There’s something fascinating about watching a pop artist evolve in real time — to see someone go from a promising voice on the radio to a full-blown global headliner who commands arenas like a natural. Dua Lipa’s rise has been exactly that kind of story. She started with poise and potential, but over the past few years, she’s sharpened her craft into a laser-focused blend of confidence, movement, and mood. At this point, she doesn’t just sing pop music — she embodies it.
By October 2025, her reign as one of modern pop’s biggest forces felt complete. With three albums, multiple global hits, and an unmistakable aesthetic that fuses disco shimmer with futuristic cool, Dua’s sound has matured without losing the sleek pulse that made her famous. Her show at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena proved exactly why she’s reached this level: because she’s figured out how to make precision feel effortless.
Fans streamed into the venue dressed like they were headed to a nightclub — sequins, silver, glitter everywhere. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, the kind of electric hum that happens when everyone knows they’re about to see something big. The stage glowed in deep purple tones, and a giant LED screen flashed snippets of surreal cityscapes. By the time the lights dropped and the bassline of “Training Season” hit, the room erupted. From that moment on, Dua Lipa owned the night.
This wasn’t just another pop show — it was a statement. A confident, stylish, and meticulously crafted spectacle that proved Dua has crossed over from hitmaker to performer in full command of her world.
Setlist:
Act I
Training Season
End of an Era
Break My Heart
One Kiss (Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa song)
Act II
Whatcha Doing
Levitating
These Walls
I Will Follow You Into the Dark (Death Cab for Cutie cover) (with Benjamin Gibbard)
Maria
Act III
Physical
Electricity (Silk City & Dua Lipa song)
Hallucinate
Illusion
Act IV
Falling Forever
Happy for You
Love Again
Anything for Love
Be the One
Encore:
New Rules
Dance the Night (Shortened)
Don’t Start Now
Houdini
The Arrival and Atmosphere
By the time the lights dimmed in the Climate Pledge Arena, the place was vibrating with anticipation. The stage design was a spectacle before the show even began — sleek LED panels, shimmering curtains, and a long catwalk that extended into the crowd, surrounded by glowing hexagonal lights that pulsed in sync with the music. This wasn’t a minimalist pop show — it was pure glamour, right down to the mirrored disco globes rotating above the stage.
When Dua Lipa appeared, the crowd exploded. Dressed in a black sequined bodysuit with metallic accents, she looked like a futuristic pop queen, commanding attention without needing to say a word. The opening number, “Training Season,” set the tone instantly — confident, flirtatious, and bursting with groove. The choreography was sharp and tight, her backup dancers moving in geometric precision around her. If there was any doubt about her growth as a performer since her Future Nostalgia days, this opening act erased it.
Act I: The Pop Powerhouse
From the get-go, Dua hit the crowd with a string of hits that barely gave anyone a chance to breathe. “End of an Era” kept the energy surging — a perfect anthem for where she is now in her career: reflective but moving forward. Her voice was clear and smooth, her confidence radiating through every note.
“Break My Heart” brought the first real sing-along moment of the night. The bassline hit hard, and when she hit the “Am I falling in love…” line, the entire arena sang it right back at her. You could feel the nostalgia for that early lockdown era of pop — a reminder that her music has soundtracked so many different chapters for fans over the past few years.
She rounded out the first act with “One Kiss,” her collaboration with Calvin Harris. It’s one of her most enduring hits for a reason — that pulsing, hypnotic beat, that perfect blend of sensual and mechanical. Dua glided down the runway, the crowd waving their arms in unison. It was the first of many moments where the entire arena felt like one synchronized motion.
Act II: The Groove and the Grace
After a brief visual interlude — a glowing red backdrop morphing into a starry night sky — Act II began on a more experimental, intimate note. “Whatcha Doing” and “Levitating” formed the backbone of this section. “Levitating” remains her purest pop triumph — a disco-funk banger that’s impossible not to move to. She didn’t need to do much; the song carries itself, and she let it breathe. The lighting changed to pinks and purples, a nod to her Future Nostalgia aesthetic.
Then came one of the night’s biggest surprises — “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” a Death Cab for Cutie cover performed with none other than Benjamin Gibbard himself, who joined her onstage to a massive Seattle roar. It was a rare, stripped-down moment. Dua, usually framed by dancers and lights, stood still with just an acoustic guitar beside her. Her delivery was tender, simple, and genuine — a moment of connection that balanced the night’s high energy.
She transitioned beautifully into “Maria,” one of her newer tracks that has a sultry, Spanish-tinged beat. The choreography here was looser, more interpretive, and she owned it. Watching her during this section, you could tell how much she’s grown — not just as a performer, but as someone comfortable enough to slow things down and let a song breathe.
Act III: The Dancefloor Eruption
If Act II was the breather, Act III was the storm. The screen behind her burst into neon color as “Physical” kicked off with full 1980s gusto — strobing lights, aerobics-inspired choreography, and a relentless tempo that had everyone jumping. This was Dua in her element: blending nostalgia with fresh energy, sleek but spontaneous.
“Electricity” followed, and the arena felt alive. The Silk City collaboration remains one of her most electrifying songs, and live, it hit even harder. Bright golden lights pulsed to the beat while fans danced like they were in a warehouse rave. It was pure joy — no irony, no overthinking, just movement.
“Hallucinate” kept that streak going with club-ready precision. By now, Dua was smiling nonstop, clearly feeding off the crowd’s energy. She worked the entire stage, and her band — especially her drummer — kept the pulse thumping like a heartbeat.
Then came “Illusion,” one of her more recent songs, which fit perfectly into this section. It’s the kind of track that feels built for live performance — kinetic, seductive, and rhythm-heavy. The lights flickered between icy blues and fiery reds, creating a visual metaphor for the song’s theme of being drawn into something (or someone) you know isn’t real.
Act IV: The Emotional Core
After another short break, the fourth act felt more introspective — the calm after the storm. The tempo eased up for “Falling Forever,” and the arena shimmered with phone lights. The song’s soaring chorus gave her a chance to show off her range — not something she always gets credit for.
“Happy for You” and “Love Again” kept that reflective mood going. “Love Again” in particular hit beautifully live; that looping string sample echoed through the arena, and Dua’s voice floated over it with effortless control.
The penultimate stretch — “Anything for Love” and “Be the One” — was pure nostalgia for longtime fans. “Be the One,” one of her earliest hits, reminded everyone where it started. It’s still one of her best songs — earnest, emotional, and bursting with melody. She grinned her way through it, clearly enjoying the audience’s affection.
Encore: Pop Perfection
Of course, Dua wasn’t done yet. After a brief blackout, she reemerged in a silver outfit for a four-song encore that could double as a “greatest hits” sprint.
“New Rules” exploded right away. The choreography was flawless — that iconic hand-counting routine still lands perfectly. The crowd sang every lyric, a sea of voices echoing “I got new rules, I count ‘em.” It was a full-on pop spectacle.
“Dance the Night,” her Barbie-era hit, was shortened but perfectly placed — a shimmering disco moment that brought a sense of pure fun. The pink and blue lighting flooded the arena while confetti swirled through the air.
“Don’t Start Now” followed, the real party closer. Dua’s band nailed the live funk groove, and she worked the entire catwalk, turning the chorus into a call-and-response with the crowd. It was impossible not to move.
Then came the grand finale — “Houdini.” It was theatrical, pulsing, and mysterious, closing the show with a bang. As she disappeared into a cloud of smoke and strobe light, the metaphor couldn’t have been more fitting: a magician of modern pop leaving her audience in awe.
Production and Performance
There’s a reason Dua Lipa has risen to the top tier of pop performers: she’s mastered the art of balance. Her show was equal parts choreography, live instrumentation, and audience connection. Every move, light cue, and transition felt deliberate without ever feeling robotic.
Visually, the production was stunning — clean, elegant, and futuristic without relying too heavily on gimmicks. The lighting design in particular was exceptional, especially during “Illusion” and “Physical,” where the color palettes shifted dynamically to match her movements.
Vocally, she was strong all night. While she’s not a powerhouse in the traditional sense, her voice carried the melodies with clarity and style. More importantly, she sounded live, not hidden behind layers of production.
Her dancers deserve special mention, too — synchronized yet fluid, they elevated every number. Dua doesn’t just dance with them; she moves among them, making it feel like one seamless unit rather than a solo act surrounded by bodies.
Crowd and Connection
Seattle crowds can be hit or miss, but for Dua Lipa, they showed up ready to dance. From the opening notes of “Training Season,” the audience was on their feet. During “Levitating,” the noise was deafening, and during “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” you could hear the collective hush — a rare, beautiful silence.
Dua’s interactions were warm and genuine. She took moments between acts to thank the crowd, to smile, to let her personality shine through. She’s not overly chatty onstage, but she doesn’t need to be. Her presence says enough.
Personal Takeaway
Seeing Dua Lipa in 2025 feels like witnessing an artist fully step into her prime. The growth from her early days — when she was criticized for being stiff onstage — is staggering. Now she’s one of the most confident performers in pop, blending precision with playfulness.
The show at Climate Pledge Arena was everything you want from a modern pop concert: dazzling visuals, airtight choreography, and songs that make you feel alive. What’s most impressive is how she’s managed to evolve without losing what makes her distinct — that blend of cool detachment and emotional sincerity.
The Verdict
Dua Lipa’s 2025 tour stop in Seattle was a masterclass in pop performance — sleek, confident, and endlessly entertaining. It balanced spectacle with heart, nostalgia with progression. Whether she was covering Death Cab for Cutie with Benjamin Gibbard or tearing through “Don’t Start Now,” she commanded every moment.
She’s not just keeping up with pop’s elite anymore — she’s setting the standard.
Final Grade: A