Concert Review
ROSALÍA - LUX Tour 2026
A sun-soaked imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire sets the tone for the evening ahead. The medieval beauty that Cologne still holds intact creates the perfect décor to get us in the mood for ROSALÍA’s LUX Tour. The huge success of her experimental, classical-inspired album LUX has led her to a sold-out arena tour across the world. Tonight, it’s up to one of Germany’s biggest cities to welcome the Spanish superstar. Even before the curtains open, we know we are in for a good night as the orchestra makes their way to the middle of the arena. They take their seats and quietly begin playing to set the show in motion. As the curtains open, a wooden box is brought onto the stage. It comes as no surprise that ROSALÍA is hiding inside, dressed in a ballet outfit, ready to begin. Just like the album, we open with the beautiful ‘Sexo, Violencia y Llantas’. It’s simply the perfect way to start a show. It showcases the orchestra at its best and strikes the ideal balance between a slow burn and energetic outbursts. What a warm-up. Two of our personal LUX favorites appear early in the show. ‘Reliquia’ is clearly not just our favorite, as the entire crowd sings along to every word. Behind the singer, the dancers begin preparing the stage. They remove the curtains and sweep everything clean. It feels like watching a theatre piece come to life right in front of our eyes. After the clean-up, the dancers take center stage. Together with flowing white fabric, they create a stunning visual during the performance of the brilliant ‘Divinize’. From the moment ROSALÍA opens her mouth, we are in awe of her powerful voice. The control she has over her unique instrument is incredible. Her voice alone is impressive, but the emotion she channels through it is simply breathtaking. We don’t speak a word of Spanish, yet goosebumps take over our entire bodies. To our surprise, ‘Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti’ becomes one of the highlights of the evening. While we might skip it on the album (sorry!), we completely fall in love with it in this live setting. After an outfit change, it’s time to shift the energy in the building. The curtains open and ‘Berghain’ begins. A loud cheer erupts from the crowd, exactly as expected. We can’t believe we are witnessing this performance live. Every detail has been carefully thought out. From the orchestra delivering the production flawlessly, to the stunning outfit, the breathtaking choreography, and the inclusion of the famous BRIT Awards remix, everything clicks. We couldn’t have asked for more. As much as we love the LUX world, we were secretly hoping for some throwbacks to MOTOMAMI. Thankfully, ROSALÍA doesn’t forget her earlier hits. It’s time to bring that era to life on stage. We hear ‘SAOKO’, ‘LA FAMA’, and ‘LA COMBI VERSACE’. We wondered how these songs would fit sonically into the show, but surprisingly, it works perfectly. It ignites an imaginary fire on stage that almost feels real, fueled by the powerful performance of ROSALÍA and her dancers. Some of our favorite “day-one” ROSALÍA songs don’t make the setlist, making room for a cover of Frankie Valli’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. What might seem out of place at first works beautifully within the show. The stage transforms into a living painting as ROSALÍA serenades us like a modern-day Mona Lisa. Even with many Spanish-speaking fans in the crowd, this moment allows international fans to sing along with confidence. We can only imagine how much the parents accompanying their kids to the show enjoyed the song played by a beautiful orchestra in ROSALÍA’s cheeky rendition. It’s confession time. ROSALÍA steps into the role of a priest and invites a fan into her confession booth. We hear an actual confession, something about blood in the bolognese (you really had to be there). This moment leads into one of the biggest fan favorites of the night. ‘La Perla’ follows, bringing another piece of live art. The dancers are dressed entirely in black, except for their arms, which are covered in bright white gloves. Their hands become part of the stage design, moving around ROSALÍA in a playful, almost surreal way. It’s simple, yet incredibly effective, even in this huge arena setting. Another outfit change follows. A baroque-inspired dress and headpiece frame the singer beautifully as she walks toward the orchestra to greet them in person. All eyes shift to the center of the arena as ROSALÍA joins her musicians. With the orchestra now fully in focus, you might expect another classical moment. Instead, we get the complete opposite. ‘CUUUUuuuuuute’ from MOTOMAMI is transformed into an explosive, all-out performance. Goosebumps, big smiles, and disbelief take over. Sensational. As we approach the end, we get a blend of MOTOMAMI and LUX. First, we dance to ‘BIZCOCHITO’ and ‘DESPECHA’ before moving into songs from her Complete Works version of her latest album. The night closes with a heavenly rendition of ‘Magnolias’. Once again, she proves her voice is a force of nature. Her range is incredible, truly out of this world. She showcases both her classical and flamenco training. A bright light shines behind her as she slowly disappears into it, quite literally like the goddess she is. This wasn’t just a pop concert. It was an indescribable experience where multiple worlds came together. While some performers claim opera, ballet, and the dancefloor are dead, we are grateful to have artists like ROSALÍA who continue to honor them. She pays tribute to the greats across genres while pushing things forward. It was a dance performance, a classical concert, a pop superstar spectacle, and an art exhibition all in one. ROSALÍA, you are truly one of a kind.
