To Be Free (Residency)

The To Be Free is the fifth headlining concert tour by Sam Smith, launched in support of he's song, To Be Free. [1] The tour began on 8 October 2025 at Warsaw in New York City and is scheduled to conclude on 21 August 2026 at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. [2][3]

To Be Free
Tour by Sam Smith
Associated albumTo Be Free
Start dateOctober 8, 2025 (2025-10-08)
End dateAugust 21, 2026 (2026-08-21)
No. of shows45 in total
ProducerLive Nation
Sam Smith concert chronology

Produced and promoted by Live Nation, the tour represents Smith's continued shift toward more intimate and emotionally focused live performances following their arena and festival runs of previous years. Announced on 24 July 2025 through Smith's Instagram channels alongside the release campaign for the single “To Be Free”, the project was introduced as a more stripped-back and immersive concert experience centered on vocal performance, acoustic arrangements, and closeness between artist and audience. [4][5]

Background

edit

Following the conclusion of Gloria era performances and subsequent live appearances, Smith entered a new creative period marked by a return to minimalist production and emotionally intimate songwriting. The release of “To Be Free” on 24 July 2025 introduced this artistic direction publicly and served as the foundation for both the album and accompanying tour. Public statements surrounding the release described the song as originating from an earlier writing period but ultimately being held for a project that better reflected its emotional tone. [6][7][8]

The first performances under the To Be Free banner began as a residency at Warsaw in Brooklyn, a deliberate contrast to Smith's previous arena-scale productions. Media coverage emphasized the reduced venue capacity and intimate staging, presenting the performances as a reintroduction of Smith's catalogue through quieter instrumentation and direct audience connection. [9][10][11][12]

As demand expanded beyond the initial residency concept, additional dates were announced throughout 2026, transforming the project into a continent-spanning tour across North America and Latin America. [13][14][15]

Tour dates

edit
List of 2025 concerts [16][17][18][19]
Date (2025) City Country Venue
October 8 New York United States Warsaw
October 10
October 11
October 15
October 17
October 18
October 21
October 22
October 24
October 29
October 30
October 31
November 19
November 21
November 22
November 24
November 26
November 28
November 29
December 3
December 5
December 6
December 10
December 12
December 13
List of 2026 concerts [20][21][22]
Date (2026) City Country Venue
February 10 San Francisco United States Castro Theatre
February 11
February 13
February 14
February 17
February 18
February 20
February 21
February 24
February 27
February 28
March 4
March 10
March 11
March 13
March 14
August 17 Mexico City Mexico Auditorio Nacional
August 18
August 20
August 21

References

edit
  1. "Sam Smith Brings 'To Be Free' Residency to Brooklyn With Intimate, Soulful Performances". Gayety. 17 October 2025.
  2. Daw, Stephen (16 October 2025). "Sam Smith Took Down the Walls For Soul-Baring Show During Their New York City Residency: 5 Best Moments". Billboard.
  3. Bravo, Tony (11 February 2026). "Harvey Milk's voice echoes through Castro Theatre as Sam Smith launches 20-night residency". San Francisco Chronicle.
  4. Mier, Tomás (30 September 2025). "Sam Smith Will Bring Their 'To Be Free' Residency to San Francisco's Castro Theatre". Rolling Stone.
  5. Alper, Eric (24 July 2025). "Sam Smith Shares New Single "To Be Free" and Announces 12 Night Warsaw Residency in New York City". That Eric Alper.
  6. DeWald, Mike (11 February 2026). "Sam Smith ushers in a new era at the Castro Theatre | RIFF". RIFF Magazine.
  7. Concerts, Everynight Charley Crespo (28 October 2025). "To Be Free in New York City: Sam Smith at Warsaw / October 15 2025". The Aquarian.
  8. "Sam Smith Drops 'To Be Free' Music Video / Announces 12-Date Concert Residency in New York". ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. - Thirsty?. 24 July 2025.
  9. Saril, Sarah. "Sam Smith 2026 tour: Full residency schedule and where to get tickets". Business Insider.
  10. "Sam Smith: Get to know the singer behind 'To Be Free'". Hits Radio.
  11. Ine, Joseph (30 July 2025). "Sam Smith goes back to his roots on "To Be Free" and announces live NYC residency dates". // MELODIC Magazine.
  12. Armstrong, Sam (2 October 2025). "Sam Smith Sets "To Be Free: San Francisco" Residency". uDiscover Music.
  13. Conlon, Erin (21 November 2025). "Sam Smith Continues Their Concert Residency at Warsaw". Greenpointers.
  14. Drum, Victoria (1 October 2025). "Sam Smith to Open Castro Theatre Reopening with Residency". TicketNews.
  15. "Sam Smith bringing 'To Be' Free residency to San Francisco – 101.9fm The MIX – WTMX Chicago". 101.9fm The MIX - WTMX Chicago. 30 September 2025.
  16. Franzo, Allyson (2 October 2025). "Sam Smith announces To Be Free: San Francisco Residency". // MELODIC Magazine.
  17. Johnson, G. Allen (30 September 2025). "Castro Theatre to reopen with a Sam Smith residency. Here's how to get tickets". San Francisco Chronicle.
  18. Alper, Eric (9 November 2025). "Pop Icon Sam Smith Expands To Be Free NYC Residency With 12 More Warsaw Shows". That Eric Alper.
  19. Santos, Stacy Simons (4 August 2025). "Sam Smith Extends 'To Be Free: New York City' Residency Due to High Demand". CelebrityAccess.
  20. Franzo, Allyson (4 August 2025). "Sam Smith extends New York residency through December". // MELODIC Magazine.
  21. Hatfield, Amanda. "Sam Smith announces 12 shows at Warsaw in Greenpoint, shares new single "To Be Free"". BrooklynVegan.
  22. King, Ariel (9 October 2025). "Sam Smith Adds Dates To Castro Theatre Residency - Pollstar News". news.pollstar.com.