Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena was a dazzling spectacle that reaffirmed her status as pop royalty. Over four sold-out nights, Perry delivered a high-energy performance that blended her iconic hits with a futuristic stage design, captivating fans across generations.
While she’s been a somewhat frequent visitor to Melbourne over the years, this marked Perry’s first proper stadium tour here since the 2018 Witness tour. (She’s done other gigs, like performing at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and the 2024 AFL Grand Final, and at least one private show for a billionaire).
The concert was structured into five themed acts, each showcasing different facets of Perry’s musical journey – basically her version of Taylor Swift’s Era’s tour but reimagined as a video game.
She opened with “Artificial,” setting an energetic tone that carried through classics like “Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed a Girl,” and “Hot n Cold.” The setlist also featured newer tracks from her album 143, including “Make It On Your Own,” demonstrating her evolving artistry.
The tour had faced significant criticism in the United States with early performances mocked online for lacklustre choreography and perceived low energy, with viral videos highlighting these issues. Additionally, her participation in a Blue Origin space flight drew backlash, leading to further negative attention.
A lot of this seemed to have been ironed out by the time she brought the show to Australia. Visually, the show was a feast for the eyes as she and her dancers worked their way around a large infinity symbol shaped stage that took up most of the floor space in the arena. The stage design incorporated gaming-inspired elements, vibrant costumes, and dynamic lighting.
Perry interacted with fans – signing one bloke’s arm, which was already covered in signatures that he’d had inked into tattoos from previous celebrity interactions. She brought a young girl named Sienna on stage too, and let her perform alongside her.
Regardless of what controversies Perry has attracted at home, Aussie audiences have a huge soft spot for her. While the U.S. pop landscape shifts rapidly and trends skew younger, Australian audiences often show strong support for legacy pop acts. There’s a deep appreciation here for early 2000s and 2010s hitmakers—think Pink, Robbie Williams, or Kylie—and Perry sits comfortably in that nostalgic sweet spot.
