Honestly, it feels like forever since we’ve seen Katy Perry really lean into a full-scale road show across the States. After that massive "PLAY" residency wrapped up in Las Vegas, everyone was kinda wondering what she’d do next. Well, the answer turned out to be The Lifetimes Tour, and if you’ve been tracking the chaos of ticket releases, you know it’s basically the biggest thing on her plate for 2025 and 2026.
Katy isn't just playing the hits this time. She’s touring on the back of 143, her dance-pop-heavy album that—love it or hate it—was built for a live environment. There’s something about her energy that just works better in a massive room full of people screaming "Teenage Dream" than it does on a Spotify playlist.
What to Expect from the Katy Perry US Tour
If you’re planning to catch the Katy Perry US tour, you should probably prepare for some serious sensory overload. The tour officially kicks off its U.S. leg on May 7, 2025, at the Toyota Center in Houston. From there, it’s a whirlwind. We’re talking stops in Oklahoma City, Chicago, and a massive night at Madison Square Garden in August.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just about the new songs.
Katy has been pretty open about the fact that she’s digging into the archives. During her interview with USA Today, she mentioned including "deep cuts" that fans haven't heard live in years. It’s a smart move. While 143 is the reason for the tour, she knows people are paying those Ticketmaster fees to hear the nostalgia.
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The Real Schedule: Major U.S. Stops
The routing is actually pretty interesting. She’s hitting the South and Midwest first, taking a break for a massive Australian run, and then coming back to finish off the East Coast and West Coast in the summer.
- The Early Run: May is all about Texas, Illinois, and Nevada. The May 17 show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is expected to be a highlight, mostly because she basically lived in that city for years during her residency.
- The Summer Heat: Come July, she’s hitting the Honda Center in Anaheim (July 13) and the Kia Forum in Inglewood (July 15). Home turf shows are always a different vibe.
- The Grand Finale: The U.S. leg wraps up in Florida, specifically Miami at the Kaseya Center on August 23.
If you're looking for tickets, the prices have been all over the map. Reports from venues like the Amalie Arena in Tampa show prices starting around $54.75 for the nosebleeds, but they quickly climb to nearly $300 for the lower bowl. And that’s before the resellers get their hands on them.
Why This Tour Feels Different
There’s been some chatter online about venue sizes. On platforms like Reddit, fans noticed that she’s sticking mostly to arenas—think 10,000 to 20,000 capacity—rather than the 60,000-seat stadiums she was filling during the Prismatic era.
Is that a "flop"? Not necessarily.
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Arenas allow for a way more controlled technical setup. If you saw the "PLAY" residency, you know she loves massive, high-tech props (remember the giant toilet?). Moving that kind of stagecraft from stadium to stadium is a logistical nightmare. By sticking to arenas, she can keep the production value high without the echoing sound issues you get in a football stadium.
Also, Rebecca Black is slated as a special guest for parts of the tour. That alone is a wild bit of internet culture coming full circle. It adds to that "celebratory, slightly campy" vibe Katy has always championed.
The Setlist Secret
A butterfly-shaped piece of paper. That’s how she leaked the setlist while literally flying on a Blue Origin space flight. Talk about being extra.
The setlist is structured into "Levels," much like a video game. You’ve got the classics like "Dark Horse" and "E.T." early on, but she’s also weaving in the newer tracks like "WOMAN’S WORLD" and "LIFETIMES."
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One surprising inclusion? Her cover of Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know." It’s become a bit of a staple in her recent live appearances and usually gets one of the biggest reactions of the night.
Tips for Getting In the Room
Don't wait. Seriously.
- Check the Presales: Citi and Verizon usually have the first crack at these. If you have a friend with one of those accounts, buy them a drink and use their code.
- The "Side Stage" Strategy: In many of these arenas, the seats with a slightly obstructed view are significantly cheaper. With Katy’s stage designs, she often moves around so much that "obstructed" doesn't mean you won't see her.
- Wait for the 2026 European Leg? If you miss out on the Katy Perry US tour, she’s heading to Europe and the UK in the summer of 2026. Sometimes it's actually cheaper to fly to London or Paris and see a show there than it is to pay the markup for a sold-out show in NYC.
Making the Most of Your Night
If you’re going, go all out. The "Lifetimes" vibe is very much 90s/00s rave meets high-fashion pop. We’re seeing a lot of chrome, neon, and butterfly motifs in the crowd.
Ultimately, this tour is Katy trying to prove she’s still got the "it" factor in a landscape dominated by newer stars. Based on the ticket sales in Australia and Mexico, the "KatyCats" aren't going anywhere.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the official Ticketmaster or AXS page for your specific city to see if "Platinum" seats have dropped in price. Often, venues release a small batch of held tickets about 48 hours before the show starts. If you missed out during the initial sale, set a calendar alert for two days before the Houston or Vegas dates—you might just snag a floor seat for retail price.