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Believe Tour
World tour by Justin Bieber
Location
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Oceania
  • South America
Associated albumBelieve
Start dateSeptember 29, 2012 (2012-09-29)
End dateDecember 8, 2013 (2013-12-08)
Legs7
No. of shows155
Box officeUS$210 million ($290.25 million in 2025 dollars)[1]
Justin Bieber concert chronology

The Believe Tour was the second concert tour by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was launched in support of his third studio album, Believe (2012).[2] Beginning in September 2012, the tour played over 150 shows in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

In 2012, the tour placed 23rd on Pollstar's "Top 50 Worldwide Tours". The tour earned $40.2 million from 35 shows.[3] For 2013, it ranked 5th on Pollstar's "Top 100 Worldwide Tours—Mid Year"; earning $69.9 million from 67 shows.[4]

Background

[edit]

The tour was announced on May 23, 2012, during Bieber's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[2] Dates were revealed for shows in the United States and Canada later in the day. Bieber stated the tour would be the biggest show on Earth. Shows in the United Kingdom were reported in July 2012,[5] with the tour expected to reach Asia, Oceania, South America, along with South Africa and the Middle East sometime in 2013.[6] Although the North American portion of the tour was set to end in January 2013, Bieber announced a second leg; 30 additional dates were added at various venues in the United States and Canada throughout the summer of 2013.[7]

Rehearsals began in late July 2012 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California.[8] Bieber and his crew would conduct 10-hour rehearsal days. He stated he had a lot to prove with this tour.[9]

The tour was an early success in the United States, with many dates selling out in one hour.[10] The two shows at Madison Square Garden were sold out in 30 seconds. In August, the singer conducted an online search for dancers on the tour.[11]

The tour kicked off in Glendale, Arizona at the Jobing.com Arena. The premiere made headlines for Bieber feeling ill during the show. His performances of "Out of Town Girl" and "Beauty and a Beat" were interrupted as the singer vomited on and off stage.[12]

Justin Bieber reported further troubles during the concert at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. After the show, Bieber tweeted his personal laptop and camera had been stolen during the show.[13] Many fans lashed out against the arena while others believed the incident was a hoax. Three days following the show, Vevo premiered the video for the singer's third single with an opening message: "In October 2012, three hours of personal footage was stolen from musician Justin Bieber. The following footage was illegally uploaded by an anonymous blogger." Many media outlets reported the theft was a hoax to promote the music video. However, the singer's management still affirm property was stolen.[14]

When reflecting on the Believe Tour, Bieber's favorite moment was his introduction when he would come down from the top of the stage in wings, and remain above the audience for about 30 seconds. Bieber explained, "It's going to be such a memorable moment from any tour. I think people will remember that. Coming down right from the beginning of the show, it's me and the wings for about 30 seconds. It's such a big moment. People are just captivated and there's nothing else going on, so that moment is going to bleed into their memory."[15]

Believe Tour Opening

Critical response

[edit]
Bieber performing in October 2012

For the tour premiere, Christina Fuoco-Karasinski (SoundSpike) felt his fans still suffered from Bieber Fever until she realized the vast amount of differences among ages. "Bieber, a native of Stratford, Ontario, Canada, provided a show that made the cavernous arena seem intimate. Massive amounts of lasers sliced through the 15,000-seat venue, breaking Jobing.com Arena into several sections."[16]

For the show in Los Angeles, Matt Kivel (Variety) called the show epic yet strangely incoherent. He writes, "Without the pomp and glitz, his talent is unquestionable and the acoustic tracks allowed for a welcome respite from the sensory overload that characterized the evening. [...] His ambition has never been in question, but a greater thematic focus would go a long way toward helping Bieber reach the level of maturity for which he strives."[17]

For the same show, Sophie A. Schillaci (The Hollywood Reporter) says the show is absurd for those outside of Bieber's fanbase. She continues, "Vocally, Bieber shined the most with an acoustic performance of 'Fall', during which he strummed a guitar while propped up high above the stage. Through the rest of his set, which also included a high-energy if way too brief montage of 'One Time', 'Eenie Meenie' and 'Somebody to Love', the singing appeared to take a back seat to the dance moves and pyrotechnics, but audience interaction kept his fans coming back for more."[18]

Peter Hartlaub (San Francisco Chronicle) praised the stage design during the concert at the Oracle Arena. However, the critic also relayed the scripted nature of the production, stating, "Every decision on the night seemed like a calculated part of Bieber's attempt to execute a full Timberlake, and move from preteen deity to full-blown cross-generational pop star."[19] For the concert at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Mike Bell (Calgary Herald) called the show a sensory catnip for tweens. He says, "The almost two-hour concert was so synthetic and filled with fake moments that it was difficult to actually discern what was being sung live and what was Memorex, with most of the songs such as 'All Around the World', 'One Time' and 'Beauty and the Beat' being so stripped of all humanity that they were merely one more element to the flash and bang taking place around it. Only on the odd occasion—songs such as 'Die In Your Arms', the acoustic 'Be Alright' and 'Beautiful', his duet with opener Carly Rae Jepsen—did he show off any real, albeit underwhelming, vocal talent, and even then it was difficult not to look at him and wonder if behind the screens and the curtain, there wasn't a tinman pushing the buttons and counting his money as the clock ticked down"[20]

Concert synopsis

[edit]

Set list

[edit]

This set list is representative of the show in Las Vegas on June 28, 2013. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.[21]

  1. "All Around the World"
  2. "Take You"
  3. "Catching Feelings"
  4. "One Time" / "Eenie Meenie" / "Somebody to Love" (Medley)
  5. "Love Me Like You Do"
  6. "She Don't Like the Lights"
  7. "Die in Your Arms"
  8. "Out of Town Girl"
  9. "Be Alright"
  10. "Fall"
  11. "Never Say Never"
  12. "Beauty and a Beat"
  13. "One Less Lonely Girl"
  14. "As Long As You Love Me"
  15. "Believe"
  16. "Boyfriend"
  17. "Baby"

Notes

[edit]
  • During some of the first shows in North America, Bieber performed "Beautiful" with Carly Rae Jepsen.[22]
  • For the tour premiere in Glendale, "Baby" closed the main show, with "Believe" performed during the encore.[16]
  • During the performance in Las Vegas, Bieber was joined onstage by Usher to perform "Somebody to Love" and "Yeah!".[23]
  • During the performance in Los Angeles, Bieber was joined onstage by Jaden Smith to perform "Never Say Never".[22]
  • During the performances in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., Bieber was joined onstage Jaden Smith to perform "Fairytale"
  • During the performance in Fresno, Bieber performed "The Divided Sky".[24]
  • During the performance in Oakland, Bieber performed "Sand" and "First Tube".[24]
  • During the performance in Toronto, Canadian rapper Drake joined Bieber on stage to sing "Right Here" and "The Motto".[25]
  • Some of the final shows in South America, Mexico & Oceania; Bieber performed his song All That Matters in acoustic.

Shows

[edit]
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, opening act, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue
Date City Country Venue Opening act Attendance Revenue
North America[26]
September 29, 2012 Glendale United States Jobing.com Arena Cody Simpson
Carly Rae Jepsen 		13,428 / 13,428 $1,013,460
September 30, 2012 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena 13,504 / 13,504 $1,076,868
October 2, 2012 Los Angeles Staples Center 27,546 / 27,546 $2,238,937
October 3, 2012
October 5, 2012 Fresno Save Mart Center 11,965 / 11,965 $1,323,632
October 6, 2012 Oakland Oracle Arena 14,126 / 14,126 $1,063,978
October 8, 2012 Portland Rose Garden Carly Rae Jepsen 14,550 / 14,550 $1,002,495
October 9, 2012 Tacoma Tacoma Dome 20,259 / 20,259 $1,338,701
October 10, 2012 Vancouver Canada Rogers Arena 14,423 / 14,423 $1,215,360
October 12, 2012 Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome 13,631 / 13,631 $1,117,440
October 15, 2012 Edmonton Rexall Place 13,663 / 13,663 $1,137,620
October 16, 2012 Saskatoon Credit Union Centre 13,113 / 13,113 $1,052,590
October 18, 2012 Winnipeg MTS Centre 13,326 / 13,326 $1,048,840
October 20, 2012 Minneapolis United States Target Center 14,532 / 14,532 $1,071,284
October 21, 2012 Milwaukee Bradley Center 14,957 / 14,957 $1,065,557
October 23, 2012 Rosemont Allstate Arena 27,132 / 27,132 $2,125,924
October 24, 2012
October 26, 2012 Kansas City Sprint Center 13,972 / 13,972 $1,033,314
October 27, 2012 St. Louis Scottrade Center 15,034 / 15,034 $1,108,442
October 29, 2012 Dallas American Airlines Center 14,094 / 14,094 $1,066,183
October 30, 2012 Houston Toyota Center 13,084 / 13,084 $1,021,718
November 1, 2012 Memphis FedExForum 13,511 / 13,511 $932,669
November 2, 2012 Louisville KFC Yum! Center 16,334 / 16,334 $1,158,153
November 4, 2012 Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center 15,393 / 15,393 $1,247,574
November 5, 2012 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center Cody Simpson
Jaden Smith 		14,472 / 14,472 $1,169,569
November 9, 2012 East Rutherford Izod Center 15,956 / 15,956 $1,233,492
November 10, 2012 Boston TD Garden 13,561 / 13,561 $1,087,270
November 12, 2012 New York City Barclays Center 14,261 / 14,261 $1,107,390
November 20, 2012 Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center N/a 14,263 / 14,263 $1,029,318
November 21, 2012 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills Carly Rae Jepsen 15,469 / 15,469 $1,178,456
November 23, 2012 Ottawa Canada Scotiabank Place Carly Rae Jepsen
The Wanted 		13,696 / 13,696 $1,104,550
November 26, 2012 Montreal Bell Centre 15,870 / 15,870 $1,255,360
November 28, 2012 New York City United States Madison Square Garden 29,680 / 29,680 $2,390,196
November 29, 2012
December 1, 2012 Toronto Canada Rogers Centre 43,817 / 43,817 $2,671,520
January 5, 2013 Salt Lake City United States EnergySolutions Arena Carly Rae Jepsen 14,693 / 14,693 $1,007,579
January 7, 2013 Denver Pepsi Center 13,629 / 13,629 $1,015,154
January 9, 2013 Tulsa BOK Center 12,985 / 12,985 $888,101
January 10, 2013 North Little Rock Verizon Arena 14,849 / 14,849 $974,452
January 12, 2013 San Antonio AT&T Center 14,653 / 14,653 $985,153
January 15, 2013 New Orleans New Orleans Arena Carly Rae Jepsen
Cody Simpson 		13,986 / 13,986 $1,002,620
January 16, 2013 Birmingham Legacy Arena 13,530 / 13,530 $920,078
January 18, 2013 Nashville Bridgestone Arena 14,287 / 14,287 $1,046,887
January 19, 2013 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum 15,395 / 15,395 $998,126
January 22, 2013 Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena 15,272 / 15,272 $1,089,601
January 23, 2013 Atlanta Philips Arena 12,686 / 12,686 $995,137
January 25, 2013 Orlando Amway Center 13,355 / 13,355 $1,009,923
January 26, 2013 Miami American Airlines Arena 27,580 / 27,580 $2,178,830
January 27, 2013
Europe[27][28][29]
February 17, 2013 Dublin Ireland The O2 N/a 14,000 / 14,000 N/a
February 18, 2013
February 21, 2013 Manchester England Manchester Arena Carly Rae Jepsen
Cody Simpson 		28,678 / 28,678 $2,398,540
February 22, 2013
February 24, 2013 Liverpool Echo Arena Liverpool N/a N/a N/a
February 27, 2013 Birmingham National Indoor Arena Cody Simpson 20,619 / 21,690 $1,923,850
February 28, 2013
March 2, 2013 Nottingham National Ice Centre N/a N/a N/a
March 4, 2013 London The O2 Arena Carly Rae Jepsen
Cody Simpson 		58,479 / 60,281 $5,053,170
March 5, 2013
March 7, 2013
March 8, 2013
March 11, 2013 Lisbon Portugal Pavilhão Atlântico Carly Rae Jepsen N/a N/a
March 14, 2013 Madrid Spain Palacio de los Deportes
March 16, 2013 Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi
March 19, 2013 Paris France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
March 22, 2013 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion Carly Rae Jepsen
Cody Simpson 		13,000 / 13,000 $1,364,500
March 23, 2013 Bologna Italy Unipol Arena Carly Rae Jepsen N/a N/a
March 25, 2013 Łódź Poland Atlas Arena Honorata Skarbek
March 28, 2013 Munich Germany Olympiahalle N/a
March 30, 2013 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle
March 31, 2013 Berlin Germany O2 World Berlin Neon Dogs 9,475 / 13,289 $810,632
April 2, 2013 Hamburg O2 World Hamburg 9,204 / 12,984 $871,682
April 3, 2013 Frankfurt Festhalle Frankfurt N/a N/a N/a
April 5, 2013 Dortmund Westfalenhallen
April 6, 2013 Cologne Lanxess Arena
April 8, 2013 Strasbourg France Zénith de Strasbourg
April 10, 2013 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis 3M8S 35,751 / 36,939 $2,598,300
April 11, 2013
April 13, 2013 Arnhem Netherlands GelreDome XS MainStreet N/a N/a
April 16, 2013 Oslo Norway Telenor Arena N/a 69,246 / 71,091 $7,887,802
April 17, 2013
April 18, 2013
April 20, 2013 Copenhagen Denmark Telia Parken N/a N/a
April 22, 2013 Stockholm Sweden Ericsson Globe
April 23, 2013
April 24, 2013
April 26, 2013 Helsinki Finland Hartwall Arena
April 28, 2013 Saint Petersburg Russia SKK Peterburgsky
April 30, 2013 Moscow Olimpiyskiy
May 2, 2013 Istanbul Turkey İTÜ Stadyumu
Asia[30]
May 4, 2013 Dubai United Arab Emirates The Sevens Stadium N/a 28,544 / 46,850 $7,773,419
May 5, 2013
Africa[31]
May 8, 2013 Cape Town South Africa Cape Town Stadium N/a N/a N/a
May 12, 2013 Johannesburg FNB Stadium
North America[27][32]
June 22, 2013 San Diego United States Valley View Casino Center Hot Chelle Rae
Mike Posner 		10,832 / 10,832 $915,852
June 24, 2013 Los Angeles Staples Center 27,994 / 27,994 $2,307,566
June 25, 2013
June 26, 2013 San Jose HP Pavilion 12,996 / 12,996 $1,082,050
June 28, 2013 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena 13,362 / 13,362 $1,103,893
June 30, 2013 Denver Pepsi Center 12,885 / 12,885 $1,022,453
July 2, 2013 Oklahoma City Chesapeake Energy Arena 12,209 / 12,209 $973,740
July 3, 2013 Dallas American Airlines Center 13,945 / 13,945 $1,141,555
July 6, 2013 Omaha CenturyLink Center 14,109 / 14,109 $1,090,542
July 7, 2013 Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena 13,108 / 13,108 $1,040,329
July 9, 2013 Chicago United Center 14,574 / 14,574 $1,198,621
July 10, 2013 Indianapolis Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,088 / 14,088 $1,091,325
July 12, 2013 Columbus Nationwide Arena 14,002 / 14,002 $1,101,544
July 13, 2013 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena 15,084 / 15,084 $1,148,356
July 15, 2013 Buffalo First Niagara Center 14,789 / 14,789 $1,148,023
July 17, 2013 Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center 15,065 / 15,065 $1,243,009
July 18, 2013 Hartford XL Center 12,404 / 12,404 $1,032,636
July 20, 2013 Boston TD Garden 13,450 / 13,450 $1,123,874
July 23, 2013 Ottawa Canada Scotiabank Place 13,741 / 13,741 $1,102,540
July 25, 2013 Toronto Air Canada Centre 29,153 / 29,153 $2,398,100
July 26, 2013
July 28, 2013 Detroit United States Joe Louis Arena 15,148 / 15,148 $1,208,287
July 30, 2013 Newark Prudential Center 26,824 / 26,824 $2,211,502
July 31, 2013
August 2, 2013 Brooklyn Barclays Center 14,587 / 14,587 $1,207,640
August 3, 2013 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center 14,647 / 14,647 $1,203,291
August 5, 2013 Columbia Colonial Life Arena 12,540 / 12,540 $996,246
August 7, 2013 Jacksonville Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Ariana Grande
Cody Simpson 		11,526 / 11,526 $936,990
August 8, 2013 Tampa Tampa Bay Times Forum 14,099 / 14,099 $1,101,576
August 10, 2013 Atlanta Philips Arena 12,407 / 12,407 $1,019,885
Asia[33][34]
September 23, 2013[a] Marina Bay Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit N/a N/a
September 26, 2013 Bangkok Thailand Challenger Hall 3 10,000 / 10,000
September 29, 2013 Beijing China MasterCard Center
October 2, 2013 Dalian Dalian Arena
October 5, 2013 Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena
October 7, 2013 Saitama Japan Saitama Super Arena
October 10, 2013 Seoul South Korea Olympic Gymnastics Arena
October 12, 2013 Cotai Macau Cotai Arena
Latin America[36][37]
October 19, 2013 San Juan Puerto Rico Coliseo de Puerto Rico N/a 13,674 / 13,674 $1,707,044
October 22, 2013 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez 11,321 / 21,850 $941,883
October 24, 2013 Panama City Panama Estadio Rommel Fernández N/a N/a N/a
October 26, 2013 Guatemala City Guatemala Estadio Cementos Progreso N/a 8,851 / 18,500 $941,883
October 29, 2013 Bogotá Colombia Estadio El Campín Paty Cantú N/a N/a
October 31, 2013 Quito Ecuador Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa N/a 18,962 / 27,000 $2,481,840
November 2, 2013 São Paulo Brazil Arena Anhembi P9 31,922 / 33,374 $3,266,480
November 3, 2013 Rio de Janeiro Praça da Apoteose N/a 22,598 / 33,199 $2,460,450
November 6, 2013 Asunción Paraguay Hipódromo de Asunción 11,325 / 22,780 $1,228,090
November 8, 2013[b] Córdoba Argentina Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes Cody Simpson
Carly Rae Jepsen
Owl City 		23,565 / 34,328 $2,633,870
November 9, 2013[b] Buenos Aires River Plate Stadium N/a N/a
November 12, 2013 Santiago Chile Estadio Nacional Carly Rae Jepsen
Owl City 		47,969 / 52,300 $4,948,320
November 18, 2013 Mexico City Mexico Foro Sol N/a 98,358 / 107,746 $6,999,860
November 19, 2013
Oceania[39][40][41]
November 23, 2013 Auckland New Zealand Vector Arena Cody Simpson N/a N/a
November 26, 2013 Brisbane Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre 13,263 / 19,960 $1,655,360
November 27, 2013
November 29, 2013 Sydney Allphones Arena 22,911 / 24,566 $2,946,530
November 30, 2013
December 2, 2013 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena 22,543 / 23,925 $2,706,030
December 3, 2013
December 5, 2013 Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Arena N/a N/a
December 8, 2013 Perth Perth Arena 10,732 / 11,087 $1,376,970
Total 1,694,897 / 1,771,355 (96%) $149,785,753

Cancelled shows

[edit]
List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation
Date City Country Venue Reason
February 23, 2013 Sheffield England Motorpoint Arena Sheffield Scheduling conflicts[42]
March 12, 2013 Lisbon Portugal Pavilhão Atlântico Unforeseen circumstances[43]
March 14, 2013 Bilbao Spain Bizkaia Arena Logistical problems[44]
March 25, 2013 Lyon France Halle Tony Garnier Scheduling conflicts[45]
May 6, 2013 Muscat Oman Al-Wattayah Stadium Unknown [46]
November 10, 2013 Buenos Aires Argentina River Plate Stadium Suffered food poisoning in the middle of the show[47]
November 24, 2013 Auckland New Zealand Vector Arena Unforeseen circumstances[48]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Believe Tour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Believe Tour was the second concert tour headlined by Canadian singer , launched to promote his third studio album, Believe (2012). Kicking off on September 29, 2012, at Jobing.com Arena in , the tour featured high-energy performances blending pop, R&B, and dance elements, with Bieber delivering hits from the album alongside earlier tracks like "Boyfriend" and "Baby." It marked Bieber's transition to larger arena venues and a more mature stage presence, complete with elaborate production including LED screens, aerial acrobatics, and pyrotechnics. The tour was significantly extended due to high demand, adding dates across in late 2012 and early 2013, followed by legs in , , , , and through mid-2013. By February 2013, it had already grossed over $54 million from 49 sold-out shows attended by more than 727,000 fans, frequently topping Billboard's Hot Tours chart. In 2013 alone, Bieber ranked among the year's top-grossing acts with $77.4 million from 65 performances drawing nearly 960,000 attendees. Opening acts varied by region, including , , and , enhancing the tour's appeal to a global audience of primarily young fans. Documented in the 2013 concert film , directed by , the tour showcased behind-the-scenes insights into Bieber's life on the road amid growing fame and personal challenges. Notable incidents, such as Bieber falling ill onstage during the opening show, highlighted the physical demands of the production, yet the tour solidified his status as a major pop draw, influencing subsequent world tours like Purpose in 2016.

Background and Development

Album Context

Justin Bieber's third studio album, Believe, was released on June 15, 2012, by . The album marked a transition to a more mature sound, incorporating R&B, electronic, and elements beyond his earlier teen-oriented pop. It debuted at number one on the chart, selling 374,000 copies in its first week. The success of Believe prompted the launch of the Believe Tour in September 2012, serving as the album's main promotional tour and Bieber's first arena headlining trek.

Tour Planning and Announcement

The Believe Tour was announced on May 23, 2012, during Bieber's appearance on . The initial plan featured a 46-date North American leg, beginning September 29, 2012, at Jobing.com Arena in , and ending January 26, 2013, at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Florida. Pre-sale tickets were available to cardholders from May 24 to May 31, 2012, followed by general public sales starting June 1 for Canadian residents and June 2 for those in the . High demand led to additional dates and international extensions across , , , , and through 2013. served as the opening act for the initial North American shows, with other performers like and joining for select dates to build excitement for Bieber's performance.

Production

Stage and Technical Design

The production for the Believe Tour was designed by Tom E. Marzullo, who served as production designer and tour director, with creative direction from Jon M. Chu. The stage featured a multi-level configuration with three decks—at heights of 6'6", 14'6", and 22'6"—including a 40-foot thrust with a telescoping arm extending into the audience, hydraulic lifts for dynamic movements, and a central "Whirlygig" flying B-stage for Bieber's aerial entrances. This setup supported high-energy performances with 12 dancers on the lower deck, a small band and DJ on the second deck, and Bieber's drum solo on the top deck, enhanced by LED video walls (including a 51' x 18' main screen and mobile panels), pyrotechnics, lasers, CO2 jets, and confetti effects to create an immersive, cinematic atmosphere. Lighting was co-designed by Marzullo and Chris Kuroda, with programming by Nick Van Nostrand, utilizing equipment from Christie Lites including 148 Martin MAC 101s, 54 Clay Paky Sharpys, 9 Syncrolite SX7s on tracking "sleds," Martin MAC III Profiles, and MAC 2000 XBs, controlled by two grandMA consoles to deliver over 1,000 cues with vibrant, dynamic visuals. The sound system was provided by , featuring 14 i-5 and i-5B cabinets per side for mains, 10 i-3s for side fills, 8 BT-218A subs per side, and front fills with 3 P-2s per side, amplified by Lab.gruppen PLM 20K units; the FOH mix was handled on an Avid VENUE Profile console by engineer Gordon Mack. Special effects, programmed by Reid Nofsinger of Strictly FX, included over 200 pyro pieces in the finale, a "pyro waterfall," lasers, , and airburst confetti, amplifying the tour's pop and dance elements.

Costumes and Crew

Costumes for the Believe Tour emphasized Bieber's maturing image with a mix of casual and performance-ready outfits, including customized sweatsuits, vests, all-white suits, and tops, often incorporating bold colors and accessories to match the show's energetic transitions; no single designer is prominently credited, but styling was handled by the production team including co-costume designer Hara for related media. The crew was led by choreographer and creative director Nick DeMoura, who designed the dance routines for Bieber and the 12 backup dancers, while musical director and lead guitarist Dan Kanter oversaw the live band, including keyboards, drums, and additional musicians for seamless accompaniment. The production team included video director Nick Jackson from Chaos Visual Productions, staging from Show Group Production Services and All Access, and a large technical crew (e.g., 18 for automation, 5 for video) managed by systems engineer Arnie Hernandez and monitor engineer Alex MacLeod, ensuring rapid setup for the 18-truck arena tour across multiple continents.

Concert Content

Performance Synopsis

The Believe Tour concerts typically lasted between 90 and 100 minutes, structured in a high-energy format blending pop, R&B, and routines with elaborate production. The show opened with Bieber emerging on a multi-level stage amid LED screens, , and aerial by performers, launching into uptempo tracks from the Believe album to engage the immediately. Supported by a team of dancers, the first half featured dynamic choreography and , including neon lights and video projections. As the concert progressed, it shifted to more intimate segments with acoustic elements, such as guitar-strumming during ballads, interspersed with fan interactions like call-and-response and dedications. Theatrical moments included Bieber on a moving platform or zip-line across the venue, with costume changes emphasizing a mature image through and LED-lit outfits. Audience participation was prominent, with Bieber inviting fans onstage during songs like "" and encouraging sing-alongs to build connection in arena settings. The performance built to a climactic finale with high-impact hits, featuring intensified pyrotechnics, confetti, and crowd chants, followed by encores that sustained the celebratory vibe. The production adapted to arenas with a U-shaped catwalk extending to the audience, ensuring accessibility, while the overall narrative highlighted Bieber's growth from teen idol to mature artist. Documented in the concert film Justin Bieber's Believe, the shows emphasized physical demands with non-stop movement and live band accompaniment.

Set List

The set list for the Believe Tour featured a standard selection of 16 to 18 songs, integrating tracks from the 2012 album Believe with earlier hits, creating a mix of new material and fan favorites. A typical performance opened with "All Around the World," followed by "Take You" and "Catching Feelings," then a medley of "One Time" / "Eenie Meenie" / "Somebody to Love." Key Believe songs like "Love Me Like You Do," "She Don't Like the Lights," "Die in Your Arms," and "Beauty and a Beat" were interspersed with classics such as "Boyfriend," "As Long as You Love Me," and "Baby" (encore). The main set often concluded with "Believe," tying into the tour's theme. Variations occurred across the 165 dates, with occasional inclusions like covers (e.g., Céline Dion's "Because You Loved Me") or regional adjustments, such as extended encores based on crowd response. Songs from prior albums like My World 2.0 and Under the Mistletoe added retrospective elements, while uptempo numbers incorporated choreographed dances by backup performers. Ballads provided vocal showcases, and the production used live instrumentation with electronic enhancements for dance tracks to replicate album sounds.

Reception

Critical Response

The critical response to Justin Bieber's Believe Tour was generally positive, with reviewers praising the elaborate production, Bieber's maturing stage presence, and high-energy performances, though some noted a lack of thematic coherence. The tour was seen as a step toward a more mature image, blending pop spectacle with emotional acoustic sets. Publications highlighted the show's appeal to young fans through , aerial stunts, and hits from Believe alongside earlier songs. Variety described the October 2012 Staples Center show as an "epic yet strangely incoherent" production, commending Bieber's vocal range in improvisations like "Too Young For Love" and acoustic renditions of "Be Alright" and "Fall," which showcased "undeniable talent" with emotion and precision. However, it critiqued the predictable routine of partially sung choruses, light , and disinterest in early hits medley, suggesting "a greater thematic focus would go a long way." The review of the concert noted Bieber's vocal flexibility in ballads like "Catching Feelings" and tenderness in tracks such as "She Don’t Like the Lights," aligning with influences like , but questioned if fans would embrace the reduced extravaganza and shift toward R&B elements. Billboard's report on the Brooklyn show emphasized the tour's high energy and audience engagement, particularly among tween girls, with dynamic elements like dance-fighting in "Never Say Never" and neon lights in "Beauty and a Beat." Overall, critics admired Bieber's stamina and the tour's innovative elements, including LED screens and , which enhanced fan interaction despite occasional narrative filler. The production's ambition was celebrated, positioning the tour as a successful arena transition for the young artist.

Commercial Performance

The Believe Tour grossed $212.2 million from 155 shows, selling approximately 2.4 million tickets worldwide, marking it as Bieber's first tour to exceed $200 million and the highest-grossing by an artist under 20 at the time. By February , it had already earned over $54 million from 49 sold-out concerts attended by 727,392 fans. In , the tour generated $77.4 million from 65 performances, drawing nearly 960,000 attendees and ranking Bieber among the top-grossing acts that year. It frequently topped Billboard's Hot Tours chart, reflecting strong demand across , , , , South Africa, and Latin America. Ancillary revenue from merchandise and tie-ins, including the concert film , further contributed to its financial success.

Tour Logistics

Scheduled Shows

The Believe Tour was structured in seven legs, spanning from September 29, 2012, to December 8, 2013, and comprising 155 shows across , , , , , and . The first leg was an extensive n run from September 29, 2012, to January 27, 2013, featuring 43 performances in arenas across the and . It kicked off with a sold-out show at Jobing.com Arena in , on September 29, 2012, attracting over 17,000 fans. Notable stops included multiple nights at in and in . The European leg ran from February 17 to May 2, 2013, with 33 shows across 12 countries in large arenas. Highlights included performances at in and Telenor Arena in , . Subsequent legs included (May 4 to October 12, 2013; 15 shows total across two segments), Africa (May 8–12, 2013; 2 shows at and in , ), a second North American leg (June 22 to August 10, 2013; 30 shows), and a final leg in and (October 19 to December 8, 2013; 22 shows), concluding at in , . The tour's global reach was extended multiple times due to demand, with the second North American leg added in December 2012.
LegDatesNumber of ShowsRepresentative Venues and Dates
North America (1)September 29, 2012 – January 27, 201343Jobing.com Arena, Glendale (September 29); Madison Square Garden, New York City (November 28); Rogers Centre, Toronto (December 30)
EuropeFebruary 17 – May 2, 201333The O2 Arena, London (March 4–5); Telenor Arena, Oslo (April 17)
Asia (1)May 4 – May 22, 20138The Sevens Stadium, Dubai (May 4); Saitama Super Arena, Saitama (May 22)
AfricaMay 8 – May 12, 20132Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (May 10); FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (May 12)
North America (2)June 22 – August 10, 201330Staples Center, Los Angeles (July 20); United Center, Chicago (August 3)
Asia (2)September 23 – October 12, 20137Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore (September 28); Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul (October 5)
Latin America & OceaniaOctober 19 – December 8, 201322Foro Sol, Mexico City (October 19); Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (December 8, finale)

Cancellations and Incidents

The Believe Tour experienced several cancellations and incidents over its duration. A total of seven shows were cancelled due to scheduling conflicts, logistical issues, unforeseen circumstances, and health problems, including food poisoning. Notable cancellations included the February 23, 2013, show in , , and the November 10, 2013, concert in , . Additionally, a show in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 11, 2013, was cancelled for unspecified reasons. Incidents included Bieber vomiting onstage during the opening performance of "Out of Town Girl" at the tour's kickoff in Glendale on September 29, 2012, attributed to the physical demands of the show. Another event occurred on October 9, 2012, in , where Bieber reported the theft of his laptop and camera from his dressing room, though it was later debated as a possible . These disruptions were minimal relative to the tour's scale, with most dates proceeding as planned and contributing to its commercial success.

References

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  22. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Learn-to-Dance-Like-Justin-Bieber-with-Believe-Tour-Dance-Experience-Coming-to-DVDBlu-ray-Today-20140811
  23. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/justin-bieber-43d4f7ff.html?tour=13d405b1
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/arts/music/justin-bieber-at-madison-square-garden.html
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  26. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/hot-tours-justin-bieber-shoots-to-no-1-with-believe-tour-474653/
  27. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/11/11/justin-bieber-has-troubled-tour-in-south-america/3497915/
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