Coldplay, Oasis and other big acts booked for summer shows in Toronto

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For the summer of 2025, bigger is better when it comes to Toronto concerts.

Just ask Erik Hoffman, president- music, Canada — Live Nation Entertainment.

“This is the year of the stadium,” said Hoffman.

And Toronto has a new one, the 50,000-seat Rogers Stadium, out at Downview Park, that will host four anticipated shows by Coldplay, two by a reunited Oasis and one by Irish solo artist Hozier.

“Toronto, in general, is an amazing concert market,” said Hoffman, adding the city is now among the top markets for concerts in North America.

“The other thing that is happening is there are a large number of events that are really like destination events. You have the rest of the world sort of coming in to visit so it beefs it all up,” said Hoffman. “Certainly, at the stadium level, a lot of them (Coldplay, Oasis, System Of A Down) are not playing other markets in the region. So you get people who come, not just from Montreal and Ottawa and London, Ont., but also just from around the world.”

He added that 2026 is already shaping up to be “equally exciting or greater than 2025,” as Rogers Stadium has captured the interest of many musical acts.

Add to that an already record year for shows at the Toronto Blue Jays’ home stadium downtown — Rogers Centre — with the summer bringing which include two shows by Kendrick Lamar, four shows by Toronto’s The Weeknd and two by country bad boy Morgan Wallen.

“If we didn’t even build that (new) stadium, it would already be even more shows at the Rogers Centre this year than any other year we’ve had,” said Hoffman.

“What (the new stadium) allows us to do is they play baseball a lot of days in the summer so it allows us some flexibility. We don’t have to work around the timing (of baseball games) quite as much.”

Budweiser Stage, meanwhile, officially opens its outdoor concert season down at the lake on Thursday with a show featuring members of Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle and later has two shows each from such marquee veterans as Neil Young and The Who.

Hoffman said newcomer and Taylor Swift opener Gracie Abrams “could have had 10” shows at Budweiser Stage — she has one July 26 — and the return of Mumford & Sons at that venue is also proving popular.

“I have 60 shows announced now but there’s another 10-plus to go so at Budweiser Stage — we will eclipse 75 shows which definitely makes us the busiest large amphitheatre in North America,” said Hoffman.

For those who are wondering, there will still only be parking on the CNE side for Budweiser Stage shows as construction continues on Ontario Place and there will be no renovation work on the venue itself, added Hoffman, until “post-World Cup” in 2026.

Meanwhile, over at Scotiabank Arena, such female powerhouses as Shakira, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa are all booked.

The usual summer music festivals also return: NXNE, for its 30th year, between June 11-15; Toronto Jazz Festival, June 20-29; VELD, Aug. 1-3, with Deadmau5 at Downsview Park; and Boots and Hearts,  Aug. 7-10, at Burl’s Creek, Oro-Medonte, Ont.

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Here’s my pick for the 25 most anticipated shows of the summer of 2025:

1. Post Malone, with Jelly Roll, May 26, Rogers Centre

2. Paul Simon, May 27, 29-30, Massey Hall

3. Barry Manilow (final Toronto Show), May 31, Scotiabank Arena

4. Kendrick Lamar and SZA, June 12-13, Rogers Centre

5. Mumford and Sons, June 24, Budweiser Stage

6. James Taylor, June 27, Budweiser Stage

7. Coldplay, July 7-8 and July 11-12, Rogers Stadium

8. Beck, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edwin Outwater, July 18-19, Roy Thomson Hall

9. Shania Twain, July 15-16, The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort

10. Gracie Abrams, July 26, Budweiser Stage

11. The Weeknd, July 27-28, Aug. 7-8, Roger Centre

12. BlackPink, July 22-23, Rogers Stadium

13. Katy Perry, Aug. 5-6, Scotiabank Arena

14. Linkin Park, Aug. 8, Scotiabank Arena

15. My Chemical Romance, Aug. 22, Rogers Centre

16. Stevie Nicks, Aug. 15, Scotiabank Arena

17. Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Aug. 17 and 19, Budweiser Stage

18. Tate McRae, Aug 19-20, Scotiabank Arena, Live Nation

19. Oasis, Aug. 24-25, Rogers Stadium

20. Benson Boone, Aug. 29, Scotiabank Arena

21. Dua Lipa, Sept. 1-2, Scotiabank Arena

22. The Who, Sept. 2 and 4, Budweiser Stage

23. System Of A Down, with the Deftones, Sept. 3 and 5, Rogers Stadium

24. Morgan Wallen, Sept. 4-5, Rogers Centre

25. Lady Gaga, Sept. 10-11 and 13, Scotiabank Arena