Ariana Grande stepped onto the 2026 Critics Choice Awards carpet with more than couture on her side. The pop superstar and actor used her first major public appearance of the year to offer fans a long-awaited update on her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour, marking her return to the stage after a six-year hiatus.
Grande, nominated for best supporting actress for Wicked: For Good, attended Sunday’s (Jan. 4) ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. While awards buzz surrounded her performance as Glinda, it was her comments about touring that sparked immediate excitement online.
A Long Road Back to the Stage
Speaking with Live From E! on the red carpet, Grande confirmed that preparations for the tour, scheduled to kick off in June, are well underway. She shared that the creative process has been unfolding quietly for months.
“I’ve been working on the set list for a while now,” she said, adding that rehearsals are expected to begin soon. While she described the show as being “in a good place,” Grande noted that live performance always brings its own discoveries once movement, staging and pacing come into play.
The Eternal Sunshine Tour will be her first global trek since the Sweetener World Tour concluded in 2019. That run cemented Grande as one of pop’s most reliable live performers, blending vocal precision with theatrical production. The upcoming tour follows the release of Eternal Sunshine, an album that marked a tonal shift toward reflection and restraint.
Keeping the Mystery Intact
As for which tracks will make the cut, Grande kept details close to the vest. She declined to hint at deep cuts or fan favorites, saying she prefers the experience to unfold in real time.
“I want it to be a surprise,” she said.
Still, her enthusiasm was clear. Grande described herself as grateful to be working and eager to reconnect with fans in a live setting, a sentiment that resonated with audiences who have waited patiently for her return to arenas.
Fashion, Hair and Old Hollywood Energy
Grande’s appearance itself made waves. She arrived in a pale pink Alberta Ferretti gown featuring a flowing cape silhouette accented by silver floral details. The look leaned classic rather than theatrical, offering a softer contrast to her Wicked press tour wardrobe.
She paired the gown with custom Christian Louboutin Cassie lace-up heels and debuted a refreshed auburn hair color styled in a loose updo with side-swept bangs, signaling a subtle shift from her recent on-screen blonde era.
‘Wicked: For Good’ Earns Major Nods
Beyond her tour tease, Grande had plenty to celebrate. Wicked: For Good, the second chapter in Universal’s film adaptation, earned seven nominations at the ceremony, including best picture and best costume design.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell spoke on the carpet about the film’s elaborate wardrobe, revealing that Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s costumes are now archived by Universal under strict preservation conditions.
For Grande, the night balanced past achievements with what lies ahead, a return to music, a major film franchise, and a tour poised to be one of the year’s most anticipated pop events.
