After Hours Til Dawn - The Weeknd at Soldier Field, Chicago

by Brenda Leyva

The Weeknd brought his tour to Soldier Field for two back-to-back nights, and I got to experience both! From surprise guests to a packed setlist, here’s everything that went down, plus some photos and highlights.

Who is The Weeknd

The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, started out by uploading music to YouTube in 2010. At first, no one even knew what he looked like. Now, he’s the most-streamed artist in the world. His music blends R&B, pop, and electronic sounds, and he's known for creating entire worlds with each album. From House of Balloons to After Hours and Dawn FM, his sound keeps evolving. He’s worked with artists like Ariana Grande, Daft Punk, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and Future, and each collaboration shows how much range he really has. His ability to combine emotional storytelling with huge production has made him one of the biggest names in music today.

Day 1

I went to both nights of his After Hours Til Dawn tour at Soldier Field in Chicago, and night one was incredible. The stadium was packed, and the energy was unreal. The Weeknd performed over 40 songs and didn’t stop until 11:45 p.m. He included hits like “Blinding Lights,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” and “Die for You,” along with songs from Dawn FM. The visuals, the lighting, and the whole stage setup were just as impressive. It felt more like a movie than a concert, and every second was worth it.

Playboi Carti and Mike Dean opened both nights and set the tone perfectly. On night one, Carti and The Weeknd even performed “Timeless” and “RATHER LIE” together, which was a standout moment for sure. Mike Dean also performed live alongside The Weeknd during his set.

Mike Dean performing with The Weeknd

ig: @brendismode

Day 2

Just when I thought night one couldn’t be topped, night two completely surprised me. Playboi Carti was one of the openers, and the crowd was already fired up. Then Travis Scott showed up as a special guest, and the entire stadium went wild. The 2 iconic artists played "CRUSH", from Playboi Carti's album, "FEIN", and "Goosebumps". When The Weeknd came out again, it felt just as fresh and exciting as the first night. The setlist had a few changes, but the energy stayed high the entire time. His vocals were still flawless, and the production stayed just as intense.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/032141_43b2e37318df465babde25b8f39f4529/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Special Guest, Travis Scott, performs "CRUSH"

ig: @brendismode

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/032141_05636dfdd7c64384be77b55ab1e71c38/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Playboi Carti at Soldier Field

ig: @brendismode

Final Thoughts

This was easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. The Weeknd puts everything into his performance. His voice, the visuals, the atmosphere, and even the surprise guests made it unforgettable. If you ever get the chance to see him live, do it. He’s not just the top artist in the world because of numbers. He earns it every time he steps on stage.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/032141_d8a9b8f5f86e4753a154696e15434990/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

The Weeknd sings "Wake Me Up"

ig: @brendismode

Photos

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The Weeknd at Soldier Field

ig: @brendismode

Setlist

As The Weeknd continues to tour around the country, take a look at the following songs he played at the concert!