What to expect at AC/DC's "Power Up" Tour: Setlist, start time and more

Few bands have ever made 60,000 people feel like they're standing in the same garage where it all started. AC/DC has that power, and the “Power Up” Tour is bringing it back to North American stadiums for another massive summer run. With Brian Johnson behind the mic again and a setlist built to rattle every seat in the house, this is the kind of night that turns first-timers into lifers.

Ultimate guide to AC/DC's "Power Up" Tour

The "Power Up" Tour supports AC/DC's 2020 album "Power Up," the band's first studio record following founding guitarist Malcolm Young's death. The 2026 North American leg spans 18 stadium dates from Saturday, July 11 through Tuesday, September 29, across U.S. and Canadian cities.

The venue lineup reflects the tour's scale. NFL stadiums like MetLife Stadium and Allegiant Stadium sit alongside iconic college grounds like Ohio Stadium, Camp Randall Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium. The Pretty Reckless is confirmed as the opening act for all North American dates.

What is AC/DC's "Power Up" Tour?

"Power Up" arrived in November 2020 as both a tribute to Malcolm Young's legacy and proof that AC/DC still hits as hard as ever. The album was built from Angus and Malcolm Young songwriting material, making it a direct tribute to Malcolm’s legacy.

The tour wraps that album inside a full stadium production — pyrotechnics, the iconic Hells Bell, cannons and a setlist mixing new material with decades of classics. This is a stadium spectacle designed for 60,000+ fans, not a stripped-down or festival-style show.

What are the upcoming dates for AC/DC's “Power Up” Tour?

AC/DC’s 2026 North American “Power Up” Tour is built for stadiums, with 18 dates across the U.S. and Canada from July through September. Unlike arena tours with several nights in the same city, this run is mostly one night per market, which makes comparing nearby cities especially useful if you are flexible on where to see the show.

Here are the North American dates currently listed for AC/DC’s “Power Up” Tour:

Who is opening for AC/DC on the "Power Up" Tour?

The Pretty Reckless is the opener for all 18 North American dates. Fronted by Taylor Momsen, the band brings a hard rock sound that fits naturally on an AC/DC bill.

Expect a 30- to 45-minute opening set based on typical stadium show formats. Doors open well before the listed show time, so arriving early means catching the full evening. Check your specific event listing on SeatGeek for any date-by-date variations.

What time does AC/DC go on stage?

Most dates carry a listed show time of 7:00 p.m. local time. Charlotte (Saturday, July 11) and Notre Dame (Friday, September 4) are listed at 7:30 p.m. local time.

After a 30- to 45-minute Pretty Reckless set plus a changeover, AC/DC typically takes the stage around 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. local time. Exact timing varies by venue and city curfew, so plan to be in your seat before the listed show time.

How long is an AC/DC concert?

Based on recent “Power Up” Tour shows, AC/DC’s set usually runs a little over two hours, often around 2 hours and 15 to 2 hours and 25 minutes. Factor in doors, The Pretty Reckless, the changeover, AC/DC's full set and exiting the stadium, and you're looking at roughly four to four-and-a-half hours at the venue. Stadium exits add time, especially at 60,000+ capacity venues. So, build that into your post-show transportation plan.

AC/DC "Power Up" Tour setlist

AC/DC keeps a highly consistent setlist night to night with minimal rotation. Based on recent 2026 “Power Up” Tour performances in South America and Mexico, here’s what fans can generally expect:

• “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”

• “Back in Black”

• “Demon Fire”

• “Shot Down in Flames”

• “Thunderstruck”

• “Have a Drink on Me”

• “Hells Bells”

• “Shot in the Dark”

• “Stiff Upper Lip”

• “Highway to Hell”

• “Shoot to Thrill”

• “Sin City”

• “Jailbreak”

• “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

• “High Voltage”

• “Riff Raff”

• “You Shook Me All Night Long”

• “Whole Lotta Rosie”

• “Let There Be Rock”

• “T.N.T.”

• “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”

The setlist can vary by date and is not a guaranteed song-for-song list for every show.

What songs from "Power Up" does AC/DC perform?

"Power Up" tracks are woven into the setlist rather than grouped together. Recent 2026 shows have featured "Demon Fire" and "Shot in the Dark," giving the current album a presence while classics still anchor the night. Earlier Power Up Tour performances have also included songs like "Witch’s Spell," but fans should check recent setlists closer to their date if they are hoping for a specific album cut.

Does AC/DC play older hits?

The setlist leans heavily on catalog classics. 'Back in Black,' 'Thunderstruck,' 'Highway to Hell,' 'TNT,' 'Whole Lotta Rosie,' 'Hells Bells' and 'Shoot to Thrill' have all appeared in recent setlists.

Deep cuts like 'Sin City' and 'Have a Drink on Me' show up alongside the biggest singles, but not every major AC/DC song makes the cut every night.

Is there an encore at AC/DC's "Power Up" Tour?

Yes. Recent “Power Up” Tour shows have ended with an encore featuring “T.N.T.” and “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”

That closing song is the production highlight of the night. “For Those About to Rock” ends with AC/DC’s iconic cannon fire, making it the moment everything builds toward. Encore songs can vary by date, but fans should not head for the exits after “Let There Be Rock” unless they are comfortable missing the final blast.

What is the "Power Up" Tour production like?

The “Power Up” Tour production is built for stadiums. The show leans on AC/DC’s signature visual language: the massive Hells Bell during “Hells Bells,” giant screens for stadium sightlines, a full lighting rig, fire and pyro effects at key moments and the cannon blasts during “For Those About to Rock.”

That matters when you are choosing seats. Floor tickets put you closest to the stage and the crowd energy, but lower-bowl side sections can give you a wider view of the screens, lighting and full stage. Upper-level seats may be farther away, but they can still work well for a show this loud, direct and visually oversized.

When should I arrive for AC/DC's concert?

Stadium shows take more planning than arena concerts, and arriving early pays off when The Pretty Reckless is opening. Arrive 90 minutes before showtime if you want merch, food, drinks or the full Pretty Reckless set or 60 minutes before showtime if you know the venue and are heading straight to your seat. Be in your seat 10 to 15 minutes before the listed start time and be sure to check your venue's bag policy, mobile ticket rules and parking or rideshare guidance before leaving home. Venues like MetLife Stadium, Ohio Stadium and Allegiant Stadium have large footprints, so factor in walking time from parking lots or rideshare drop-off points.

What should I bring to an AC/DC concert?

Your mobile ticket should be ready before you get to the stadium. Download it or add it to your phone’s wallet ahead of time, because cell service can slow down once tens of thousands of fans are trying to enter at once.

Bring the basics you’ll actually need for a long stadium night: a charged phone, ID, a credit or debit card and comfortable shoes. A small venue-approved bag, portable charger and light layer can also help, especially if your show starts in the heat and ends after sundown.

Earplugs are worth bringing, too. AC/DC has a reputation as one of the loudest live bands in rock, and a stadium show with cannons, guitars and a full crowd can be intense even for longtime concertgoers.

Leave oversized bags, outside food or drinks, professional cameras and signs that block views at home. Bag policies and prohibited-item rules vary by stadium, so check your venue’s guidelines before you leave.

What should fans wear to the "Power Up" Tour?

Band tees are practically the uniform at an AC/DC show. Vintage "Back in Black" or "Highway to Hell" shirts, newer "Power Up" merch and anything with the lightning bolt logo all fit right in.

Comfort is non-negotiable. Summer stadium shows mean heat, long walks and hours on your feet. Broken-in sneakers or boots beat platforms or brand-new shoes every time. For July dates in Charlotte, Columbus, Madison, San Antonio, Denver and Las Vegas, dress for heat and sun. For September dates at MetLife Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field, bring a layer for cooler evenings.

Tips for buying AC/DC tour tickets

Buying AC/DC tickets is really about choosing what kind of stadium night you want. This is not a delicate, detail-heavy arena show where every seat is about watching fingerwork. It is a massive rock production built around volume, crowd energy, giant screens, fire, the Hells Bell and the cannon blasts at the end of the night.

If you want to feel the show more than study it, the floor is the obvious place to start. You will be closest to Angus Young, Brian Johnson and the loudest part of the crowd, but stadium floors can come with tradeoffs. Sightlines are flatter, exits can take longer and shorter fans may have a tougher view if the crowd stands for most of the night.

Lower-bowl seats may be the safest all-around pick for many fans. They keep you close enough to feel the scale of the show while giving you a better angle on the full stage, screens and production. Side sections can be especially useful for AC/DC because the show is big, direct and built to reach the entire stadium, not just the first few rows.

Upper-level seats can still make sense if the price is right. AC/DC songs are built for a stadium singalong, and the biggest moments — “Thunderstruck,” “Highway to Hell,” “Hells Bells” and “For Those About to Rock” — do not depend on being five rows from the stage. Just check the seat map carefully for side-stage or limited-view angles before buying.

Logistics matter more for AC/DC than they would for a smaller arena show. Many stops are summer stadium dates, which can mean heat, long walks from parking lots, packed merch lines and slower exits after the encore. If you are choosing between cities, compare not just ticket prices but also travel, parking, weather and how easy the stadium is to get in and out of.

On SeatGeek, compare floor, lower-bowl and upper-level options before locking in. Deal Score can help you spot strong value, while the interactive seat map is especially helpful for checking your angle to the stage at large football and soccer venues.

How to get AC/DC tour tickets on SeatGeek

With 18 stadium dates stretching from Charlotte to Philadelphia, the "Power Up" Tour gives you plenty of options. SeatGeek's all-in pricing means you see the full cost upfront with no surprise fees at checkout.

1. Go to SeatGeek.com or open the SeatGeek app and search for "AC/DC."

2. Select the concert date and city you want to attend.

3. Use the interactive seat map to compare sections, rows and prices across your chosen AC/DC show.

4. Check Deal Score to find "Power Up" Tour listings that offer strong value for the seat location.

5. Use filters to sort by price, ticket quantity, section or other preferences.

6. Review the full ticket details before checkout.

7. Buy your tickets and follow the delivery instructions in your SeatGeek account.

8. Before the show, make sure your mobile tickets are ready and your phone is charged.

The Hells Bell drops, the cannons fire and 60,000 voices sing every word of "Highway to Hell" in unison. That is the kind of stadium night AC/DC has spent decades perfecting, and the "Power Up" Tour brings it back at full volume.