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Purpose World Tour
Purpose World Tour
Purpose World Tour
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Purpose World Tour
World tour by Justin Bieber
Promotional poster for the Purpose World Tour
Location
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Oceania
  • South America
Associated albumPurpose
Start dateMarch 9, 2016 (2016-03-09)
End dateJuly 2, 2017 (2017-07-02)
Legs6
No. of shows162
Attendance2.8 million
Box office$256 million ($328.39 million in 2024 dollars)[1]
Justin Bieber concert chronology

The Purpose World Tour was the third concert tour by Canadian singer Justin Bieber, in support of his fourth studio album Purpose (2015).[2] The tour started on March 9, 2016, in Seattle, Washington, and concluded on July 2, 2017, in London, England. After that, the remaining 14 shows of the tour were cancelled due to Bieber's mental health issues.

According to Pollstar, Purpose World Tour grossed $163.3 million and sold 1,761,642 tickets in 2016 and the 29 shows in 2017 grossed $93.7 million with 1,043,839 tickets sold. Overall, the tour had a total gross of $257 million and 2,805,481 in attendance in 141 shows, becoming one of the highest-grossing concert tours of both 2016 and 2017.[3][4]

Background

[edit]

The tour was announced on November 11, 2015, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. That same day, 58 dates in the United States along Canada were revealed on the singer's website.[5] Due to overwhelming demand, additional shows were added in several cities.[2] On September 30, 2016, Bieber announced that tour dates for New Zealand and Australia were to be released the following week. On October 25, 2016, two tour dates were announced for Mexico, as well as the South American and Central American legs of the tour. On December 5, 2016, Bieber announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show he would be starting a stadium tour starting in Australia and continue throughout the year in 2017, with dates announced later that day.[6]

Concert synopsis

[edit]

The show starts with a pre-recorded sequence in which he is "stuck inside a glass cube; then the real Bieber appeared inside a real cube" performing "Mark My Words", scrawling words like "hope" on the walls with a marker,[7] while wearing a long white coat.[8] Later, Bieber rises from below the stage in a large glass cube, "with the hydraulics pushing him higher" during the performance of "Where Are Ü Now",[9] with holograms flashing about,[10] while "Bieber's crew of dancers tumbled onstage in all-white attire as women suspended in midair did acrobatics against a chrome-y, industrial video backdrop."[8] For "I'll Show You", Bieber is "trapped under a literal steel cage while firestorms and spinning whirlwinds engulf him."[9] During the song's chorus, "an LED light show began flashing across its beams, covering him in exploding octagons and digital fireworks."[8] During "The Feeling", acrobats twirled above him, while cosmic projections of Halsey are shown.[9] Later, the performance of "Get Used To It" brought pyrotechnics, as well as movement from the platforms onstage.[8]

The performance of "Love Yourself" has Bieber on acoustic guitar while seated on a red velvet couch down center stage.[9] Later, the acoustic break also continued with a breezy solo rendition of "Home to Mama" and a new song called "Insecurities".[9] After the acoustic set, "Boyfriend" is performed, with dancers in LED-laden black bodysuits creating "a light show" in choreography.[8] Later, "Been You" is performed by Bieber and his dancers, featuring a "dance break",[9] while in "Company", "a hidden platform anchored to the ceiling begins to descend and it turned out to be a giant, suspended trampoline, on which Justin completed a couple of backflips."[8] "No Sense" is followed by the performance of "Hold Tight" and "No Pressure". The performance of "As Long As You Love Me", having a hard electric guitar riffs. Later, Bieber introduced his own act-two drum solo.[9] Wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt, he "cheerily introduces and hugs elementary school-aged dancers" during the "Children" performance,[11] which is followed by "Life Is Worth Living", where Bieber is backed by couples in stark white doing a contemporary choreography.[9] In "What Do You Mean?", dancers on skateboards circled the singer, who by then had changed into a pair of joggers emblazoned with the Purpose tour logo.[7] The performance of "Baby" was considered "playful", by Dylan Rupert of Billboard[8][12] and later he performs "Purpose" at a white grand piano,[8] The concert finishes with "Sorry", where Bieber stood with his dancers beneath a shower of artificial rain.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

NME's Luke Morgan Britton named the tour as one of the best live shows of 2016, writing: "It was grandiose, self-indulgent, erratic and, when he could be bothered, had some of the best live singing you'll see. The 'Purpose' tour was like the life of a tortured pop star as performance art."[13] Dylan Rupert of Billboard praised Bieber's vocals for sounding "smooth as ever", while noting that the performance of "Company" was "one of the show's most thrilling (though slightly puzzling) moments" and praising the acoustic set.[8] Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly called it "a concert that shows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Bieber is back. [...] Bieber had to prove that his comeback tour is exactly that — a performer's return to top form, not just a fluke of well-produced singles and hooks. That unfortunate weight did seem to bear down on Bieber during the entire show — he brought out no special guests and remained solemn throughout the night — but over time, its heft will diminish."[9] Andrew Matson of Rolling Stone offered a very positive review, declaring: "The concert was sublime vocally, visually and musically, Bieber and his scaled back band did justice to songs in a cavernous space, often elevating the material." [...] "Bieber sang for real, played the piano, acoustic guitar and rock drums all gracefully and danced with zero mistakes. Sure, his energy seemed tentative as his dancers did Matrix capoeira all around him, but the Purpose tour is off to a stellar start, showcasing a musician taking control of his art and an audience vibing along for his journey."[14]

Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times wrote about Bieber performance, stating: "His face expressionless, he sang with focused intensity — especially in "Hold Tight" and "Life Is Worth Living" — and danced in a powerfully unself-conscious way, as though he were simply a guy trying out moves for his own enjoyment."[7] For Owen R. Smith of Seattle Times, "Nothing could topple the positive quality of the evening overall."[12] Chris Macias of The Sacramento Bee noted that "[F]or all the spectacle, and the occasional lifting of his garments to show off those abs, the Biebs is a bit tentative as a performer."[11] François Marchand of Vancouver Sun analysed the tour, stating: "But all in all it was entertaining and the songs on Purpose are excellent – smooth and steady, atmospheric and deep."[15] Tony Hicks of Mercury News was mixed, noting that "while the visuals were impressive, they masked the fact that Bieber's voice sounded muffled most of the night. [...] He does deserve credit for being in control all night. But that comes at a cost. Until his hair became out of sorts, there wasn't a second that didn't feel scripted, including stints of our hero showing off his musicianship by performing with an acoustic guitar and doing a comically pedestrian drum solo."[10]

In less favorable reviews, Adam Graham from The Detroit News noted the singer "sleep-walked through his choreography, made no attempts to mask his pre-recorded vocals and performed with the enthusiasm of a teenager being forced to clean his room."[16] Jim Louvau of Phoenix New Times wrote: "You'd think that he'd show at least a perfunctory level of joy while performing on stage in front of thousands of ticket-buying fans, but at least outwardly, that was not the case."[17] For MLive, Edward Pevos noted: "When Bieber was dancing, he wasn't singing much. He was also a bit unenthusiastic. It was as if he just wanted to get through the show at times. The microphone was often no where near his mouth while the backing tracks were playing."[18][16]

Purpose World Tour's Mumbai leg saw an attendance of 60,000 making it one of the highest selling Indian concerts by an English-language artist, eclipsed only by Michael Jackson.[19]

Set list

[edit]

This set list is representative of the show on March 9, 2016, in Seattle. It is not representative of all concerts for the duration of the tour.[20]

  1. "Mark My Words"
  2. "Where Are Ü Now"
  3. "Get Used to It"
  4. "I'll Show You"
  5. "The Feeling"
  6. "Boyfriend"
  7. "Home to Mama" / "Cold Water"
  8. "Love Yourself"
  9. "Been You"
  10. "Company"
  11. "No Sense"
  12. "Hold Tight"
  13. "No Pressure"
  14. "As Long as You Love Me"
  15. "Children"
  16. "Let Me Love You" (Added at the European 1st leg)
  17. "Life is Worth Living"
  18. "What Do You Mean?"
  19. "Baby"
  20. "Purpose"
  21. "Sorry"

Notes

[edit]
  • During the show in Vancouver, Bieber performed "One Less Lonely Girl".[21]
  • During several shows, Bieber performed an unreleased song, "Insecurities" during the acoustic set.[22]
  • During several shows, Bieber performed another unreleased song, "Look At The Stars" during the acoustic set. Bieber posted a video of him singing the song on his Instagram in January 2016.[23]
  • During the shows in Louisville, Auburn Hills, Boston, Washington, D.C. & the second show in Chiba, Bieber performed a cover of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River".[24]
  • During the show in Ottawa, Bieber performed a cover of Delirious? song, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" during the acoustic set.
  • During the shows in Greensboro, Baltimore, New York City, Madrid and Monza Bieber performed a cover of Tracy Chapman song "Fast Car" during the acoustic set.
  • During the shows in Chiba, Bieber performed "Cold Water" during the acoustic set.[25]

Special guests

[edit]

Bieber performed duets with musical guests on some dates of the tour.

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[32]
March 9, 2016 Seattle United States KeyArena Corey Harper
Moxie Raia 		12,227 / 12,227 $1,316,780
March 11, 2016 Vancouver Canada Rogers Arena 14,648 / 14,648 $1,312,442
March 13, 2016 Portland United States Moda Center Corey Harper
Post Malone
Moxie Raia 		14,146 / 14,146 $1,336,071
March 15, 2016 Sacramento Sleep Train Arena Post Malone
Moxie Raia 		13,786 / 13,786 $1,311,567
March 17, 2016 San Jose SAP Center 13,508 / 13,508 $1,427,847
March 18, 2016 Oakland Oracle Arena 14,828 / 14,828 $1,548,782
March 20, 2016 Los Angeles Staples Center 41,445 / 41,445 $4,365,483
March 21, 2016
March 23, 2016
March 25, 2016 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena 11,843 / 11,843 $1,411,304
March 26, 2016 Fresno Save Mart Center 11,874 / 11,874 $1,154,574
March 29, 2016 San Diego Valley View Casino Center 11,571 / 11,571 $1,120,203
March 30, 2016 Glendale Gila River Arena 13,550 / 13,550 $1,319,237
April 2, 2016 Salt Lake City Vivint Smart Home Arena 15,115 / 15,115 $1,400,611
April 4, 2016 Denver Pepsi Center 13,910 / 13,910 $1,457,492
April 6, 2016 Kansas City Sprint Center 13,701 / 13,701 $1,277,251
April 7, 2016 Tulsa BOK Center 13,231 / 13,231 $1,222,176
April 9, 2016 Houston Toyota Center 12,868 / 12,868 $1,407,652
April 10, 2016 Dallas American Airlines Center 14,764 / 14,764 $1,563,919
April 12, 2016 Atlanta Philips Arena 25,717 / 25,717 $2,726,349
April 13, 2016
April 19, 2016 St. Louis Scottrade Center 15,450 / 15,450 $1,433,791
April 20, 2016 Louisville KFC Yum! Center 16,496 / 16,496 $1,513,138
April 22, 2016 Rosemont Allstate Arena 28,519 / 28,519 $2,952,529
April 23, 2016
April 25, 2016 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,795 / 14,795 $1,538,259
April 26, 2016 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena 16,028 / 16,028 $1,480,206
April 28, 2016 Columbus Schottenstein Center 13,919 / 13,919 $1,331,983
April 29, 2016 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center 14,917 / 14,917 $1,551,880
May 4, 2016 Brooklyn Barclays Center 29,470 / 29,470 $3,075,262
May 5, 2016
May 7, 2016 Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center 30,535 / 30,535 $3,131,498
May 8, 2016
May 10, 2016 Boston TD Garden 28,406 / 28,406 $2,962,651
May 11, 2016
May 13, 2016 Ottawa Canada Canadian Tire Centre The Knocks
Moxie Raia 		13,697 / 13,697 $1,327,205
May 14, 2016 Quebec City Videotron Centre 14,014 / 14,014 $1,318,420
May 16, 2016 Montreal Bell Centre Post Malone
Moxie Raia 		15,956 / 15,956 $1,518,543
May 18, 2016 Toronto Air Canada Centre 31,482 / 31,482 $2,984,876
May 19, 2016
June 11, 2016 Winnipeg MTS Centre Moxie Raia 12,228 / 12,228 $1,180,804
June 13, 2016 Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome Post Malone
Moxie Raia 		12,944 / 12,944 $1,242,290
June 14, 2016 Edmonton Rexall Place 13,802 / 13,802 $1,292,176
June 16, 2016 Saskatoon SaskTel Centre 12,741 / 12,741 $1,162,416
June 18, 2016 Fargo United States Fargodome 12,451 / 12,451 $1,177,819
June 19, 2016 Minneapolis Target Center 14,498 / 14,498 $1,514,540
June 21, 2016 Lincoln Pinnacle Bank Arena 13,048 / 13,048 $1,244,748
June 22, 2016 Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena 13,086 / 13,086 $1,251,093
June 24, 2016 Cincinnati U.S. Bank Arena 12,522 / 12,522 $1,193,105
June 25, 2016 Indianapolis Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,403 / 14,403 $1,363,344
June 27, 2016 Nashville Bridgestone Arena 14,051 / 14,051 $1,368,341
June 29, 2016 Jacksonville Jacksonville Arena 11,590 / 11,590 $1,116,384
June 30, 2016 Orlando Amway Center 13,282 / 13,282 $1,273,025
July 2, 2016 Miami American Airlines Arena 27,019 / 27,019 $2,836,286
July 3, 2016
July 6, 2016 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum 14,832 / 14,832 $1,421,008
July 7, 2016 Baltimore Royal Farms Arena 13,325 / 13,325 $1,199,139
July 9, 2016 Newark Prudential Center 13,739 / 13,739 $1,475,513
July 10, 2016 Hartford XL Center 11,930 / 11,930 $1,169,815
July 12, 2016 Buffalo First Niagara Center 14,424 / 14,424 $1,376,691
July 13, 2016 Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center 14,508 / 14,508 $1,353,964
July 15, 2016 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall 12,829 / 12,829 $1,241,152
July 18, 2016 New York City Madison Square Garden 29,425 / 29,425 $3,340,025
July 19, 2016
Asia
August 13, 2016 Chiba Japan Makuhari Messe N/a 25,000 / 25,000 $2,980,580
August 14, 2016
Europe[33]
August 20, 2016[a] Chelmsford England Hylands Park N/a N/a N/a
August 21, 2016[a] Staffordshire Weston Park
September 8, 2016 Kópavogur Iceland Kórinn Sturla Atlas
Vic Mensa 		34,893 / 34,893 $5,009,775
September 9, 2016
September 14, 2016 Berlin Germany Mercedes-Benz Arena Vic Mensa 13,344 / 13,344 $1,219,782
September 16, 2016 Munich Olympiahalle 13,204 / 13,204 $1,275,680
September 18, 2016 Cologne Lanxess Arena 16,524 / 16,524 $1,395,423
September 20, 2016 Paris France AccorHotels Arena The Knocks
Vic Mensa 		32,179 / 32,179 $2,576,666
September 21, 2016
September 23, 2016 Oslo Norway Telenor Arena The Knocks 45,234 / 45,234 $3,950,932
September 24, 2016
September 26, 2016 Helsinki Finland Hartwall Arena 23,354 / 23,354 $2,486,008
September 27, 2016
September 29, 2016 Stockholm Sweden Tele2 Arena The Knocks
MiC Lowry 		79,380 / 79,380 $5,474,781
September 30, 2016
October 2, 2016 Copenhagen Denmark Telia Parken 51,080 / 51,080 $3,615,874
October 5, 2016 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis 37,616 / 37,616 $2,890,081
October 6, 2016
October 8, 2016 Arnhem Netherlands GelreDome 70,428 / 70,428 $5,236,048
October 9, 2016
October 11, 2016 London England The O2 Arena 63,868 / 63,868 $4,865,897
October 12, 2016
October 14, 2016
October 15, 2016
October 17, 2016 Birmingham Barclaycard Arena 31,269 / 31,269 $2,458,371
October 18, 2016
October 20, 2016 Manchester Manchester Arena 49,586 / 49,586 $3,700,285
October 21, 2016
October 23, 2016
October 24, 2016 Birmingham Genting Arena 14,970 / 14,970 $1,168,892
October 26, 2016 Sheffield Sheffield Arena 13,126 / 13,126 $1,034,351
October 27, 2016 Glasgow Scotland SSE Hydro 38,193 / 38,193 $2,963,880
October 29, 2016
October 30, 2016
November 1, 2016 Dublin Ireland 3Arena 25,301 / 25,301 $2,304,928
November 2, 2016
November 8, 2016 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle 15,988 / 15,988 $1,427,759
November 9, 2016 Zagreb Croatia Arena Zagreb 18,103 / 18,103 $1,326,854
November 11, 2016 Kraków Poland Tauron Arena 16,010 / 16,010 $1,320,727
November 12, 2016 Prague Czech Republic O2 Arena 18,384 / 18,384 $1,129,114
November 14, 2016 Hamburg Germany Barclaycard Arena 13,493 / 13,493 $1,208,095
November 16, 2016 Frankfurt Festhalle 12,185 / 12,185 $1,255,135
November 17, 2016 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion 13,735 / 13,735 $1,461,928
November 19, 2016 Bologna Italy Unipol Arena 27,418 / 27,418 $2,062,484
November 20, 2016
November 22, 2016 Barcelona Spain Palau Sant Jordi 17,828 / 17,828 $1,478,323
November 23, 2016 Madrid Barclaycard Center 14,300 / 14,537 $1,450,184
November 25, 2016 Lisbon Portugal MEO Arena 19,380 / 19,380 $1,233,487
November 28, 2016 London England The O2 Arena 32,366 / 32,366 $2,313,609
November 29, 2016
North America[34]
February 15, 2017 Monterrey Mexico Estadio BBVA Bancomer N/a 45,535 / 45,535 $3,491,598
February 18, 2017 Mexico City Foro Sol Robin Schulz 155,201 / 155,201 $9,340,236
February 19, 2017
February 21, 2017
Oceania[34]
March 6, 2017 Perth Australia nib Stadium Martin Garrix
Sheppard 		24,129 / 24,129 $2,820,168
March 10, 2017 Melbourne Etihad Stadium 54,821 / 54,821 $5,483,928
March 13, 2017 Brisbane Suncorp Stadium 41,000 / 41,000 $4,256,386
March 15, 2017 Sydney ANZ Stadium 65,836 / 65,836 $6,163,843
March 18, 2017 Auckland New Zealand Mount Smart Stadium 35,420 / 35,420 $3,678,465
Latin America[35][36]
March 23, 2017 Santiago Chile Estadio Nacional N/a 43,000 / 43,000 $5,007,755
March 29, 2017 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Praça da Apoteose Rudy Mancuso 30,801 / 30,801 $3,332,095
April 1, 2017 São Paulo Allianz Parque 88,273 / 88,273 $9,187,869
April 2, 2017
April 5, 2017 Lima Peru Estadio Nacional King Lotus, David Cabrera Morillos 25,103 / 29,365 $2,326,212
April 8, 2017 Quito Ecuador Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa 4 A.M. 13,047 / 16,254 $1,420,349
April 12, 2017 Bogotá Colombia Estadio El Campín Ali Stone 18,783 / 22,507 $2,024,896
April 15, 2017 Punta Cana Dominican Republic Hard Rock Hotel & Casino N/a 9,482 / 11,024 $1,022,669
April 18, 2017 San Juan Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum 12,560 / 14,194 $1,606,420
April 21, 2017 Panama City Panama Plaza Figali 7,676 / 7,676 $896,402
April 24, 2017 San Jose Costa Rica Estadio Nacional Bartosz Brenes 23,377 / 26,985 $2,082,325
Asia[37][38]
May 3, 2017 Tel Aviv Israel Yarkon Park Static & Ben El Tavori 57,958 / 58,000 $6,321,104
May 6, 2017 Dubai United Arab Emirates Autism Rocks Arena Deen Squad
Hamza Hawsawi
Rodge 		23,936 / 29,690 $3,327,376
May 10, 2017 Mumbai India DY Patil Stadium Sartek
Zaeden
Alan Walker 		39,376 / 39,376 $3,515,105
Africa[38]
May 14, 2017 Johannesburg South Africa FNB Stadium Sketchy Bongo 58,896 / 68,984 $3,078,163
May 17, 2017 Cape Town Cape Town Stadium 39,706 / 45,214 $2,316,485
Europe[38]
June 3, 2017[b] Landgraaf Netherlands Megaland N/a N/a N/a
June 5, 2017 Aarhus Denmark Jysk Væddeløbsbane Rudimental
Gnash
Adam Daniel 		36,000 / 36,000 $2,880,000
June 7, 2017[c] Stavanger Norway Forus Travbane N/a N/a N/a
June 10, 2017[d] Stockholm Sweden Gärdet
June 15, 2017 Bern Switzerland Stade de Suisse Halsey 32,108 / 40,236 $3,151,958
June 18, 2017[e] Monza Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza Martin Garrix
Bastille
Alma
Mamacita 		N/a N/a
June 21, 2017 Dublin Ireland RDS Arena John Gibbons

Halsey

30,653 / 31,740 $3,487,723
June 24, 2017[f] Lille France Stade Pierre-Mauroy N/a N/a N/a
June 25, 2017[g] Frankfurt Germany Commerzbank Arena
June 30, 2017 Cardiff Wales Principality Stadium Halsey 38,434 / 45,021 $2,680,252
July 2, 2017[h] London England Hyde Park Martin Garrix
Tove Lo
Anne-Marie 		N/a N/a
Total 2,832,121 / 2,897,874 (99%) $259,364,636[45]

Cancelled shows

[edit]
Date City Country Venue Reason
April 11, 2017 Medellín Colombia Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex Logistics issue[46]
July 29, 2017 Arlington United States AT&T Stadium Depression[47]
August 5, 2017 Pasadena Rose Bowl
August 12, 2017 Denver Sports Authority Field at Mile High
August 18, 2017 Minneapolis U.S. Bank Stadium
August 23, 2017 East Rutherford MetLife Stadium
August 24, 2017
August 29, 2017 Foxborough Gillette Stadium
September 5, 2017 Toronto Canada Rogers Centre
September 6, 2017
September 23, 2017 Tokyo Japan Ajinomoto Stadium
September 24, 2017
September 27, 2017 Hong Kong China AsiaWorld–Arena
September 30, 2017 Bocaue Philippines Philippine Arena
October 7, 2017 Singapore Singapore National Stadium

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Purpose World Tour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Purpose World Tour was the third worldwide by Canadian singer , launched in support of his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015). Spanning 140 performances across six continents, the tour commenced on March 9, 2016, at KeyArena in , and concluded prematurely on July 2, 2017, at Hyde Park in London, England, after Bieber canceled the remaining 14 dates citing unforeseen circumstances and a need for rest. The tour's setlist primarily featured tracks from Purpose, including hits like "Sorry," "What Do You Mean?," and "Love Yourself," alongside selections from Bieber's earlier albums, delivered through a high-production with aerial , LED visuals, and interactive elements. It achieved massive commercial success, grossing over $250 million in ticket sales and attracting more than 2.7 million fans, establishing it as one of the decade's top-earning tours and Bieber's longest and most extensive outing to date. Despite its triumphs, the grueling schedule—often with minimal breaks—drew attention to Bieber's exhaustion, contributing to the abrupt end and sparking discussions on artist well-being in the music industry.

Background and development

Announcement and initial planning

The Purpose World Tour was announced by on November 11, 2015, during an appearance on , where he revealed an initial schedule of 58 arena dates across the and , marking his first major tour in three years. The announcement coincided with the buildup to his fourth studio album, Purpose, which was released just two days later on November 13, 2015, by and School Boy Records, establishing the tour as the album's central promotional effort to showcase singles like "What Do You Mean?" and "Sorry." Ticket sales for the initial North American leg were strategically timed to capitalize on album hype, with presales beginning for cardmembers on November 16, 2015, at noon PT and running through November 19 at 10 p.m. PT, followed by general public on-sale dates starting November 20 at 10 a.m. local time via AEG Live and . These early sales opportunities also included access for members through Bieber's official channels, encouraging immediate fan engagement ahead of the tour's launch. The initial venues were selected as major arenas in key North American markets to accommodate large audiences, emphasizing Bieber's return to high-capacity indoor settings after a period away from touring. The tour was set to open on March 9, 2016, at KeyArena at in , Washington, a venue with a concert capacity of approximately 17,000, highlighting the production's scale for the kickoff. Subsequent stops included multi-night residencies at prominent arenas such as in , STAPLES Center in , in , and Air Canada Centre in , all chosen for their ability to host Bieber's evolving stage spectacle tied to Purpose.

Tour expansion

Shortly after the North American announcement, Bieber expanded the tour internationally with 31 dates across , revealed on December 9, 2015. This leg was scheduled to begin on September 14, 2016, at Mercedes-Benz Arena in , , and conclude on November 25, 2016, at MEO Arena in , , covering major cities in the region. Following the initial North American leg, the Purpose World Tour expanded further in response to high fan demand, with additional dates announced for and . On September 30, 2016, revealed plans to add shows in and , with tickets going on sale the following week; the leg commenced on March 6, 2017, in Perth, , marking his first stadium performances in the region. This extension was driven by the tour's rapid success, as initial arena dates in sold out quickly, prompting multiple performances in key cities such as and to accommodate overflow crowds. Further growth came with the announcement of a Latin American leg on October 25, 2016, which included dates in , , and starting February 15, 2017, in Guadalupe, , and extending through April in San Jose, . These additions reflected Bieber's adjusting schedule amid the tour's momentum, allowing for broader global reach while prioritizing regions with demonstrated enthusiasm through presale metrics and buzz. The expansions collectively transformed the tour from a primarily North American affair into a worldwide production, aligning with Bieber's post-album promotional commitments. On December 5, 2016, during an appearance on , Bieber disclosed a new stadium leg for 2017, shifting to larger venues across due to sustained demand that outpaced arena capacities. This phase, beginning August 5, 2017, at the Rose Bowl in , responded directly to the tour's commercial surge, where early legs grossed millions and filled venues repeatedly, enabling logistical upgrades like enhanced production scales. The timeline of these announcements—spaced months apart—illustrated an adaptive strategy, balancing fan expectations with Bieber's evolving creative and personal priorities.

Production and performance

Concert synopsis

The Purpose World Tour by commenced on March 9, 2016, at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, and concluded on July 2, 2017, at Hyde Park in London, England, consisting of 140 shows across five continents, with a planned sixth leg cancelled. A typical concert followed a dynamic structure designed to showcase Bieber's evolution as an artist, opening with high-energy electronic pop tracks that ignited the crowd through elaborate staging and synchronized visuals, building momentum with upbeat anthems emphasizing redemption and rhythm from the Purpose album. The mid-section shifted to introspective ballads and acoustic segments, where Bieber delivered vulnerable performances on a central or hydraulic platform, highlighting emotional depth and vocal maturity amid themes of personal growth, , and overcoming past controversies central to the Purpose era. Key musical moments included the debut of unreleased tracks like the acoustic "Insecurities," a gentle guitar-driven piece addressing vulnerability in relationships, performed sporadically early in the tour to surprise fans with intimate revelations. Covers such as Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" added poignant layers during acoustic interludes, with Bieber's stripped-down rendition evoking themes of aspiration and escape, often eliciting hushed sing-alongs from the audience. The show culminated in a climactic encore featuring infectious hits like "Sorry," where Bieber returned for explosive crowd participation, complete with confetti and lights, reinforcing messages of apology and renewal. Audience interaction was a hallmark, with Bieber frequently pausing to share anecdotes on his spiritual journey and personal transformation, selecting fans to join him onstage for hugs, dances, or dedications, creating moments of genuine connection amid the spectacle. These elements wove a arc from youthful exuberance to reflective adulthood, mirroring the tour's overarching purpose of redemption.

Staging and visuals

The staging for the Purpose World Tour featured a multi-level set designed by production designers Nick DeMoura and Chris Gratton, incorporating ramps, hydraulic lifts, trap doors, a conveyor belt, and a suspended trampoline platform extending over the audience to facilitate dynamic performer movements and 360-degree visibility in stadium venues. A central element was a large plexiglass cube that rose from below the stage and was hoisted above the crowd via wire drum winches for Bieber's dramatic entrance, creating an isolated, suspended focal point early in the show. The design emphasized a stealthy, modern aesthetic inspired by the Purpose album's artwork, with aerial acrobatics performed by a troupe of dancers using the elevated structures and trampoline for flipping routines and crowd extensions. Visuals were handled by Possible Productions, which created 22 custom full-song scenic videos and three introductory cinematics, projected and displayed on massive LED screens and surfaces that wrapped the stage, syncing dynamic animations to the music for immersive environments ranging from abstract patterns to thematic motifs. integrated seamlessly with these elements, providing flare-ups and timed bursts to heighten energy during high-movement sequences, while a and splash pool added interactive effects in select segments. , designed by Fitzgerald in collaboration with Nick DeMoura, utilized and white palettes with strobes and minimalist spotlights to complement the monochromatic vibe, enhancing the cube's isolation and the overall fluid transitions across the multi-level setup. Costume changes, overseen by Karla Welch, reflected the tour's casual tied to the Purpose album's personal growth theme, featuring five custom ensembles from , pieces from and Supreme, and footwear for an amplified, everyday cool aesthetic that evolved across outfits without ornate illumination.

Set list and guests

Standard set list

The standard set list for the Purpose World Tour, established during the opening night on March 9, 2016, at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, consisted of 20 songs drawn primarily from Bieber's 2015 album Purpose, interspersed with select hits from prior releases. This sequence remained largely consistent across the majority of the completed shows, though it evolved slightly after the opening (e.g., incorporating "Boyfriend" and "Cold Water" in later performances), emphasizing high-energy pop tracks, introspective ballads, and fan-favorite anthems to showcase Bieber's artistic evolution. The concert opened with a medley of new material from Purpose, starting with the introspective "Mark My Words," where Bieber emerged dramatically from beneath the stage amid cascading lights and fog, setting a tone of vulnerability and redemption. This segment transitioned into upbeat collaborations like "" (Jack cover) and "," performed with dynamic visuals of swirling graphics and pyrotechnics to heighten the electronic pop vibe. Mid-show shifted to a mix of Purpose tracks and earlier hits, including "What Do You Mean?" delivered with synchronized choreography and elevated platforms for an immersive feel, followed by nostalgic numbers like "As Long as You Love Me" to engage longtime fans. Key performances highlighted Bieber's versatility: "Sorry" featured a high-energy choreographed routine involving over 20 dancers, synchronized to the song's reggae-infused beat under strobe lights and confetti bursts, while ballads like "Love Yourself" were stripped-down acoustic renditions with Bieber on guitar or , fostering intimate audience sing-alongs in a dimly lit, spotlight-focused setting. The acoustic segment included reflective tracks such as "Children" and "Life Is Worth Living," building emotional depth before closing with high-energy numbers. Transitions between songs utilized seamless video projections on massive LED screens and moving stage elements like skate ramps, maintaining momentum without lengthy pauses. The full standard set list from the opening night was as follows:
  1. Mark My Words
  3. I'll Show You
  5. Get Used to It
  6. Love Yourself
  7. Home to Mama
  8. Boyfriend
  9. Been You
  11. No Sense
  12. Hold Tight
  13. No Pressure
  14. As Long as You Love Me
  15. Children
  16. Life Is Worth Living
  17. What Do You Mean?
  18. Baby
  19. Purpose
  20. Sorry
Overall, the show ran approximately 90 minutes, balancing high-production spectacle with raw emotional delivery to create a cohesive narrative arc.

Variations and special guests

Throughout the Purpose World Tour, Justin Bieber occasionally varied the standard set list to incorporate older hits and adapt to regional audiences or personal circumstances. For instance, "One Less Lonely Girl" from his 2009 debut album was performed in select early shows, such as the March 12, 2016, concert in Vancouver, providing a nostalgic throwback for longtime fans. Later in the tour, Bieber made adjustments due to vocal strain, including shortening performances or skipping encores, as seen when he abruptly left the stage mid-show in Manchester on October 23, 2016, after asking fans to stop screaming and allow him to speak. Regional adaptations included the integration of contemporary hits like the "Despacito" remix during Latin American legs, reflecting Bieber's growing collaborations in that market. Special guests frequently elevated performances, often tying into tracks from the Purpose album or Bieber's earlier career connections. On March 20, 2016, at the Staples Center in , joined Bieber for "No Pressure," a collaboration from the album that highlighted their shared roots and hip-hop influences. That same show featured for "Confident," another Purpose feature, emphasizing Bieber's pivot toward rap-infused pop. In Atlanta on April 12, 2016, appeared for a reunion performance of "Baby," the 2010 breakout hit they co-recorded, evoking Bieber's origins. The following night, April 13, Usher—Bieber's longtime mentor—performed "U Got It Bad," "I Don't Mind," and "U Don't Have to Call," underscoring their professional bond from Bieber's early Def Jam days. also surprised fans that evening with an impromptu set. On July 19, 2016, at , , a childhood friend and collaborator, performed "Never Say Never" from Bieber's 2010 Never Say Never , marking a full-circle moment in their friendship. During the Latin American leg, joined Bieber on April 18, 2017, in for the "Despacito" remix, a 2017 global smash that bridged Bieber's pop style with and boosted his international appeal in the region. These guest appearances not only added excitement but also showcased Bieber's evolution, blending Purpose-era collaborations with foundational relationships that shaped his career. Impromptu elements, such as fan-dedicated renditions during these segments, further personalized shows and fostered deeper audience connections.

Reception

Critical reception

The Purpose World Tour received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Bieber's vocal maturity and the tour's elaborate production while critiquing his inconsistent energy levels and occasional pacing issues. Early shows, such as the kickoff, were lauded for Bieber's confident vocals and the show's visual spectacle, with describing the performance as "sublime vocally, visually and musically," highlighting how Bieber and his band elevated the material in a large arena setting. Billboard echoed this sentiment, noting that Bieber's vocals sounded "smooth as ever" during dance-heavy tracks like "Get Used to It," and commended the nonstop visuals and hooks that kept audiences engaged. However, several reviewers pointed to Bieber's apparent disengagement as a detracting factor, particularly in mid-tour arena dates. The Detroit News characterized a concert as a "sorry" affair, with Bieber "sleep-walk[ing] through his " and showing "indifference... border[ing] on ," including minimal interaction and extended pauses that disrupted pacing. Similarly, Phoenix New Times observed that Bieber appeared "bored and miserable" throughout a Arena show, suggesting his lackluster demeanor overshadowed the production's efforts. The Guardian's coverage of a O2 Arena performance described Bieber as delivering with "bored efficiency," relying on "maximum spectacle but little real feeling," though it acknowledged the enjoyability of stripped-back moments like "Love Yourself." Standout reviews emerged from international legs, including the concert, which marked a significant milestone as one of the first major English-language pop tours in , drawing 60,000 attendees despite mixed feedback on Bieber's robotic delivery. India noted the 90-minute set's minimal enthusiasm but recognized its cultural impact in a market rarely visited by global stars. NME's assessment of a O2 show praised the tour's ability to "wow crowds around the globe," emphasizing the spectacle and Bieber's growth into a more mature performer. Overall, critics observed a trend of stronger reception in later outings, where the production's scale better masked energy lapses.

Commercial performance

The Purpose World Tour grossed a total of $257.8 million across 143 shows, selling 2.83 million tickets worldwide. This marked a significant increase from Bieber's previous , which earned $210 million. At the time, the tour set records as the highest-grossing concert run by a male solo artist under 25 years old. The North American leg led in revenue, generating over $150 million according to data for 2016 performances. The 2017 international stadium leg further elevated earnings, with per-show averages reaching $2.5 million and contributing $93.2 million overall per reports.

Tour dates

Completed shows

The Purpose World Tour comprised 140 completed performances from March 9, 2016, to July 2, 2017, drawing a total attendance of over 2.7 million fans and generating more than $250 million in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing tours of the decade. The tour progressed through six legs, transitioning from arenas to stadiums in later phases, with promotion handled by AEG Presents for the initial North American dates and Live Nation for international segments. Venues ranged from mid-sized arenas like KeyArena (capacity around 12,000) to large stadiums such as Foro Sol (capacity over 65,000), reflecting escalating demand and production scale. The first leg, (March–July 2016), featured 64 arena shows across the and , grossing approximately $70 million from over 700,000 tickets sold. It opened on , 2016, at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, with 12,227 attendees and $1.3 million in revenue. Highlights included multiple nights in major cities, such as five shows at Staples Center in (March 20–22 and 24–25, 2016), totaling 68,500 attendees and over $13 million—though early reports noted three initial sellouts yielding $4.3 million and 41,445 fans. In , three performances at Centre in May 2016 attracted 31,482 attendees for $2.9 million. The leg (May 2016) included select arena and stadium dates, with notable stops in and , contributing to the tour's early international expansion. The and leg (September–October 2016) encompassed five stadium shows, promoted by Live Nation, playing to 221,208 fans across venues like ANZ Stadium in . The leg (October 2016–February 2017) shifted to stadiums, featuring six dates in , , and ; the shows at Foro Sol (February 24–26, 2017) were the tour's highest-grossing, with three sellouts drawing 155,201 attendees and $9.4 million. The European leg (June–November 2016) delivered around 40 arena performances, including 10 nights at in , before a brief and extension in early 2017 with stadium dates like the May 10 show at in , , which drew approximately 50,000 fans despite logistical challenges from high demand. The final stadium leg in 2017 included select European and festival dates, closing on July 2 at in , with approximately 65,000 attendees. One nearby cancellation due to exhaustion was noted, but the executed shows maintained strong turnout.
LegDatesNumber of ShowsKey Venues and HighlightsTotal Attendance (Select)Gross Revenue (Select)
March 9–July 2, 201664KeyArena ( opener: 12,227 fans); Staples Center (: 5 shows); Air Canada Centre (: 3 shows)~700,000~$70 million
(1st)May 2016~5Araneta Coliseum (); Singapore Indoor StadiumNot specifiedContributed to early $40 million total
Australia/New ZealandSeptember 6–October 8, 20165ANZ Stadium (); Etihad Stadium ()221,208over $22 million
October 29, 2016–February 26, 20176Foro Sol (: 3 shows, 155,201 fans); Allianz Parque ()~400,000~$25 million, led by $9.4 million
June 10–November 28, 2016~40The O2 (London: 10 shows); AccorHotels Arena ()~500,000~$60 million
Asia/Africa/Europe (Final)March 29–July 2, 2017~20DY Patil Stadium (: ~50,000 fans); closer: 65,000 fans)530,368 (17 shows)$50 million
Overall, the tour's logistics emphasized arena-to-stadium progression, with regional promoters ensuring sellouts in high-demand markets like ($20+ million across dates) and , underscoring Bieber's global draw.

Cancelled shows

In July 2017, cancelled the remaining 14 dates of the Purpose World Tour, which had been scheduled across , , and following the completion of earlier legs in and . The announcement came on July 24, 2017, citing "unforeseen circumstances," with the first affected show being July 29 at in . Other cancelled performances included August 5 at the Rose Bowl in ; September 23 and 24 at in , ; October 25 at Ericsson Globe in , ; and October 28 at Telenor Arena in , , among additional stops in locations such as ; ; and , . The primary reason for the cancellations was Bieber's struggles, including depression, anxiety, and exhaustion from the tour's demanding 18-month schedule of over 150 shows. Bieber elaborated on this in an post on August 3, 2017, explaining that he needed to prioritize rest and personal growth to achieve sustainability in his mind, heart, and soul, emphasizing that continuing would risk long-term damage to his well-being and career. As a result, full refunds were automatically issued to all ticket purchasers through their original points of sale, with no successful rescheduling efforts for any of the dates. The abrupt end marked the tour's conclusion after its final completed performance on July 2, 2017, at British Summer Time Hyde Park in London, leading to a multi-year hiatus from live touring in Bieber's career.

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