List of highest grossing concert tours
Encyclopedia
This is an incomplete list of the highest-grossing concert tours. Some of the gross may be higher than reported on this list because not all concerts are reported. Only tours using reliable references have been added to the list.
Note that the inflation-adjusted ranking is only of tours listed here because of highest actual gross. Some older tours, such as Bruce Springsteen
's 1984–1985 Born in the U.S.A. Tour
, which grossed between $80 million and $90 million at the time, would be between about $190 million and $210 million in 2010 terms, and thus place on the list as well.
| Rank | Actual gross | Inflation (adjusted gross) |
Artist | Tour name | Year(s) | Shows | Attendance | Average gross (millions) |
Average attendance |
Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $736,137,344 | $ | U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
U2 360° Tour U2 360° Tour The U2 360° Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon, the tour visited stadiums from 2009 through 2011. It was named for a stage configuration that allowed the audience to almost completely surround the stage... |
2009–11 | 110 | 7,268,430 | 6.7 | 66,076 | |
| 2 | $558,255,524 | $ | 2005–07 | 144 | 4,680,000 | 3.8 | 32,500 | |||
| 3 | $441,121,000 | $ | AC/DC AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"... |
Black Ice World Tour Black Ice World Tour Black Ice World Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by Australian rock band AC/DC in support of the group's 15th studio album, Black Ice, which was released in October 2008. The tour was the band's first since the Stiff Upper Lip World Tour in 2000/2001.The jaunt began in Wilkes-Barre,... |
2008–10 | 167 | 4,846,965 | 2.6 | 29,023 | |
| 4 | $407,713,266 | $ | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
Sticky & Sweet Tour Sticky & Sweet Tour The Sticky & Sweet Tour was the eighth worldwide concert tour by American singer Madonna to promote her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It began in August 2008 and was Madonna's first tour from her new recording and business deal with Live Nation. The tour was announced in February 2008, with... |
2008–09 | 85 | 3,545,899 | 4.79 | 41,716 | |
| 5 | $389,047,636 | $ | Vertigo Tour Vertigo Tour The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006. The Vertigo Tour consisted of five legs that alternated between indoor arena shows in... |
2005–06 | 131 | 4,619,021 | 2.96 | 35,259 | ||
| 6 | $365,000,000 | $ | / | 2010-11 | 139 | 3,409,837 | 2.5 | 25,434 | ||
| 7 | $358,825,665 | $ | 2007–08 | 156 | 3,300,912 | 2.3 | 21,160 | |||
| 8 | $336,017,048 | $ | / | 1997–99 | 143 | 5,576,032 | 2.3 | 38,993 | ||
| 9 | $316,365,576 | $ | 1994–95 | 124 | 6,336,776 | 2.6 | 51,103 | |||
| 10 | $299,520,230 | $ | 2002–03 | 115 | 3,470,945 | 2.6 | 30,182 | |||
| 11 | $279,200,000 | $ | Taking Chances Tour Taking Chances Tour Taking Chances World Tour is the ninth concert tour by Canadian singer Céline Dion, in support of her 2007 studio albums, D'elles and Taking Chances. The tour marked the return of Dion after performing her groundbreaking show A New Day... in Las Vegas for five years. The tour visited Africa, Asia,... |
2008–09 | 132 | 3,000,000 | 2.9 | 27,424 | ||
| 12 | $260,000,000 | $ | Cher Cher Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in... |
Living Proof: The Farewell Tour Living Proof: The Farewell Tour Living Proof: The Farewell Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer, Cher. The tour supported her twenty-fourth studio album, Living Proof and eleventh compilation album, The Very Best of Cher... |
2002–05 | 325 | 3,500,000 | 0.8 | 10,800 | |
| 13 | $251,112,882 | $ | Eagles | Long Road Out Of Eden Tour | 2008–11 | 155 | 2,001,773 | 1.6 | 12,915 | |
| 14 | $250,000,000 | $ | Pink Floyd Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially... |
The Division Bell Tour The Division Bell tour The Division Bell Tour was a concert tour by British rock band Pink Floyd in 1994 to support their album The Division Bell. In 1995 the band released the live album Pulse to commemorate the tour, which would turn out to be the final Pink Floyd tour, although members of the band have continued to... |
1994 | 110 | 5,500,000 | 2.3 | 45,000 | |
| 15 | $235,000,000 | $ | Magic Tour Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen) The Magic Tour was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2007–2008 concert tour of North America and Western Europe.The tour began October 2, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut, and concluded August 30, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin... |
2007–08 | 100 | 2,198,353 | 2.4 | 21,983 | ||
| 16 | $227,400,000 | $ | Lady Gaga Lady GaGa Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to... |
The Monster Ball Tour The Monster Ball Tour The Monster Ball Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American recording artist Lady Gaga. Staged in support of her album The Fame Monster and comprising a set list of songs from that and her debut album The Fame , the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 2009 through 2011... |
2009–11 | 201 | 2,500,000 | 1.14 | 12,250 | |
| 17 | $221,500,000 | $ | 2002–03 | 120 | 3,232,384 | 1.8 | 31,081 | |||
| 18 | $217,245,629 | $ | Metallica Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ... |
World Magnetic Tour World Magnetic Tour World Magnetic Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by American heavy metal band Metallica in support of the group's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic, which was released in September 2008.... |
2008–10 | 187 | 2,699,211 | 1.4 | 16,976 | |
| 19 | $210,650,974 | $ | Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... |
Lost Highway Tour Lost Highway Tour The Lost Highway Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi, that took place from October 2007 to July 2008 in support of their tenth studio album Lost Highway... |
2007–08 | 99 | 2,157,675 | 2.1 | 21,794 | |
| 20 | $194,754,447 | $ | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
Confessions Tour Confessions Tour Confessions Tour was the seventh concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It supported her tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Madonna confirmed the possibility of going out on a tour as early as November 2005. Jamie King, Madonna's longtime collaborator, was then hired on... |
2006 | 60 | 1,210,294 | 3.2 | 20,171 | |
| 21 | $191,000,000 | $ | Roger Waters Roger Waters George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter... |
The Wall | 2010-11 | 120 | 1,671,360 | 1.6 | 13,264 | |
| 22 | $171,677,024 | $ | PopMart Tour Popmart Tour The PopMart Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 1997 album, Pop, the tour's concerts were performed in stadiums and parks from 1997 through 1998... |
1997–98 | 93 | 3,935,936 | 1.8 | 42,322 | ||
| 23 | $167,000,000 | $ | Working On A Dream Tour Working on a Dream Tour The Working on a Dream Tour was a concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which began in April 2009 and ended in November 2009... |
2009 | 80 | 1,831,770 | 2.1 | 22,897 | ||
| 24 | $165,000,000 | $ | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
HIStory World Tour HIStory World Tour The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts and was attended by approximately 4.5 million fans, beating his previous Bad Tour... |
1996-97 | 82 | 4,507,900 | 2.0 | 54,878 | |
| 25 | $151,000,000 | $ | Zoo TV Tour Zoo TV Tour The Zoo TV Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Staged in support of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1992 through 1993... |
1992–93 | 157 | 5,350,554 | 0.96 | 34,080 | ||
| 26 | $150,000,000 | $ | Funhouse Tour Funhouse Tour The Funhouse Tour was the fourth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Pink. The tour supported her fifth studio album, Funhouse. The tour visited Europe, Australia and North America.... |
2009–10 | 163 | 2,331,756 | 1.3 | 21,461 | ||
| 27 | $142,844,463 | $ | Elevation Tour Elevation Tour The Elevation Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind, the tour visited arenas in 2001. After the band's previous two extravagant stadium tours, Zoo TV and PopMart, the Elevation Tour returned the... |
2001 | 112 | 2,162,282 | 1.3 | 19,306 | ||
| 28 | $141,000,000 | $ | Soul2Soul II Tour | 2006–07 | 117 | 1,673,667 | 1.2 | 14,304 | ||
| 29 | $135,000,000 | $ | Pink Floyd Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially... |
A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour | 1988–89 | 199 | 4,250,000 | 0.68 | 21,250 | |
| 30 | $131,388,461 | $ | Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... |
Have A Nice Day Tour Have a Nice Day Tour The Have a Nice Day Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi. It took place between November 2005 and July 2006 and commenced two months after the release of their ninth studio album Have a Nice Day.... |
2005-06 | 78 | 1,823,834 | 1.7 | 23,382 | |
| 31 | $131,800,000 | $ | Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album... |
The Circus Starring Britney Spears | 2009 | 97 | 1,500,000 | 1.4 | 15,488 | |
| 34 | $129,059,653 | $ | Genesis Genesis (band) Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years... |
Turn It On Again: The Tour Turn It on Again: The Tour Turn It On Again: The Tour was a 2007 concert tour of Europe and North America by progressive rock band Genesis. The tour was notable for the return of drummer and vocalist Phil Collins, who left the group in 1996.-History:... |
2007 | 46 | 1,262,393 | 2.8 | 27,443 | |
| 35 | $126,000,000 | $ | Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America... |
Speak Now World Tour Speak Now World Tour Speak Now World Tour is the second concert tour by American country singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift, in support of her third studio album, Speak Now. The tour visited Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia... |
2011-12 | 94 | 1,700,000 | 1.3 | 18,085 | |
| 36 | $125,000,000 | $ | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
Bad World Tour Bad World Tour The Bad World Tour was the first solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson that visited Japan, Australia, the United States and Europe. Sponsored by Pepsi and spanning 16 months, the tour included 123 concerts to 4.4 million fans across 15 countries... |
1987-89 | 123 | 4,498,300 | 1.0 | 32,520 | |
| 37 | $125,000,000 | $ | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
Re-Invention World Tour | 2004 | 56 | 920,000 | 2.2 | 16,071 | |
Note that the inflation-adjusted ranking is only of tours listed here because of highest actual gross. Some older tours, such as Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's 1984–1985 Born in the U.S.A. Tour
Born in the U.S.A. Tour
The Born in the U.S.A. Tour was the supporting concert tour of Bruce Springsteen's massively popular Born in the U.S.A. album. It was his longest and most successful tour to date. It featured a physically transformed Springsteen. After two years of bodybuilding, Springsteen had bulked up...
, which grossed between $80 million and $90 million at the time, would be between about $190 million and $210 million in 2010 terms, and thus place on the list as well.