The pop powerhouse dazzled during her second of four nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden for her Radical Optimism Tour. Read about the best moments here.
9/19/2025
Dua Lipa performs at Madison Square Garden.
Madison Phipps
When it comes to pop stars who debuted in the latter half of the 2010s and truly solidified their positions at the top of the 2020s, Dua Lipa arguably has the most bulletproof catalog of them all — and she flaunted her endless stream of Top 40 smashes throughout her Radical Optimism Tour.
On Thursday night (Sept. 18), Lipa powered through her second of four nights at The Garden, treating NYC to a solid pop showcase that displayed her vocal chops, megahits (“Don’t Start Now” was a particularly thrilling penultimate song), and idiosyncratic ear for covers. In tribute to “true New York icons,” Lipa delivered a roaring cover of Blondie‘s “One Way or Another,” infusing her heavily dance-forward set with a splash of rock and roll. Launched in November 2024 in support of its namesake album, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the Radical Optimism Tour was heavy on the bombast (limitless confetti was the name of the game) and slick late ’80s-inspired choreography to make up for what it lacked in aesthetic coherence and continuity.
Meticulous blocking covered every part of the stage — including an elevated platform reminiscent of the shape of an infinity sign, a runway leading to a pseudo-B-stage that lit up in flames during “Love Again,” and a floating platform that carried her to the arena’s 100-level — and Lipa leaned on her modeling background to command the stage with her sultry presence and laser focus. From heartwarmingly full-circle renditions of breakthrough hits like 2015’s “Be the One” to newer standouts like 2024’s “Maria,” Lipa’s second of four nights at The Garden reminded the crowd just how prolific a pop hitmaker she’s become over the past decade — even if the Thursday night crew was a bit tamer than usual. When she kept the focus off the ballads and churned out bangers like “One Kiss,” “Levitating,” “Houdini,” “Hallucinate” and “Physical,” Lipa had The Garden in the palm of her hands.
Here are the five best moments of night two of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour at Madison Square Garden.
A Dua Duo
There was a surprise duo of Duas at Thursday night’s show, and we’re not talking about the Duolingo owl. During a lengthy interlude in which she chatted with fans on the floor, Lipa bumped into an excited fan also named Dua. While the pop star explained her name means “to love” in Albanian, the fan shared that her name means “a prayer to God” in Arabic. The two then took a quick selfie together as the crowd cheered for the surprise duo. One tour stop, two Duas!
Dua Takes on Blondie
Blondie’s 1979 hit “One Way or Another” reached No. 24 on the Hot 100 and left an indelible pop-rock legacy, so it’s only right that one of Top 40’s spunkiest current stars delivered her own spin on the New York classic. Encircled by her band and background singers at the mini B-stage near the end of the main runway, Dua put on her best Debbie Harry wig and tore through the track, throwing the parents in the crowd a bone, before running to her deliciously of-the-moment setlist.
A Visible Band
In an era where captivating dancers and immersive visuals have revolutionized the standard look of live pop shows, the band can often be relegated to the side of the stage — or even hidden behind on-stage structures or stuck in the pit. At the Radical Optimism Tour, Lipa’s band was visible for the entire show on the elevated platform, a choice that may surprise those who are mainly familiar with the EDM and synthpop hits. Hearing and seeing the live drums and bass guitar onstage helped amplify the most subtle production flourishes in her music, and the increased number of bodies onstage kept the action constant, even when the energy dipped slightly during the ballads.
Mid-Air “Love Again” Applause-O-Meter
Lipa may not have been zooming around on a flying horseshoe or tipping on 44s like Beyoncé on her Cowboy Carter Tour, but she certainly had her fair share of airtime. After performing most of Future Nostalgia standout “Love Again” while flames engulfed her feet on the mini B-stage, Lipa put on a Diana Ross-esque fur coat and stepped onto a floating platform that lifted her to the arena’s 100-level seating. While in the air, she played conductor, measuring the volume of applause from each side of the arena and manipulating them into a battle that culminated with an explosive final chorus. Although she barely spoke a word in that process, her facial expressions here were one of the most charismatic elements of the entire show.
Old Way Vogueing Takes Center Stage
Led by the visionary Charm La’Donna, who earned double Emmy nominations earlier this year for choreographing Kendrick Lamar’s and Beyoncé’s explosive halftime spectacles, the vast majority of Lipa’s moves on this tour were sourced from the “old way” style of vogue.
A pre-1990 iteration of vogueing, “old way” prioritizes lines, symmetry and precision, resulting in incredibly crisp pictures and formations. This style of dance paired incredibly well with Lipa’s stature and natural ability, allowing her to flaunt her extensions and timing over busier, more intricate choreography. Considering the evolution of on-stage dancing, it was quite the sight to see her moves align with the late-’80s feel of certain Future Nostalgia cuts.
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