If the reported millions of fans registered for ticket queues is any indication, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour is going to be one for the books.The Queen’s first solo all-stadium show since 2016’s Formation World Tour was announced Wednesday (Feb. 1) after several days of speculation and reported venue location leaks. She’ll hit up Europe first in May, and will perform in North America beginning in early July.
There have been so many changes in the world since the last time Beyoncé performed a headlining show — and in her own life and career. Her family with husband Jay-Z grew by two, while she became the most-nominated artist in Grammys history and also garnered an Academy Award nomination. Considering the magnitude of her artistic growth since 2016 — coupled with the deep musical layers informing the RENAISSANCE era of her career — there is absolutely no telling what songs might comprise this tour’s setlist.
Beyoncé has never been a one-trick performer, and she consistently keeps fans on their toes with innovative ideas, fresh choreography and endearing song mashups. Now that she’s long beyond icon status, she has earned the liberty of continuing to do whatever the heck she feels like doing.
Where do you even start when thinking of the ideal setlist for an act as significant as Beyoncé, during a tour as massive as this one is expected to be? Will she pull deep cuts out of the vault? Will she hit every album era? Well, you won’t have to think too hard about all of that, because we have you covered.
Below is our dream setlist for Bey’s Renaissance World Tour. The setlist covers Beyoncé’s discography, keeps her past tour tendencies in mind, and also hearkens back to the beginnings of dance and house music, as Renaissance (and much of modern music as we know it) would hardly exist without them. We’re hoping that the show runs for a reasonable two-and-a-half hours — which would be fair, considering it’s her first trek in nearly seven years!
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ACT 1: RENAISSANCE
The lights cut out, prompting all eyes to be planted on the stage. A low hum hits the atmosphere, sort of like singing, but mostly like the muffled sound of a club you can hear from only the outside. The hum gets clearer after about a minute passes, and it becomes evident that it’s the opening song from Renaissance. We’re about to enter the club.
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"I'm That Girl" (Video Intro)
The Tommy Wright- and Princess Loko-sampling intro is the only possible track to truly start the night’s festivities off on the correct foot. Several screens showcasing that nearly-six-month-old video teaser light up the arena, while the obvious disco ball-shaped catwalk enveloping “Club Renaissance” ticket holders shines brightly.
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"Cozy"
Beyoncé’s silhouette emerges from a shadowy backdrop to the roar of the crowd, as she welcomes them to the Renaissance World Tour. She steps into the light and continues to sing. Dancers take their places behind her and groove to the music, which cuts out as soon as T.S. Madison’s voice is heard on the track, saying, “b–ch, I’m Black.” During those lyrics, the entire arena goes black.
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"Be Alive" (Interlude)
Here, we see home videos of Beyoncé and her family, set to the tune of her Oscar-nominated song from King Richard. This highlights the central theme of Black joy and love that Beyoncé aims to portray in her work. (Plus, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a glimpse at Rumi and Sir!) The video ends just as the drums before the first verse kick in, the crowd is still seeing black.
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"Alien Superstar"
“Please do not be alarmed, remain calm,” a voice says as “Alien Superstar” begins and flashing lights engulf the stage. Pandemonium ensues as the lights come back up and the song plays in its entirety. Beyoncé and her dancers are performing a synchronized routine.
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"Cuff It" / "Another Star" (Outro)
While the idea of playing her latest LP in its entirety is appealing to some, when it comes to Big B (both “Brother” and Beyoncé), you must expect the unexpected. Legendary percussionist Sheila E — who is heard on this track — pops out to slay a drum solo. Beyoncé ends the act by mashing up “CUFF IT” with Stevie Wonder’s disco fever dream “Another Star.” Sheila is playing the iconic outro on the drums as Bey’s vocals and the crowd are going crazy.
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ACT 2: THE VOCAL SHOWDOWN
While Bey leaves stage to change costume, a sultry video intro featuring the downtempo version of Deena Jones/Effie White’s “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls plays on a screen. It keeps in theme with Renaissance’s disco influences while bringing back memories of the lauded, Bey-starring film. Dancers clad in nightgowns perform a contemporary dance routine on stage, disrobing to reveal form-fitting sequin bodysuits and lingerie.
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"Love Drought"
One of the internet’s favorite Lemonade songs comes in slowly as the energy on stage shifts towards a dazzlingly dressed Beyoncé, who sits center stage as the dancers start to surround her. The choreography includes isolations, ripple effects and stunning visual formations, while hazy green and yellow lights illuminate the stadium.
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"Love to Love You Baby" / "Naughty Girl"
As a sexy mashup of the 2004 hit from her debut solo album and the Donna Summer classic it prominently references plays, Beyoncé addresses the crowd, asking them how they’re doing — to uproarious applause. She then explains that the Renaissance album is about love at the core. “Tonight is all about loving who you are,” she says with a smile. “No one can tell you how to love or who to love.”
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"Plastic Off the Sofa" / "Rather Die Young"
She adds that love is “meant to be fun” — and that even if you find yourself in a relationship for a long time, “flirting is still necessary!” She coos along to “Plastic Off the Sofa.” Later, she ties in “Rather Die Young” from 4, before ending with the challenging vocal runs from “Sofa,” keeping the production from “Young” intact.
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"Virgo's Groove"
The “Club Renaissance” disco ball catwalk shines light blue as dancers return in their best silk nightgowns, performing to the seductive song while Beyoncé joins them. All eyes (and ears) are waiting for her impressive vocal gymnastics to close out the song — which, of course, sound better than in the recorded version. The crowd cheers, and the lights dim.
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ACT 3: LET’S DANCE
As ‘Fame’ is one of the most quintessential dance films, it would be a total miss to not include snippets of Beyoncé and her dancers gettin’ down to the title theme, performed by the late legend, Irene Cara. The song is also mashed up with B’Day’s underrated bop, “Green Light,” and interweaves lyrics from 4’s “Dance For You.” It’s evident that the audience is in for a particular treat with this section.
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"Move" / "My Power" / "Mine"
The Grace Jones and Tems-assisted “Move” kicks off the section, much to the fans’ delight. Beyoncé and her dancers perform “ayyy”-inducing, African-influenced choreography with ease. “My Power” from The Lion King: The Gift kicks in near the “Move” climax, and later ties in Drake’s “do you wanna roll with a good girl?” query from “Mine” (off her self-titled album) for an iconic dance breakdown. Throughout, the choreography gets more raucous, and the crowd is rightfully, predictably losing their s–t.
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"Crazy in Love" / "America Has a Problem"
Of course, Beyoncé has to tie in her first solo Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, which features one of her most-anticipated dance breaks. This time around, the famed “uh-oh” twerk section pays homage to her days in the hip-hop, rappin’ group Girlz Tyme, tying in a breakdown that seamlessly flows into Renaissance‘s “America Has a Problem.” She and her dancers bring the crowd back to the ‘80s and ‘90s — there’s even some breakdancers showing everyone how it’s done on stage. The choreo is very Janet-like, which is fitting, since Bey is obviously inspired by the Jacksons.
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"Energy" / "Baby Boy"
This is where the dancehall vibes truly come out to play, both sonically and visually. As Beyoncé and her dancers whine their waists to “Energy,” the crowd’s energy in turn ramps up. The outro for “Energy” smoothly turns into “Baby Boy,” tying in one of the most-anticipated dance breaks during her shows with a new dance jam, to make an unforgettable stage moment. There are several island-tinged tie-ins with the music here, such as Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” and Sister Nancy/Jay-Z and Damien Marley’s “Bam Bam.” Considering BEAM, the featured voice on “Energy,” is of Jamaican descent, it all feels very appropriate, and the audience is loving every moment.
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"Break My Soul"
This is the culmination of every dance party you’ve ever attended (the good ones) rolled into one. There’s ‘90s moves, there’s hip-shaking, there’s jumping, and there’s moments of smoothness in the choreography. There’s some shouting as well — especially as the crowd, in unison, emphatically shouts “AND WE BACK OUTSIDE” as though the exhaustion from several years of health-centered headlines has finally reached its peak. You’ve never heard cheers and clapping quite like this.
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ACT 4: DIRTY SOUTH FLAVOR
“All Up in Your Mind” serves as the background song, while the chorus of Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’” overlays and blares through the stadium. Echoes of the line “I’m goin’ back to the South” from “Black Parade” and lyrics from her verse in Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage (Remix)” reverberate. Black and white visuals play of Beyoncé dismounting her trusted ‘Renaissance’ horse (Reneigh) wearing chaps, and her mirrorball cowgirl hat catches the lens as she struts into the distance. The crowd is at a fever pitch.
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"Formation" / "Soldier" Mashup
Never one to forget to remind us where she came from, Beyoncé opens the section with “Formation,” performing the video’s much-emulated choreography with her backup dancers. The vibe switches with the simple lyric “we like them boys up top from the BK,” signaling the 2005 Destiny’s Child hit “Soldier” will begin. (Who wouldn’t go nuts after hearing Destiny’s Child?!)
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"Let Me Try" (Interlude)
The synth-only version of the song by Kaleidoscope and Frank Tirado (used in “Freedom”) plays in the background as Beyoncé preaches to the audience about the importance of never forgetting where you come from. There’s a church organ and several colloquialisms and words of affirmation coming from her background singers and dancers. She begins to discuss her roots in the church, and how her faith has kept her afloat during so many challenging moments in her life.
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"Church Girl" / "Diva"
Renaissance’s bounce track gets the crowd hype, as Bey’s vocals and dance moves are on full display. She later ties in a bounce version of “Diva,” one of the live show’s biggest crowd pleasers. The dance break just keeps elevating from show to show, and this version within this performance era is no different.
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"Get Me Bodied" / "Stomp"
The bounce and church vibes continue, as Beyoncé wildly blends her B’Day dance hit “Get Me Bodied” with Kirk Franklin and God’s Property’s ’90s gospel classic “Stomp.” We weren’t kidding when we said to expect the unexpected!
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ACT 5: CLUB KID
“End Of Time (Revel/Super Bowl 2013 mix)” serves as this section’s background music. The sound of hands clapping and fans clacking create the beat’s build, while some affirming catchphrases often heard in queer spaces (“you betta work!” “slay!” “yaas!”) further the scene. Chopped video snippets from the first teaser of the Renaissance album fill the screen, showcasing Beyoncé in a cowboy hat in what appears to be an underground club.
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"Heated"
Beyoncé’s background singers begin a slow chant of “Uncle Jonny” to commemorate her deceased “fairy godmother,” before the stage opens up to reveal various ballroom-style scenes, including voguing, duckwalking and strutting. There are so many unique talents on stage that it’s hard to pin down where to look, because everything is so eye-catching. The song is performed in its entirety, with Beyoncé urging the crowd to scream the last chant so loudly that Uncle Jonny can hear them in Heaven.
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"Work It Out" / "Blow" (Interlude)
This last interlude allows Beyoncé to talk about her queer fans, her relationship to the LGBTQ+ community and how disco would be nothing without them. “This is for you” she shouts to applause and adoration.
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"Pure/Honey" / "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
The dancers truly take center stage here with some fabulous synchronized choreography, showcasing the hallmarks of ballroom dance culture. Fans are living for Bey’s outfit, as cheers of “mother!” come from them and the people on stage. She ties in Sylvester’s 1979 floor-filling classic “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” — which, like the other mashups before it, goes off without a hitch.
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"Summer Renaissance" / "Survivor" / "I Will Survive"
The album’s (and the show’s) finale, “SUMMER RENAISSANCE” closes with a renaissance of both Black music and Beyoncé’s legacy. Bey melds together Gloria Gaynor’s disco/queer liberation anthem “I Will Survive” with Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” to really drive home the attributes of the project home, and leave the audience feeling satisfied after several years without seeing this icon in the flesh. It takes approximately four hours to get out of the area due to the influx of traffic, but it only allows more time for everyone to reminisce on the magic that just occurred.