What to expect at Pentatonix’s Christmas in the City Tour: Setlist, start time, merch and more

Welcome to SeatGeek Front Row, where music writers share their tips for attending the biggest concert tours around the country. For this edition, Seattle resident Olivia Petty went to the first night of Pentatonix's "Christmas in the City Tour" to see what it’s really like, including the setlist, merch options and more. Olivia is a freelance features and music writer in the greater Seattle area.

‘Twas 50 days before Christmas when Pentatonix graced the Tacoma Dome for the first show of their dazzling, Broadway-esque “Christmas in the City Tour.” If that sounds early in the season to you, you’re not completely wrong — but Pentatonix made it abundantly clear to the audience that, despite being the first week of November, it’s never too early to get a little joyful.

This year marks the second full run of “Christmas in the City,” which kicked off last holiday season in 2025 following the release of Pentatonix’s album of the same name. The 2026 tour brings the a cappella group to arenas across the United States and Canada, with 28 total performances scheduled through December 22. 

Here’s how their opening-night performance on November 5th in Tacoma, WA went, and everything fans should know for future shows. 

What a Pentatonix “Christmas in the City” show is actually like

Pentatonix’s “Christmas in the City” show isn’t exactly a pop concert. Rather, it takes the form of an exuberantly jolly a cappella variety show, complete with choreography, audience-interactive games, theatrical costume changes and other surprises throughout the night. 

Pentatonix has been around since 2011, when the group famously won the reality competition show The Sing-Off. Since then, the five-piece vocal group has become one of — if not the — most recognizable modern a cappella acts, boasting a deep catalog of studio and holiday albums, as well as collaborations with world-renowned artists including Dolly Parton, Lindsey Stirling and JoJo. Their most recent album even features a posthumous duet with Frank Sinatra on “I’ve Got my Love to Keep Me Warm.”

Pentatonix has tackled songs from just about every genre imaginable, but the group has carved out a particular niche in the holiday music world. With three Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame under their belts, it’s hard to find someone who’s never heard the group’s name. The current lineup consists of Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee.

When did Pentatonix start? How long is Pentatonix’s Christmas show?

At the Tacoma Dome, the start time on the ticket was 7:00 p.m., and Pentatonix took the stage at approximately 7:28. It’s unclear whether the later start was due to a delay or if it was intentional, allowing fans to make their way into the venue at their leisure, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning your arrival around the scheduled time. 

The show was divided into two 50 to 60-minute halves, and included a 15-minute intermission around 8:20. The second half ended just shy of 9:40, making the entire experience approximately two hours and 10 minutes from the group's entrance to their final note.

What songs did Pentatonix sing during their Christmas show? What was the setlist?

Pentatonix’s setlist at the Tacoma Dome was, as advertised, very Christmas-forward, combining all-star holiday classics to medleys of newer, original material.

Several segments of the show featured audience interaction, including the group’s “Dice Game” segment, in which members rolled various-sized dice to choose which Christmas song to perform, and then rolled again to pick a random genre category. The results included a gospel version of “Feliz Navidad” and a sea shanty rendition of “Jingle Bells.” 

Another portion of the performance was dedicated entirely to the “misfit” characters of Christmas, with a long medley featuring songs about the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, the Elf on the Shelf and other such troublemakers. (At one point, the Elf on the Shelf even appeared in the audience.) Between the Christmas songs, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee performed a cello-and-drums instrumental, showing off their non-vocal-based musical talents and resulting in a standing ovation.

The group concluded the evening with a moving encore performance of their arguably most popular and recognizable song, Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” They punctuated that performance with a “Pure Imagination” and “Christmas Time Is Here” mashup, sung in the traditional a cappella style: standing in a semi-circle around one grounded microphone. The group explained that, no matter how large the venue gets, they always like to end their shows this way, gently reminding the audience of the musical roots that brought them together in the first place.

Here’s the full Pentatonix setlist at Tacoma Dome on November 5:

Set 1

1. Christmas in the City

2. Silver Bells (Bing Crosby cover)

3. 12 Days of Christmas

4. Little Drummer Boy

5. White Winter Hymnal (Fleet Foxes cover)

6. Dice game ("Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," "Let it Snow," "Feliz Navidad" gospel & "Jingle Bells" sea shanty.)

7. New Songs Medley (Including "Please Santa Please" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.")

8. Mary, Did You Know? (Buddy Greene cover)

9. Santa Be Good to My Baby

Set 2

1. A Holly Jolly Christmas (The Quinto Sisters cover)

2. Snowing in Paris

3. The Misfits medley (Including "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," "Elf," "Blitzen" and "Bah Humbug.")

4. Hey Jude (TikTok audience participation)

5. Meet Me Next Christmas

6. Solo Kevin x Matt (Cello & Drums)

7. The Love Medley

8. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ([traditional] cover)

9. Humankind

10. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams cover)

Encore

1. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)

2. Pure Imagination / Christmas Time Is Here Mashup (Ground Mic Only)

What did the stage and production look like?

The production behind Christmas in the City was glittering and elaborate, with a dizzying combination of stage lights, dancing, and digital visualizations. The main stage was two-tiered, complete with sloped walkways and staircases that allowed the members to move around and interact with one another throughout the performance. Behind them, an enormous screen displayed an ever-changing winter wonderland, with a huge lit-up Christmas tree, bursts of snow, and other thematic animations that coincided with each song. The group changed costumes at several different points in the night, though they were gussied-up in velvet, silk, and tassels the entire time. 

The most exciting production choice was the surprise introduction of a secondary B-stage during the second half of the show, positioned on the floor amid the audience that made the performance all the more intimate. The members performed a number of melodies from the B-stage, and then made their way through the crowd to return to the main stage, shaking hands and singing as they went along. 

What were fans wearing? 

In short: Christmas colors. Ugly sweaters, festive pajamas, velour dresses, fur coats and candy-cane-striped tights and Santa hats were well represented. The overall atmosphere was inclusive and cozy, as some fans arrived looking ready for a glamorous holiday party, while others brought blankets and slippers like they were ready to settle in front of a fireplace with hot cocoa in hand. Either way, everyone seemed to be in the spirit.  

What does Pentatonix’s tour merch look like?

Pentatonix’s merch included sweatshirts, including a hoodie and crewneck ($75), a long-sleeve shirt ($70), a large tote bag ($30), Christmas lights, beanies and hats ($40), vinyl LPs ($30) and signed CDs ($20). There were multiple merch tables stationed throughout the Dome at various levels, allowing for lines to move quicker; the estimated wait was between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the location and time.

Merchandise lines were shortest during the performance, though fans who don't want to miss any songs should plan to shop before the show or afterward. Just be prepared for a wait.

Is the Pentatonix Christmas show family-friendly?

Very! Christmas in the City is deliberately designed with all ages in mind, and the audience at the Tacoma Dome certainly reflected that. The vast majority of attendees appeared to be large groups and families, from young children to grandparents, making the entire thing more universally accessible. The Tacoma Dome also offered plenty of ADA seating options, making the venue accessible to guests with a range of mobility needs. 

As always, families attending with younger children should consider the approximately two-hour runtime, including the 15-minute intermission, when planning their evening. The concert was not too loud, though some younger children might prefer headphones or earbuds, particularly during the bass/cello instrumental portion in Act 2. There were no Christmas characters/performers like Santa or his elves featured in the performance, nor were there any in or outside the venue.

What attending a Pentatonix concert at Tacoma Dome was like

The Tacoma Dome is one of the largest arena venues in the Pacific Northwest, located about 45 minutes south of Seattle (depending on traffic). With a capacity of 22,000, the surrounding area can become particularly congested before and after major performances.

Given that the Pentatonix show happened on a Thursday night, it appeared that many attendees had gotten on the road early in order to beat rush-hour traffic. Parking lots outside of the venue began filling up around 5:30 p.m., despite doors not being scheduled to open until 6 p.m. 

Security was easy to get through, although the wait to get inside the venue at various points of entry were a little longer. Be sure to follow the signs and instructions of venue staff to find the right entry door, as moving between the upper and lower levels without floor tickets is discouraged and/or not permitted in some areas. Several signs throughout the arena indicated that there was no re-entry, so make sure you have everything you need before heading inside.

What is seating at Tacoma Dome like?

All seating was reserved for Pentatonix at the Tacoma Dome, though the seating configuration can change based on the artist and stage setup. The venue offers a combination of floor seating and tiered arena seating. For an end-stage configuration (i.e. what Pentatonix had), sections directly facing the stage offered the best views, though you will generally have a good view point from anywhere in the arena given how large the venue is. That said, the Christmas in the City production was designed to be visually engaging from throughout the arena, and the addition of the B-stage gave fans another opportunity to see the performers up close.

If you're prioritizing proximity to the performers, lower-level seating will be your best option. However, there is still plenty to appreciate from a distance, as the production also included large screens with live camera feeds of the performance.

All photos in this article were taken from Section 118, Row A (front row) unless otherwise specified. This was a very good seat, with no major obstructions and a clear view of both the A and B stages.

How should I get to Tacoma Dome?

Tacoma Dome is located at 2727 East D Street in Tacoma, with several transportation options available for concertgoers. Driving is convenient if you're coming from outside the city, but public transportation is definitely worth considering given how congested the area can become. 

The Tacoma Dome Station is a hub for the Sound Transit Light Rail, as well as Pierce Transit and Intercity Transit. The T Line light rail connects the station with downtown Tacoma, while Sound Transit’s Sounder South commuter train provides weekday service between Tacoma and Seattle. If you’re coming from Seattle, check the Sounder schedule carefully, particularly for the way back. For those driving, the Tacoma Dome is easily accessible from I-5, although traffic can become particularly sticky before and after the event.

What is parking at Tacoma Dome like?

There are plenty of private lots and paid parking options surrounding the Tacoma Dome, but these lots fill up fast before showtime. The venue’s own parking system uses mobile payment, with rates ranging from $15 to $60 per vehicle depending on the event. Some events also offer prepaid reserved parking, but availability varies. 

I parked in the parking lot of LeMay America’s Car Museum for $40. While it was easy to get in and my car felt secure, the real problem with that lot came after the show. There is only one way in and one way out of the lot, and the entire lower lot adjacent to the museum parking area had to empty out before our section was able to move, meaning I spent about 45 minutes waiting to leave after the concert ended. 

If you’re planning to drive, I’d recommend parking further away from the Dome or taking public transit if you want to avoid the post-show traffic congestion.

How can I get tickets on SeatGeek for an upcoming Pentatonix show?

If you’re ready to experience a little holiday magic, you can get tickets for Pentatonix’s “Christmas in the City Tour” by heading over to their artist page on SeatGeek. Once you've selected your preferred city and date, you can use the interactive seating map to compare available sections, explore different views and find tickets that fit your budget. Once you’re happy with your selections, hit “Checkout” and tickets will be yours.