55,000 people. His set began with "You Need Me, I Don't Need You," where he utilized a second stage before moving to the main performance area via a bridge. The main stage featured a large LED screen displaying various graphics.
During his performance, Sheeran addressed the audience, acknowledging their enthusiastic turnout and expressing satisfaction with Perth as the tour's starting point.
The setlist included "Sapphire," which featured pyrotechnics, and "A Team," the story behind which Sheeran recounted after a minor technical issue with his loop machine. Other songs performed in the initial act included "Castle on a Hill," "Shivers," and "Don't." Merchandise was available for purchase within the Optus Stadium precinct, with many attendees seen wearing tour-related items. Some fans reportedly began queuing as early as 10 am for the event.
Supporting acts for the Perth shows included Australian artists Vance Joy and Mia Wray, alongside the Irish all-female group BIIRD.
Optus Stadium: A History of Records
These performances marked Sheeran's return to Optus Stadium three years after his last visit, following recent tour dates in New Zealand. Optus Stadium Chief Executive Mike McKenna highlighted Sheeran's historical connection with the venue, noting that his March 2018 concerts were the first ever held there, drawing over 58,000 attendees and setting early attendance records.
Sheeran previously set a State ticketed event record on March 12, 2023, with 73,092 attendees at a single Optus Stadium performance. This stands as the largest ticketed event in Western Australian history.
Sheeran holds the record for the largest ticketed event in Western Australian history, attracting 73,092 attendees at Optus Stadium on March 12, 2023.
The current tour's stage configuration involves a standard, front-facing setup. This differs from his 2023 performance, which utilized an in-the-round stage allowing for 360-degree viewing and higher total attendance due to an extended general admission floor.
Attendance figures from other major concerts at Optus Stadium include AC/DC's two Perth performances, which attracted a total of 97,000 attendees in December of the previous year, and Coldplay's Music of the Spheres performances in 2023, which saw 65,562 and 66,458 attendees on November 18 and 19, respectively.
Album "Play" and Future Tour Dates
Reports on the release date of Sheeran's eighth studio album, titled "Play," vary. One source indicates it is scheduled for release in September 2025, while another states it was released in September of the previous year, with his Loop tour commencing three months later. Sheeran has also been listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
Following the Perth engagement, Sheeran's Australian tour itinerary includes three shows each in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, concluding with a single performance in Adelaide on March 5.