Sep 28, 2026
·Paige Blaser
Welcome to SeatGeek Front Row, where SeatGeek employees share their best tips for getting the most out of live events. For this edition, Event Operations lead Paige Blaser went to opening night of Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour” in Hartford to find out what fans should know before seeing the show, from the songs you can expect, what time Olivia comes on stage and even the type of merch you can buy.
Before there was rain, snow or a dissolving dress, there were thousands of Livies outside PeoplesBank Arena waiting to see Olivia Rodrigo’s new era unfold.
Nobody in Hartford knew exactly what Rodrigo was about to do yet. At 8 p.m., we all found out and were in awe.
Over the next two hours, she worked through the new album, brought back plenty from SOUR and GUTS, and gave fans their first look at a show built around changing seasons.
After attending opening night of “The Unraveled Tour,” here’s everything that you need to know before you go.
What an Olivia Rodrigo “Unraveled Tour” concert is actually like
One of the coolest parts of “The Unraveled Tour” is how the show is broken into sections loosely based around the four seasons.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter each get their own stretch of the night, with the visuals helping move everything from one section into the next. The video screens lean heavily into ethereal nature imagery, with plenty of florals, crickets, bird chirps and stormy weather mixed in.
The seasons are there, but they never take over the show. It still feels like Olivia first, with the visuals changing around her as the night moves along.
During opening night in Hartford, the stormy moments were especially fitting with a Nor’easter happening outside.
Who opens for Olivia Rodrigo on “The Unraveled Tour?”
Wolf Alice opened the first two Hartford shows, and the pairing makes a lot more sense once you hear them back to back.
Olivia has always had one foot in pop and the other in alt-rock. Wolf Alice lives in that same space. Their music can be soft and dreamy one minute, then turn much heavier the next.
In Hartford, Wolf Alice started at 7 p.m. and played for about 40 minutes. The arena was still filling in during their set, partly because the merch lines were so long, but they gave the room a good dose of guitars before Olivia took over.
What time does Olivia Rodrigo go onstage?
Olivia came out at 8 p.m. sharp in Hartford.
Wolf Alice wrapped around 7:40 p.m., so there was only about a 20-minute break before Olivia started.
Doors opened at 5:30 p.m. in Hartford, which gave fans plenty of time to get through security, grab food or merch and find their seats before Wolf Alice kicked things off.
How long is Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour” concert?
Olivia played for about two hours in Hartford, starting at 8 p.m. and wrapping around 10.
That includes a three-song encore, so fans should plan on being in their seats for the full two hours once she comes out.
With Wolf Alice starting at 7 p.m., the whole concert ran about three hours from opener to finish.
What is Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour” setlist?
Opening night in Hartford featured 23 songs, with the set broken into seasonal acts throughout the night.
Spring
“Drop Dead”
“U + Me = <3”
“So American”
“Good 4 U”
Summer
“My Way”
“Serena Joy”
“Bad Idea Right?”
“Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl”
Summer Twilight
“Vampire”
“Purple”
Autumn
“Stupid Song”
“Maggots for Brains”
“Traitor”
“Begged”
“Cigarette Smoke”
Winter
“honeybee”
“Favorite Crime”
“Drivers License”
“Less”
“The Cure”
Encore / Spring
“Deja Vu”
“All-American Bitch”
“Expectations”
“Serena Joy” was the only non-album release to make the Hartford set, while songs from SOUR and GUTS were spread throughout the night.
What is the stage setup like for Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour?”
The stage looks pretty simple when you first see it, but there is a lot more going on once the show starts.
The main setup is a large curved stage covered in flowers, which gives the whole show this garden-like look. Olivia spends most of the night there, running from side to side and playing to both ends of the arena rather than staying planted in one spot.
There are also three smaller island stages that give fans on the floor a few closer moments with her.
What are the coolest moments during Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour?”
There are a few parts of this show that really stick with you once it’s over.
Hartford’s loudest reaction came during “The Cure,” when artificial rain started falling and Olivia’s white dress dissolved onstage to reveal a bright red corset underneath.
“Purple” had its own standout moment, with Olivia waving a sparkler through the air, while artificial snow came down during some of the quieter piano songs.
Fans were part of the spectacle too. Light-up wristbands changed along with the show, which made the whole arena feel involved instead of just watching from the seats.
What are the best seats for Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour?”
If you want to see the whole show, the lower bowl is a really solid bet.
We sat in Section 122, Row S in Hartford and had a great look at the full stage without feeling too far away. From there, you could take in the flowers, lighting and weather effects without having to constantly look around to figure out what was happening.
GA is a completely different experience. Olivia spends most of the night on the main stage, but the three smaller island stages create some really close moments for fans on the floor. It also looked like one of the liveliest places to be if you want to dance and be right in the middle of everything.
What to know before going to Olivia Rodrigo’s “The Unraveled Tour”
There is a lot happening before Olivia even comes onstage, so showing up with a plan helps.
Between the merch trucks, photo spots, long lines and an opener that comes on right at 7 p.m., Hartford made it clear that this is not a show to roll in at the last minute.
What time should you arrive?
If you want time for merch, photos and food before Wolf Alice starts, aim to be there around doors.
In Hartford, doors opened at 5:30 p.m., and security took about 20 to 25 minutes. That still left enough time to look around, get settled and handle anything you wanted to do before the opener came on at 7.
The earlier arrival matters most if merch is part of the plan. Lines got much longer once fans were inside, and some people were still waiting while Wolf Alice was already playing.
What is the merch situation like?
If you know you want merch, buy it before the show if you can.
Hartford had six merch trucks outside the arena that opened around 2:30 p.m., and the lines were still easy to get through before doors. Once fans got inside, that changed fast. The merch lines got huge, and plenty of people were still waiting while Wolf Alice was already onstage.
The selection included hoodies, T-shirts, lyric baby tees, posters, tote bags, pins, guitar picks, keychains and lighter cases, with prices ranging from about $15 to $120.
Hartford also had a city-specific “hfd+you=<3” shirt, which was a nice touch for fans who wanted something tied to that stop.
What were fans wearing at “The Unraveled Tour?”
Livies definitely dressed for the occasion.
Hartford leaned heavily into a coquette-meets-punk look, with mini dresses, chunky boots, hair bows, lace socks, prom-style sashes and plenty of pink and pastel blue.
The personalized first-place ribbons were probably the most noticeable trend. Fans had them printed with song titles and Olivia references, which fit the whole you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love era really well.
There were also some much more specific looks. A few fans dressed as bees for “honeybee,” and one recreated Olivia’s nurse outfit from “The Cure.”
What should you bring to an Olivia Rodrigo concert?
Keep it pretty simple. Your phone is doing most of the work.
Mobile tickets were the norm in Hartford, so have yours loaded before you get to the door and make sure your battery can last through the night.
After that, check your venue’s bag policy before leaving home. PeoplesBank Arena did not allow large bags, backpacks or luggage, and outside food, drinks and professional cameras were also prohibited.
What is the crowd like at an Olivia Rodrigo concert?
The crowd feels everything with Olivia.
Hartford could go from scream-singing with full teenage angst to dead quiet for the ballads, and that swing was one of the best parts of the night. The slower songs had people visibly emotional, while the louder ones turned into huge sing-alongs.
What stood out most was how sincere the whole thing felt. Even with thousands of people in the room, there were moments that still felt surprisingly personal.
How to get Olivia Rodrigo “The Unraveled Tour” tickets on SeatGeek
If Hartford made one thing clear, it is that this is a show Livies are going to want to see for themselves.
Head to the Olivia Rodrigo tickets page on SeatGeek and choose your city and date.
Open the interactive seat map to compare sections, rows and available listings.
Use View From Seat when available to get a better idea of what the stage will look like from different parts of the arena.
Check Deal Score to compare the value of different ticket options.
Review the All-In Price so you can see the full cost before checkout.
Double-check the date, section, row and ticket delivery details before purchasing.
Complete your purchase through SeatGeek. Eligible orders are backed by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee.
Then start planning the outfit, get to merch early and be ready to lose your voice by the end of the night.
Paige Blaser is SeatGeek's On-Sales and Entertainment Lead for Event Operations, working to ensure fans have the smoothest possible concert onsale experience. Based in the bustling heart of Manhattan, Paige is constantly on the move to live events across town. From big arenas to small clubs, she always finds a good time on the dance floor. Recent shows include Charli XCX, Ariana Grande, and Lily Allen, among many more. As a dedicated Coachella attendee, she's attended the festival 12 years in a row and has no plans of breaking that streak in 2027!
📁 Categories: Front Row, Concerts
🏷️ Tags: Olivia Rodrigo, The Unraveled Tour, Wolf Alice, PeoplesBank Arena, Hartford