When you’ve been writing about why you should be listening to Olivia Rodrigo for more than five-and-a-half years and by three full-length, no-skip albums later, you’ve somehow just seen her live in person for the first time, it takes a moment to piece together what you want to say.
“I can’t believe we’re here,” Rodrigo voiced a few songs into opening night of her Unraveled Tour Friday (Sept. 25).
There were indisputable setlist highs and stunning visuals during the arena tour’s launch in Hartford, Connecticut. There were pink and white flowers everywhere, and somewhere there was a never-ending supply of more pink and white flowers in reach of stagehands replacing any that got shuffled away. Those flowers must be line item No. 1 on Olivia’s concert rider.
And from those pink and white flowers, and the chirping of birds and crickets, emerged the star of the show on date one of two at Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena — like, she got up from a field of wildflowers on the stage floor, where she set the show in motion with a whimsical “Drop Dead.” She bloomed in front of a sold-out arena in the middle of sleepy Connecticut on a Friday night, a room with an audience that leaned female but had enough men there to cover the goofy deep vocal part on “Expectations” and probably shed a tear or two to “Drivers License” like you will, too.
There were families of all kinds, with the kind of parent sitting behind you that teaches their children to pay attention to the opening act — a good decision to make here, where Wolf Alice did a fine job warming up the crowd. (Some of Liv’s favorites: “You’re a Germ” and “Bros. ” “If you haven’t listened to them, you should do a deep dive,” Rodrigo said during her set, after playing “Happy Birthday” to her mom on piano.)
The Unraveled Tour is a concert for all ages to enjoy — OK, yeah, there’s a “f—” or two — and because of Rodrigo’s influences, along with a stellar touring band, it’s got rock show vibes. There are beautiful, gut-wrenching piano-pop moments, like the inescapable “Drivers License,” but most of the you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love singer-songwriter’s slower-tempo tracks lean into rock ballad territory live on the Unraveled stage. And then there are anthems like “Expectations” and “All-American Bitch,” can’t-miss bits on a setlist that honestly has no misses.
With three albums’ worth of material to pull from, Rodrigo curated a 2026 setlist that hit all the marks.
As did she, on the first night of this big, sold-out tour, which by all accounts felt joyous and like it went off without a hitch. Besides her commitment to the floral motif, there was rain, snow and confetti falling from above, and a big screen to take in the details; Rodrigo really knows how to work the camera to make her performance and emotions feel up-close, even if you’re quite far from the stage.
Olivia Rodrigo perfroms during “The Unraveled Tour” with the first of 2 sold-out shows at People’s Bank Arena on September 25, 2026, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Christopher Polk/Billboard
With all of GUTS and SOUR to choose from, and just a two-hour show time, some songs had to be left out. From Rodrigo’s latest album, “What’s Wrong With Me” was sadly missing from the set, but it’s a fair omission since Robert Smith’s not on tour with her. Scroll through the 23 songs that did make up the complete Unraveled Tour setlist here — it’s full of hits and fan favorites.
Rodrigo roamed around a big, curved main stage in Hartford that made for great views from all angles for most of the night, but took the small, in-the-round B-stage for what would be the top performance (“The Cure,” rain-soaked and cathartic). She unexpectedly showed up on an even smaller stage for a lovely “Stupid Song,” a performance where she was surrounded by fans like a chorus. Three stage choices allowed general-admission ticketholders a fair shot at getting close to Rodrigo.
See five of the best moments from the opening night of her Unraveled Tour in Hartford below. Honorable mention to look out for at your concert date: the stunning transformation of “Cigarette Smoke” from slow-burning album closer to angsty mid-show rock therapy.
-
“Drivers License” Has Still Got It
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard If you’re wondering whether “Drivers License” can still make a grown woman cry five years after first hearing it, the answer is yes. It can.
It’d be a lie if this pinnacle performance didn’t make a list of best moments. Rodrigo’s breathtaking breakthrough hit, topping off a three-song run on piano at the curved end of the Unraveled main stage, still hits, especially surrounded by thousands of others who feel the same. A starry-looking arena — thanks to the light-up bracelets offered to every ticketholder — echoed with voices singing “I still f—ing love you” with her after two other songs of limerance (a particularly sad “Honeybee,” then “Favorite Crime”) already had them in their feels.
-
Close Encounters With the Crowd
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard It takes a certain talent to make an arena show with big pop hits intimate. Rodrigo accomplished that with the help of multiple stages spread out around the venue’s large floor space, including a curved main stage, a small round B-stage, and a mini third stage just big enough for her to stand on solo. She also took the time to create small moments with fans that likely meant everything to them.
Rodrigo walked by different sections of the barricade where she’d stop, seemingly on a whim, to sing with someone or just hold a hand. Maybe have a quick dance party. At least once, it looked like she posed for a selfie. Security was by her side, but didn’t impede on the fan interaction.
At another point in the night, she sang an entire song (“Less”) seated on the B-stage stairs. She was eye level and in arm’s reach of those in the pit.
The feeling of closeness should only get stronger as the tour goes on and Rodrigo gets increasingly comfortable with her set. The stage being her second home over the course of several months should make hitting the show’s beats second nature, leaving extra room for connection.
-
The Birthday Party
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Sept. 25’s celebration was twofold: the launch of The Unraveled Tour, in all its wildflower splendor, and a very special birthday. Rodrigo led the arena in an unrehearsed, sweet round on piano of “Happy Birthday” for her mom, who was somewhere in the room, after saying, “She’s the best mom a girl could ever ask for. I would not be here, or anywhere, without her constant love and support.”
“I could f—ing cry, I love her so much,” Rodrigo said. “I was wondering if you guys could sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her for me. Can you do that? Her name is Jenny.”
-
Ending on “Expectations”
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard “Expectations” was as excellent in a live setting as you’d imagine. Liv let loose for the cheeky ode to setting the bar just a bit higher in relationships, her playful side shining as made the stage her own in what looked like her favorite jeans and white tank.
Rodrigo played the part of choral director, too, instructing the men in the audience to sing “I got big expectations/ I got real big expectations” in an exaggerated deep voice, while the women would sing the same line in a higher-pitched tone, mimicking the fun track layers on her you seem pretty sad record.
“Expectations” left the fans wanting “more, more, more,” but there’d be no encore. It was the closer of opening night.
Personal wish list: Liv squeezing in one more crowd-pleaser as the tour settles into what it’ll become. (Oh, and maybe an invite next time Robert Smith’s around for “What’s Wrong With Me.”)
-
Catharsis in “The Cure”
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Barring any future unannounced guests, setlist additions or show disruptors, the most-talked-about thing about Rodrigo’s Unraveled Tour will be “The Cure.”
As if “The Cure” wasn’t already a standout just the way it is on Rodrigo’s 2026 album, she’s gone ahead and and made it the visual showstopper of the two-hour, 23-song night.
On the B-stage that’s further back on the floor, and with fans circling her, in Hartford Rodrigo bared it all in this performance. She was emotionally and visibly “unraveled” as rain streamed down on only her and disintegrated her dress. The material deteriorated to reveal a bold red bodysuit underneath. She wiped away any remaining pieces and found her voice in the bridge of “The Cure”: “Why can’t you come stitch me up? Why can’t it ever be enough?”
Seeing this cathartic moment for the first time was a real treat for the night-one crowd. It’ll continue to surprise anyone who manages to keep away from concert spoilers before attending a show this tour — but if curiosity gets the best of you, it’s OK. (No pressure, but you can see it here.) “The Cure” is a moment that will still delight in real life on The Unraveled Tour, one not to miss.
