On Thursday, July 24, 2025, The Weeknd made a triumphant return to Montreal, performing at Parc Jean‑Drapeau—his first appearance in the city since headlining Osheaga Festival in 2017. The concert marked a high point of his extensive After Hours ‘Til Dawn stadium tour, showcasing a meticulously choreographed production alongside guest appearances by Playboi Carti and legendary producer Mike Dean.
The After Hours ‘Til Dawn tour supports The Weeknd’s trilogy of albums: After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and the latest release, Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025). Launched in May 2025 with a stadium-first rollout across North America, the tour features over 40 dates from Phoenix to San Antonio, with a strong Canadian leg encompassing Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton.
In collaboration with Global Citizen, The Weeknd pledged $1 from every ticket sold to support children in vulnerable communities, aligning the tour with a philanthropic mission beyond music.
The show was a spectacle of dramatic visuals and pyrotechnics, with an extended 37-song set blending classics and new tracks. Hits included Blinding Lights, Starboy, The Hills, and selections from his latest album like Timeless, Baptized in Fear, and São Paulo. Though the exact Montreal setlist hasn’t been fully transcribed, earlier performances from Santa Clara and Seattle across July closely followed the same lineup.
The stage design took center stage in the experience, referencing iconic imagery including a giant golden statue evoking Metropolis and a mid‑run church-like structure harkening to Ethiopian rock‑hewn architecture—possibly paying tribute to Tesfaye’s heritage.
Playboi Carti, featured on the track Timeless, delivered an energetic opening set and reportedly joined The Weeknd onstage during select numbers, including a rendition of his own Rather Lie. His presence underscored the deep collaborative nature of the tour and the crossover appeal between hip-hop and alternative R&B.
Mike Dean opened with a live instrumental synth-based blend of beats and melodies, setting a cinematic tone before handing off to the main act. Known for his production prowess with Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Beyoncé, Dean also co-produced a significant portion of Hurry Up Tomorrow, including tracks like Wake Me Up and São Paulo—further solidifying his role throughout the performance.
Ticket prices stirred conversations online—the cheapest general-admission seats were listed at around $127 USD including fees, according to Vivid Seats figures as of publication date July 21, 2025. This pricing reflects high demand balanced against the scale and artistry of the show. Fans, particularly on social media, expressed both excitement and mild sticker shock at these figures, though many considered it a fair value given the production quality.
This concert carried added weight as many fans and critics interpret the After Hours ‘Til Dawn tour as a possible finale to The Weeknd’s persona as “The Weeknd.” Rumors suggest Abel Tesfaye may retire the name after concluding his trilogy and embark on a new creative chapter. That speculation made the Montreal stop feel like a historic moment—a closing curtain on one artistic era and the dawn of another.
As Montreal’s first major headlining stadium show since 2017, the performance also reaffirmed the city’s importance in The Weeknd’s career. A Montreal native himself, Tesfaye’s return to the city where he got his start added a personal resonance to the night.
From a cultural perspective, the tour’s blend of immersive design, high-energy choreography, and thematic set pieces elevated the live music experience. Vancouver Sun reviewers commented on earlier shows that from “a veritable forest of flames” to laser light volleys and dystopian imagery, the production has been called “all drama and flash.”
Following the Montreal shows, the tour continues with four concerts in Toronto on July 27–28 and August 7–8, also featuring Carti and Dean. The remaining North American leg is scheduled to wrap on September 3 in San Antonio, after stops across the U.S. including Miami, Atlanta, and Houston.
The July 24, 2025 performance at Montreal’s Parc Jean‑Drapeau was a landmark evening for both artist and city: The Weeknd returning home after eight years, delivering a marathon 37-song spectacle alongside Playboi Carti and Mike Dean, in a show rife with symbolism and theatrical flair. With accessible ticket pricing in the $127 USD range, the concert offered fans a rare opportunity to witness what may be the culmination of a musical era—and the dawn of something new.