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Bruno Mars Sets New Touring Records in Toronto and Vancouver

Mars is set to play four nights at BC Place and five at Rogers Stadium on his The Romantic Tour in 2026, the most at either venue for any artist on a single tour.

Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars
John V. Esparza

Bruno Mars is making history with his upcoming tour.

The star singer announced his world stadium tour, The Romantic Tour, last week, and it's already breaking records. With four concerts at Vancouver’s BC Place set for October (14, 16, 17 and 20), he now holds the record for the most shows played at the stadium by an artist on a single tour. Mars also becomes the first artist to play five concerts at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, all of which are set for May (23, 24, 27, 28 and 30).


The BC Place record was previously held by Taylor Swift who closed out her Eras Tour with a trio of Vancouver shows last December. As for Toronto's Rogers Stadium, Coldplay played four nights at the temporary venue during its inaugural season last summer. Both venues are among the biggest in their cities with capacities of over 50,000, making four or five night affairs a rare feat.

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Mars is making history beyond Canada too. He broke the record for the most tickets sold on Ticketmaster in 24 hours, another record previously held by Swift's massive Eras Tour. The Romantic Tour sold 2.1 million tickets on Jan. 15, the most single-day sales in Live Nation’s history. After adding additional dates due to overwhelming demand, Mars' first trek in ten years now boasts 71 dates in stadiums worldwide, including six new Canadian shows.

The tour is in support of The Romantic, his upcoming first solo album since 2016. While the full album won't be out until Feb. 27, it's already doing blockbuster numbers. Lead single “I Just Might,” a groovy funk number with infectious horns and guitars, debuted at No. 1 the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Canadian Hot 100 this week.

Despite his long breaks between albums, Bruno Mars has remained one of the most popular artists making music right now. Mars was credited on the No. 3 and No. 4 Canadian Hot 100 songs of 2025, "APT." (with Rosé) and "Die With a Smile" (with Lady Gaga). The demand is high, and this should be one of the biggest tours of 2026.

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David Wiffen
Courtesy Photo

David Wiffen

FYI

Obituaries: Peers Pay Tribute to Canadian Folk Great David Wiffen

This week we also acknowledge the passing of controversial hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, U.S. guitar ace Wayne Perkins and Hamilton musician and author Douglas Carter.

David George Wiffen, an Ottawa-based folk singer-songwriter revered by his peers and best known for his classic tune "Driving Wheel," died on April 5, at age 84.

A Globe and Mail obituary reports that "Wiffen was born in 1942, in Redhill, Surrey, a market town south of London. He first arrived in Canada as a 16-year-old with his family when his father, an engineer, was transferred to Toronto. Wiffen returned to England but eventually doubled back to Canada to stay."

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