Ed Sheeran Embarks on Massive Loop Tour to Support New Album Play

1 January 2026 Music

A New Musical Chapter for the Chart-Topping Artist

Ed Sheeran is entering an exciting new phase of his career with the release of his eighth studio album, Play, and an extensive global tour that promises to captivate audiences worldwide. The album was released on 12 September 2025 through Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records, marking the first of Sheeran’s planned pentalogy of albums titled after media control symbols. This development is significant as it demonstrates Sheeran’s evolution as an artist, moving beyond his acclaimed Mathematics series to explore fresh musical territory.

The Loop Tour: A Global Stadium Spectacle

The tour began on 1 December 2025 in Paris, France and is set to conclude in Tampa, United States, on 7 November 2026. The tour will take Sheeran across multiple continents, with additional shows added in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland due to overwhelming demand. The singer will be returning to North America in the summer and fall of 2026 for a massive tour of stadiums, touching down in 22 cities in the biggest venues they have to offer. Notable stops include SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, Rogers Centre in Toronto and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Musical Innovation and Critical Reception

The album experiments with sounds from Indian and Persian music, while also continuing the electropop sound Sheeran explored in = (2021). The lead single, “Azizam”, was released on 4 April 2025 and debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s commercial success has been impressive, with Play debuting atop the UK Albums Chart with 67,654 album-equivalent units, becoming Sheeran’s ninth album to achieve this.

Personal Transformation and Looking Ahead

Beyond his musical achievements, Sheeran has undergone a significant personal transformation. Ed Sheeran has lost 30 pounds and the singer is revealing exactly how he did it, with weights, reformer Pilates and running at the core of Sheeran’s fitness routine. This commitment to wellness reflects a broader shift in the artist’s lifestyle and mindset, which he credits with improving both his physical and mental health. As Sheeran continues his Loop Tour through 2026, fans can expect an artist who is not only musically reinvigorated but also personally transformed, ready to deliver unforgettable performances on the world’s biggest stages.