Singer Ed Sheeran will tour North America next summer and fall, playing at venues across the United States and Canada in 22 cities – one of which, as of now, will not be Houston.
The English musician recently announced the itinerary for his 2026 North American tour that includes stadiums in major cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas. Sheeran’s skip over Houston follows a trend of other major artists passing over the country’s third largest city, leaving many Houstonians to travel hours to see their favorite artists.
READ MORE: Some of the best bands skip Houston in favor of Dallas and Austin. Here are some reasons why.
Sheeran will start his tour in a Phoenix suburb on June 13 before making his way to cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Seattle. He will play at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Oct. 24, 2026.
Other Southern cities on his tour include Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; and Charlotte, N.C.
The Chronicle has reached out to Sheeran’s booking agent for comment.
Over the years, bands have skipped the Houston market while performing in Austin or Dallas. That list includes the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lady Gaga, the Weeknd, Kraftwerk, Roxy Music, Jack White and Florence and the Machine.
Concert bookers have told the Houston Chronicle that Austin has the strongest market for music in Texas due to its college-town vibe, the number of available venues and the number of radio stations that give more exposure to indie and adult-album-alternative artists than those in Houston. They said Houston’s crowds also have a reputation for talking during shows and often wait to buy tickets until the night of the show.
Sheeran’s 2026 tour comes after the artist released his latest album, “Play,” on Sept. 12. While the artist plans to skip Houston next year, in 2023 during Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour, he stopped in the city to perform at NRG Stadium.