Ariana Grande is set to take on her biggest challenge yet when she tours for the first time in seven years, but she’s also opened up about what food she enjoys when visiting the UK
07:00, 22 Mar 2026Updated 08:29, 22 Mar 2026
Ariana is ready for her biggest challenge yet(Image: BANG Showbiz)
She is one of the biggest stars on the planet, but performing on stage hasn’t always been easy for Ariana Grande.
In the spotlight since her early teens, the singer and actress has previously opened up about battling nerves while performing live, but she now has a different outlook.
After working hard on her mental health, the star of hit movie musical Wicked is preparing to embark on her first concert tour in seven years, which includes 10 sold-out dates at London’s O2 this August. But this time she’s actively looking forward to the challenge.
The 7 Rings singer says: “I used to find touring had a really negative impact on my mental health, but at the same time of course I miss performing for my fans. I think I now have the confidence to do things differently, to know what works for me, what doesn’t and what boundaries I need to put in place.
Ariana is heading back on tour for the first time in seven years(Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)
“It feels different this time – I feel a lot more mentally prepared.” It is understandable why Ariana might be anxious about performing live – especially in the UK.
In 2017, 22 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in a terrorist attack after her concert at Manchester Arena. The devastated star suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and said she started to feel inhuman because she was surrounded by so much security.
She said: “You try not to give in to fear because obviously that’s the whole point of being here – that was the point of finishing my tour. You want to not be afraid, because of course that’s what [the terrorists] want. If you give them that, then they’ve won. But the truth is, it’s scary. It’s scary going anywhere. You look at places differently.”
She also said she does not think she will ever be able to “talk about it and not cry”. But nine years on, the three-times Grammy winner and Oscar nominee is in a much more confident place, with therapy playing a big part.
She says: “Self-care is not a dirty phrase, it’s something we should all be doing. Talking things through with a therapist has helped me so much. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it has saved my life.
“I am such an advocate for therapy for all. I understand that I am in a massively privileged position that I am able to fund it, but we have to get to a point where it is available for all.”
Despite the trauma, the star says she fell in love with the UK while shooting Wicked and its sequel and cannot wait to return for her Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first since 2019.
Ariana, who is dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, 33, after splitting from her ex-husband Dalton Gomez, says: “To have to put on more shows because of demand is always an amazing feeling, and I am truly humbled. I love the UK, I love London, and I can’t wait to have a great time with my fans over there.”
She lived in Hampstead, North London, while filming at Sky Studios Elstree in Herts, and fitted right in – and loved roast dinners. The star says: “It was such a happy time for me. The locals were great – I really started to feel like one of them.
“They didn’t treat me any differently, I got to visit the shops or a café and live a normal life.” And a catch-up with Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, 39, is on the cards. Ariana adds: “We will meet up, I am sure. She is like a sister to me.”
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