We have to admit, it's been a while since we experienced such a stunning moment. On Wednesday, July 8, Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, kicked off the first concert of a series of four dates at the Stade de France. Four dates for his After Hours Til Dawn tour, completely sold out, of course, three years after performing in the legendary stadium for the last time. And if the 2023 show left us a bit puzzled, we acknowledge that it might be the biggest glow up we've seen in recent years: the 2026 show brought us forever back together with The Weeknd.
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©Sebastien Nagy
A breathtaking scenography
A 12-meter high golden metal statue rotates on its own with its laser gaze, set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop… From the moment you arrive, the tone is set: the show immerses us in a unique universe while occupying the entire space. And the interaction with space is perhaps what has impressed and captivated us the most. The stage forms a sort of cross that stretches almost from one end of the pit to the other, east to west. The result: the artist offers a moment of closeness to all the stadium's spectators.
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Among the songs from his latest album such as "Cry For Me," "Wake Me Up," and "Timeless"—which he performed in a duet with Playboi Carti—who also opened the show—he sprinkled in some tracks from previous albums, including classics like "Starboy," "After Hours," "Save Your Tears," and "Blinding Lights." All of this unfolded in a perfectly timed setup where lights and pyrotechnic effects—used abundantly—create the best and most breathtaking harmonies. It warms our hearts just as much as it makes us sing at the top of our lungs.
Less The Weeknd, more Abel
If there's one thing we often miss in American shows, it's undeniably the emotion. Sure, the performance is grand, thought out down to the last detail.In terms of details, there isn’t a single note sung incorrectly, nor a forgotten choreography… But the almost robotic aspect of it might seem disappointing. The Weeknd, on the other hand, has managed to combine both perfectly. As soon as he took off his signature mask and spoke a few words in French, he was able to create a connection with his audience, which he never lost throughout the 2 hours and 15 minutes of the concert.
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Tears, smiles, the "I love you's"... There's no holding back, and he's delivering sparkling and captivating performances one after another, which is exactly what we expect from an artist of his caliber. This connection with the audience continued with several moments spent close to the fans in the pit, even reaching out the microphone to one of them. Do we get the feeling that we've enjoyed more of Abel than The Weeknd? Absolutely. And even though he announced plans to leave this alter ego behind in the future, maybe that was the goal all along. One thing's for sure, if July 8 was just the introduction, get ready: the concerts on July 10, 11, and 12 promise to be just as mind-blowing.
After Hours til Dawn tour
Stade de France
On the 8th, 10th,11th and 12th of July
More info