Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour 2025: A Look Back at the UK’s Pop Phenomenon
London, 24 January 2026 – Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour 2025 was more than a concert series; it was a cultural reset. The pop icon’s first major world tour in over a decade concluded last August, but its impact on British audiences remains a talking point. As we look back, the tour’s UK leg stands as a masterclass in pop production and a testament to Minogue’s enduring star power.
The Tour That Was
Announced in September 2024, the Tension Tour was Minogue’s biggest tour since 2011’s Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour. It supported her sixteenth and seventeenth studio albums, ‘Tension’ (2023) and ‘Tension II’ (2024). The global trek commenced in Perth, Australia on 15 February 2025 and concluded in Monterrey, Mexico on 26 August 2025, comprising 66 shows across five continents.
The UK leg, which ran from 16 May to 6 June 2025, saw the singer perform 14 sold-out arena dates across nine cities. It was her most extensive UK tour in over a decade, visiting Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London, Nottingham, and Birmingham.
Critical Acclaim & Five-Star Reviews
From the opening night at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, the tour was met with universal critical acclaim. Major publications across the UK awarded the show a perfect five-star rating. The Glasgow Times wrote that Minogue “delivered her masterclass in pop music,” while The Guardian called the show a “thrilling reinvention” and referred to Minogue as a “pop deity”.
The Telegraph praised Minogue as a “formidably glamorous star and someone you feel you could have a cup of tea with,” while The Independent labelled the setlist “serotonin-boosting” and Minogue “one of the greatest pop stars of all time”.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tour Name | Tension Tour |
| Artist | Kylie Minogue |
| Announced | 19 September 2024 |
| UK Leg Dates | 16 May – 6 June 2025 |
| Number of UK Shows | 14 |
| Support Act (UK) | Jodie Harsh |
| Tour Support Albums | ‘Tension’ (2023) & ‘Tension II’ (2024) |
| Largest UK Venue | The O2 Arena, London (Capacity: 20,000) |
| Reported Attendance (Total UK) | Approx. 280,000 |
| Critical Reception (UK Average) | 5/5 Stars |
A Setlist Spanning Eras
True to its billing as an “excursion through every Kylie era,” the setlist was a meticulously crafted journey. It blended fresh material from the ‘Disco’ (2020), ‘Tension’, and ‘Tension II’ albums with beloved classics. The show was structured into distinct thematic acts, chronicling Minogue’s artistic evolution from her early Stock Aitken Waterman hits to her modern dance-pop anthems.
Highlights included a 1990s-inspired “trip house” experimental segment, which Minogue described as a concept she had “veered away from” in the past but was excited to revisit. The show-stopping finale featured a mass singalong to the global smash ‘Padam Padam’, which had won a Grammy for Best Pop Dance Recording in 2024.
Special Guests & Surprise Collaborations
The tour was notable for its high-profile guest appearances. During the 2 May 2025 concert in Los Angeles, Minogue performed her 2000 hit ‘Spinning Around’ with British singer Rita Ora. A month later, at the 31 May 2025 concert in Birmingham, she was joined by rapper Jazzi P for a rendition of her 1991 single ‘Shocked’.
These collaborations were not isolated incidents. Throughout the tour, Minogue was joined on stage by a rotating cast of special guests, including British DJ and producer Jodie Harsh, who served as the primary support act for the entire UK leg.
Legacy & Lasting Impact
Industry analysts have since pointed to the Tension Tour as a watershed moment for Minogue. It not only re-established her as a major global touring force but also demonstrated her unique ability to synthesise pop, rap, country, electropop, dance, and house music into a cohesive and commercially successful live show.
In a review for Le Figaro, critic Léna Lutaud wrote: “Smiling, funny, and a good friend to the audience, Kylie Minogue is radiant and deeply likeable.” The tour’s success has been widely attributed to this unique blend of artistic versatility and personal charisma.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour take place?
The Tension Tour was a global concert tour that ran from 15 February 2025 to 26 August 2025. The UK leg took place between 16 May and 6 June 2025.
How many shows did she perform in the UK?
Kylie performed 14 shows across nine UK cities during the tour’s UK leg.
Who was the special guest at the Birmingham show?
Rapper Jazzi P joined Kylie on stage at the Birmingham BP Pulse LIVE arena on 31 May 2025 for a performance of her 1991 single ‘Shocked’.
What was the setlist like?
The setlist was a career-spanning retrospective, featuring hits from every era of Minogue’s discography, from her early PWL hits to her most recent dance-pop singles.