Harry Styles began his 30-show Madison Square Garden residency in New York on August 26, introducing changes to his concert setlist and arrangements. The opening performance also included a tribute to Dolly Parton, adding a notable moment to the first night of Styles’ extended run at the venue.
Key Takeaways
- Harry Styles opened his 30-show Madison Square Garden residency on August 26.
- The singer substantially revised the setlist used during earlier shows on the Together, Together tour.
- “The Waiting Game” was performed during the concert, alongside several songs in new positions or arrangements.
- Styles paid tribute to Dolly Parton during the encore.
- The performance revisited Styles’ connection to Madison Square Garden, where One Direction performed in 2012.
Harry Styles Begins His Madison Square Garden Residency
The opening night of Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden residency introduced a revised version of his Together, Together concert, with the singer changing the order of songs and replacing the tour’s previous opening number. Styles began the August 26 performance with “Dance No More,” followed by “Carolina.”
The performance was the first of a 30-show run at the New York venue. The residency had been established as the centerpiece of Styles’ 2026 global tour plans, which uses extended runs of performances in selected cities rather than a single show at each stop.
Styles had previously opened shows on the tour with “Are You Listening Yet?” The Madison Square Garden performance instead placed that song later in the set, illustrating one of the changes made for the residency opening.
The revised concert also moved songs that had appeared in different positions during earlier tour performances. “Carolina,” from Styles’ first solo album, returned to the live set, while “Cinema” received its tour debut at the New York show.
The opening performance lasted about one hour and 50 minutes, according to the recorded concert setlist. Jamie xx performed before Styles, with Styles taking the stage at about 8:55 p.m.
Revised Setlist Introduces Changes to the Opening Performance
The revised setlist changed both the sequence and presentation of several songs. “Dance No More” moved into the opening position with an extended introduction, while “Carolina” followed as the second song.
“Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” “Cinema,” “Adore You” and “Watermelon Sugar” followed during the first portion of the performance. “Taste Back” and “Sweet Creature” were also included before the show moved into its second act.
Several songs received specific performance changes. “Adore You” featured an extended outro, while “Satellite” received an extended introduction and was performed in its full version. “Kiwi” was also listed with an alternate arrangement.
The middle and later portions of the concert included “Are You Listening Yet?,” “Ready, Steady, Go!,” “Pop,” “Season 2 Weight Loss,” “Kiwi,” “American Girls” and “As It Was.” Styles then performed “Carla’s Song” in a piano version with a string section before closing the main set with “Coming Up Roses.”
The changes gave the Madison Square Garden opening a setlist distinct from the sequence used at earlier Together, Together performances. The documented August 26 setlist also shows that songs from Styles’ latest album were integrated alongside material from his earlier solo releases.
The revised format also follows a broader pattern of major artists using Madison Square Garden for extended concert runs. Earlier this summer, Bon Jovi opened its Forever Tour at the same venue, beginning another multi-date run of live performances.
New Arrangements Reshape the Concert Setlist
The setlist changes extended beyond song order. “Sweet Creature” was performed by Styles’ backing singers, while “Carla’s Song” was presented with piano and strings. “Coming Up Roses” also included a string section.
The performance therefore incorporated different musical presentations within the same concert. The recorded setlist identifies extended introductions, alternate arrangements and additional instrumental elements across several songs.
“The Waiting Game,” from Styles’ album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., appeared during the second portion of the show. Although the song had previously been performed earlier in the year, the Madison Square Garden appearance placed it within the revised residency set.
“The Waiting Game” Receives Its Live Debut
“The Waiting Game” was performed during the Madison Square Garden concert as part of the revised setlist. The song comes from Styles’ fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.
The song was not technically receiving its first-ever live performance on August 26. Setlist records show that Styles first performed “The Waiting Game” on March 6, 2026, at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. The Madison Square Garden performance was the song’s seventh recorded live appearance.
Its inclusion in the New York concert placed the track within a set that combined songs from Styles’ current album with selections from his previous solo records. Other songs from Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. included “Dance No More,” “American Girls,” “Ready, Steady, Go!,” “Are You Listening Yet?,” “Taste Back,” “Season 2 Weight Loss,” “Coming Up Roses” and “Pop.”
The album material was performed alongside earlier songs including “Carolina,” “Kiwi,” “Sweet Creature,” “Sign of the Times,” “As It Was,” “Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” “Cinema” and “Satellite.”
The concert therefore drew from multiple stages of Styles’ solo catalog rather than limiting the performance to his newest release. The setlist also included “Watermelon Sugar,” one of his established solo songs.
The approach is consistent with the structure of Styles’ current tour, which combines newer material with songs from across his solo catalog. Other major artists have also recently used extended U.S. concert runs to mix established material with newer releases, including the Jonas Brothers’ expanded tour schedule following their Madison Square Garden performances.
Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton
The encore included a tribute to Dolly Parton, who was acknowledged during the performance before a recording of her “I Will Always Love You” played through the venue. Styles then continued the concert with “Sign of the Times” and “Aperture.”
Parton’s recording was used as part of the tribute rather than as a live performance by Styles. The recorded setlist identifies “I Will Always Love You” as a song played from tape during the encore.
The tribute occurred during the first night of the Madison Square Garden residency and was incorporated into the concert’s closing sequence. The remainder of the encore featured “Sign of the Times,” performed with a string section, followed by “Aperture,” which had an extended introduction.
The Dolly Parton tribute was separate from the setlist changes that shaped the rest of the performance, but it became part of the opening-night concert sequence. Styles otherwise used the encore to return to songs from his solo catalog after completing the main set with “Coming Up Roses.”
The documented setlist also records “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” a Don Gibson song, as playing from tape after the final live performance.
Madison Square Garden Holds Personal Significance for Styles
Madison Square Garden has a direct connection to Styles’ early performing career. During the opening-night concert, he recalled that he first performed at the venue at age 18 with One Direction in 2012.
Styles told the audience that someone working at the venue had reminded him of his first visit. According to his account, he kissed the floor after arriving and said he had made it to Madison Square Garden.
The 2026 residency places Styles back at the same New York venue more than a decade after that One Direction appearance. This time, he is performing as a solo artist across a scheduled 30-show run.
The residency is part of Styles’ Together, Together tour. Ticketing records list Madison Square Garden performances beginning August 26 and continuing on dates through October 31.
The opening-night set provided a different version of the tour performance, with changes ranging from the opening song to the placement and arrangement of individual tracks. Styles also used the concert to revisit an earlier connection to the venue while beginning his extended solo run there.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Harry Styles begin his Madison Square Garden residency?
Harry Styles opened the residency on August 26, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The performance was the first of his scheduled 30-show run at the venue.
How many shows are included in Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden residency?
The residency consists of 30 scheduled shows. The performances run from August through October 2026.
Did Harry Styles change his setlist for the residency opening?
Yes. Styles opened with “Dance No More” instead of “Are You Listening Yet?” and changed the placement and arrangements of several other songs. “Carolina” and “Cinema” were also included in the revised performance.
What song did Harry Styles perform live during the revised set?
“The Waiting Game” was included in the performance. The song had previously been performed live earlier in 2026, with the Madison Square Garden appearance recorded as its seventh live performance.
Did Harry Styles pay tribute to Dolly Parton?
Yes. During the encore, Styles paid tribute to Dolly Parton, followed by a recording of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” playing at the venue.
