The Tours — 09 · 2012

The MDNA Tour

From darkness to light, in four acts.

At a Glance

Dates

31 May 2012, Ramat Gan — 22 December 2012, Córdoba

Route

Middle East | Europe | North America | Latin America — 88 shows

The record

MDNA

Behind the scenes

Jamie King | Michel Laprise | Mark Fisher | Visuals by Moment Factory

On film

MDNA World Tour (2013), filmed in Miami

Her darkest show: a cathedral, a gun, a drumline in the rafters, and a long walk from transgression to redemption.

The Story

In 2012, Madonna opened her show inside a cathedral, a censer swinging above the stage and a gun in her hand. The MDNA Tour was her darkest production, described by Madonna herself as the journey of a soul from darkness to light, told in four acts of transgression, prophecy, gender play and redemption.

The MDNA Tour was Madonna’s ninth concert tour, launched in support of her 2012 album MDNA. It opened at Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel on 31 May 2012 and closed in Córdoba, Argentina on 22 December, playing 88 shows to more than 2.2 million people and grossing over US$305 million, Billboard’s top-grossing tour of the year. Jamie King was creative director, Michel Laprise show director and Mark Fisher the show’s architect, with visuals by Moment Factory and costumes overseen by Arianne Phillips with Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott and Alexander Wang. The Basque trio Kalakan joined her on stage.

The Show

Four Acts

Transgression — “Girl Gone Wild”, “Revolver”, “Gang Bang”, “Papa Don’t Preach” and more

Prophecy — “Express Yourself” (with a nod to “Born This Way”), “Give Me All Your Luvin’”, “Open Your Heart” and more

Masculine / Feminine — “Vogue”, “Candy Shop” / “Erotica”, “Human Nature”, “Like a Virgin” and more

Redemption — “I’m a Sinner”, “Like a Prayer”, “Celebration” and more

The Arguments

It was also her most argued-over show in years: the gunplay of the opening act, a video interlude that drew a legal threat from France’s National Front, her public support for Pussy Riot and LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, and a short, much-criticised set at the Paris Olympia.

The Verdict

As a Madonna tour, MDNA is confrontation staged as liturgy. It moves from violence to drum corps, from a slowed, aching “Like a Virgin” to the gospel uplift of “Like a Prayer”, and refuses to make any of it comfortable. The Miami shows of November 2012 were filmed for Madonna: The MDNA Tour and released as the live album MDNA World Tour (2013).

The Dates

Middle East & Europe

31 May 2012 – Ramat Gan, Israel – Ramat Gan Stadium

3 June 2012 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – du Arena
4 June 2012 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – du Arena
7 June 2012 – Istanbul, Turkey – Türk Telekom Arena
11 June 2012 – Zagreb, Croatia – Stadion Maksimir (cancelled)
12 June 2012 – Rome, Italy – Stadio Olimpico
14 June 2012 – Milan, Italy – Stadio San Siro
16 June 2012 – Florence, Italy – Stadio Artemio Franchi
20 June 2012 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
21 June 2012 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
24 June 2012 – Coimbra, Portugal – Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
28 June 2012 – Berlin, Germany – O2 World
30 June 2012 – Berlin, Germany – O2 World

2 July 2012 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken Stadium
4 July 2012 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Ullevi
7 July 2012 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
8 July 2012 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
10 July 2012 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
12 July 2012 – Brussels, Belgium – King Baudouin Stadium
14 July 2012 – Paris, France – Stade de France
17 July 2012 – London, England – Hyde Park
19 July 2012 – Birmingham, England – National Indoor Arena
21 July 2012 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Murrayfield Stadium
24 July 2012 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium
26 July 2012 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
29 July 2012 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadion

1 August 2012 – Warsaw, Poland – Stadion Narodowy
4 August 2012 – Kyiv, Ukraine – Olympic Stadium
7 August 2012 – Moscow, Russia – Olimpiyskiy
9 August 2012 – Saint Petersburg, Russia – SKK Peterburgsky
12 August 2012 – Helsinki, Finland – Helsinki Olympic Stadium
15 August 2012 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
18 August 2012 – Zürich, Switzerland – Letzigrund
21 August 2012 – Nice, France – Stade Charles-Ehrmann

North America

28 August 2012 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – Wells Fargo Center
30 August 2012 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Bell Centre

1 September 2012 – Quebec City, Quebec, Canada – Plains of Abraham
4 September 2012 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Garden
6 September 2012 – New York City, New York, USA – Yankee Stadium
8 September 2012 – New York City, New York, USA – Yankee Stadium
10 September 2012 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – Scotiabank Place
12 September 2012 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre
13 September 2012 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre
15 September 2012 – Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA – Boardwalk Hall
19 September 2012 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center
20 September 2012 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center
23 September 2012 – Washington, D.C., USA – Verizon Center
24 September 2012 – Washington, D.C., USA – Verizon Center
29 September 2012 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Rogers Arena
30 September 2012 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Rogers Arena

2 October 2012 – Seattle, Washington, USA – KeyArena
3 October 2012 – Seattle, Washington, USA – KeyArena
6 October 2012 – San Jose, California, USA – HP Pavilion
7 October 2012 – San Jose, California, USA – HP Pavilion
10 October 2012 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center
11 October 2012 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center
13 October 2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – MGM Grand Garden Arena
14 October 2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – MGM Grand Garden Arena
16 October 2012 – Phoenix, Arizona, USA – US Airways Center
18 October 2012 – Denver, Colorado, USA – Pepsi Center
20 October 2012 – Dallas, Texas, USA – American Airlines Center (cancelled)
21 October 2012 – Dallas, Texas, USA – American Airlines Center
24 October 2012 – Houston, Texas, USA – Toyota Center
25 October 2012 – Houston, Texas, USA – Toyota Center
27 October 2012 – New Orleans, Louisiana, USA – New Orleans Arena
30 October 2012 – Kansas City, Missouri, USA – Sprint Center

1 November 2012 – St. Louis, Missouri, USA – Scottrade Center
3 November 2012 – Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA – Xcel Energy Center
4 November 2012 – Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA – Xcel Energy Center
6 November 2012 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Consol Energy Center
8 November 2012 – Detroit, Michigan, USA – Joe Louis Arena
10 November 2012 – Cleveland, Ohio, USA – Quicken Loans Arena
12 November 2012 – New York City, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden
13 November 2012 – New York City, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden
15 November 2012 – Charlotte, North Carolina, USA – Time Warner Cable Arena
17 November 2012 – Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Philips Arena
19 November 2012 – Miami, Florida, USA – American Airlines Arena
20 November 2012 – Miami, Florida, USA – American Airlines Arena

Latin America

24 November 2012 – Mexico City, Mexico – Foro Sol
25 November 2012 – Mexico City, Mexico – Foro Sol
28 November 2012 – Medellín, Colombia – Estadio Atanasio Girardot
29 November 2012 – Medellín, Colombia – Estadio Atanasio Girardot

2 December 2012 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Parque dos Atletas
4 December 2012 – São Paulo, Brazil – Estádio do Morumbi
5 December 2012 – São Paulo, Brazil – Estádio do Morumbi
9 December 2012 – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Estádio Olímpico Monumental
13 December 2012 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – River Plate Stadium
15 December 2012 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – River Plate Stadium
19 December 2012 – Santiago, Chile – Estadio Nacional
22 December 2012 – Córdoba, Argentina – Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes