Cincinnati stages are no stranger to its share of worldwide artists.
In 2023, Paycor Stadium’s audience transformed from football fans to fangirls when Taylor Swift made a stop on her iconic “The Eras Tour.” Riverbend has morphed into a sea of “Parrot Heads” with leis and a margarita in hand every time Jimmy Buffet came to town.
Sometimes, you may even be able to hear the thundering bass bursting through MegaCorp when driving in Newport.
Wherever you end up in the Tri-State area, there’s always someone playing music nearby. With the number of stars, including Cincinnati, on their tour stops, the city offers anything from a more intimate venue to a football stadium to accommodate the artists’ fanbase.
This year, several artists are celebrating their milestone tours in Cincinnati.
TRAIN makes their annual Riverbend appearance for the 25th anniversary of their album “Drops of Jupiter,” as well as Rod Stewart and Journey on their farewell tours.
Other highlights include rap icon Cardi B returning to the stage after five years for her “Little Miss Drama” tour at Heritage Bank Center and celebrated British indie band The Wombats performing at Bogart’s after an eight-year absence from the city.
Looking for a bit of a 2000s throwback? DJ Pauly D will be turning Bogart’s into Jersey Shore to beat those January blues at the end of the month.
While thinking of warmer weather, Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone will accompany Chris Stapleton as his country music brings in the August heat. Ranging from celebrated country artists to R&B superstars to rock legends, these are the local concerts you need to have on your radar this year.
Riverbend and PNC Pavillion
Address: 6295 Kellogg Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45230
Friday, May 8
-Satchvai Band featuring Joe Satriani and Steve Vai with Animals as Leaders
– Doors: 5:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Friday, May 21
- Hardy: The Country! Country! Tour with special guests Tucker Wetmore and Mccoy Moore
- Doors: 5:30 p.m.
- Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
-Meghan Trainor: The Get in Girl Tour with special guests Icona Pop and Ryan Trainor
-Doors: 5 p.m.
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8
- Jack Johnson: Surfilmusic Tour with special guest Hermanos Gutierrez
- Doors: 6:30 p.m.
- Showtime: 7 p.m.
Monday, July 27
– 5 Seconds of Summer: Everyone’s a Star World Tour
-Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Showtime: 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29
- Train: Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere with special guests Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson
- Doors: 5:15 p.m.
- Showtime: 6:45 p.m.
Saturday, August 1
-Evanescence 2026 World Tour with Spritbox and Nova Twins
-Doors: 5:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 6
-STYX and Chicago, the Windy Cities Tour-All the Hits…Your Kind of Tour
-Doors: 5:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 8
-Lynrd Skynrd & Foreigner: Double Trouble Double Vision Tour with special guest Six Gun Sally
-Doors: 5 p.m.
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 9
- Rod Stewart: One Last Time with special guest Richard Marx
- Doors: 6 p.m.
- Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25
-The Return of the Carnival of Sins: Motley Crue with special guests Tesla and Extreme
-Doors: 5 p.m.
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
All tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the Taft Theatre and The Andrew J. Brady Music Center box offices during business hours. Check the schedule for all operating hours.
Bogart’s
Address: 2621 Short Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
Thursday, Jan. 29
-Lord of the Lost and The Birthday Massacre
-Showtime: 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30
-DJ Pauly D
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5
-Bayker Blankenship
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13
-The Wombats
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20
-Badflower
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26
-Kameron Marlowe
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3
-The Record Company
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11
-INZO
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 12
-Avery Anna
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Friday, March 13
-Pecos and the Rooftops
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
-Jordan Jensen
-Showtime: 7 p.m
Tuesday, March 17
-The Happy Fits
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
-Our Lady Peace
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Monday, March 23
-Filter
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24
-Erra with Currents
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27
-Two Feet
– Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 28
-Circle Jerks
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1
-Mammoth-Band
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Friday, April 3
- Teenage Bottlerocket
- Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10
-Aly & AJ
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12
-Shadow of Intent
-Showtime: 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13
- Stephen Lynch
- Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1
-Benjamin Tod
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
All tickets can be purchased at Bogarts.com or Ticketmaster.com.
Paycor Stadium
Address: 1 Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25
-Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G
-Featuring Tyrese, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson, Nelly, 803FRESH, SWV, Trey Songz, Mary J. Blige, Doug E. Fresh and Heatwave
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 1
-Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show featuring Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone
-Showtime: 6 p.m.
-Presale begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15
All tickets can be purchased at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com.
Madison Live!
Address: 734 Madison Ave, Covington, KY
Saturday, Feb. 21
-Exhorder, Ringworm, Phobia, Slowhole
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
-Needle//Fear, Obsidian Mind, Wave Painter, Peasant Crown, Tabz
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 19
-Burning Witches, War Hammer, Critical Khaos
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 29
-Merkules “The Controlled Chaos Tour”
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 4
-Hirax, Savage Master, Desolus
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
- 4*4 Featuring DJ Seol
- Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
-Crowbar with EyeHateGod Matinee Show
– Showtime: 2 p.m.
-Crowbar, EyeHateGod, Emanating Peace, These Eyes and Primal Force
-Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22
- Uada and Mortiis- The Witches of Dystopia tour MMXXVI
- Showtime: 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12
-Unprocessed, Allt and Midwinter
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at LiveNation.com.
MegaCorp Pavillion
Address: 101 W 4th St. Newport, KY
Sunday, March 15
-Dark Star Orchestra
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
-49 Winchester
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14
-Lake Street Drive
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
-Ethel Cain with 9Million
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tickets for all events can be purchased at Promowestlive.com or in-person at the box office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during operating hours.
The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Address: 25 Race St. Cincinnati, OH
Monday, Feb. 23
- Excision
- Showtime: 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
-Mariah the Scientist: Hearts Sold Separately Tour
-Doors: 6:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Monday, March 30
-Boys Like Girls: The Soundtrack of Your Life Tour with special guests IDKHOW and Arrows in Action
-Doors: 5:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 18
-Nate Smith: Long Live Country Rock and Roll Tour with special guests Josh Ross and Brandon Wisham
-Doors: 6 p.m.
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6
-YUNGBLUD: Idols- The World Tour
-Doors: 6:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
*NOTE: THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT*
All tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the box office during business hours.
Heritage Bank Center
Address: 100 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH
Wednesday, Feb. 4
- GHOST: Skeletour World Tour 2026
- Doors: 6:30 p.m.
- Showtime: 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20
-Boys 4 Life Tour featuring B2L & Bow Wow with Jeremih, Waka Flocka and Amerie
-Doors: 6:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
-Three Days Grace: Alienation Tour with I Prevail and The Funeral Portrait
-Doors: 5 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 19
-Cardi B- Little Miss Drama Tour
-Doors: 6 p.m.
-Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26
-The New Edition Way Tour with New Edition, BoyzIIMen and Toni Braxton
-Doors: 6:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 8 p.m.
Saturday,June 13
- Journey: Final Frontier Tour
- Doors: 6 p.m.
- Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Monday, July 27
-Forrest Frank: The Jesus Generation Tour with Tori Kelly and Cory Asbury
-Doors: 5:30 p.m.
-Showtime: 7 p.m.
*NOTE: THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT*
Tickets are available for purchase at HeritageBankCenter.com or in-person at the box office Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This article appears in Jan. 21-Feb. 3.