Benson Boone brings the Wanted Man Tour to BOK Center
Benson Boone will perform at BOK Center in Tulsa on July 28, 2026, beginning at 8:00 p.m., at a point when he has grown from an internet discovery into a major arena performer. The Wanted Man Tour 2026 connects the breakthrough marked by the songs "Beautiful Things", "In the Stars" and "Slow It Down" with the brighter and more playful sound of the album "American Heart". The evening's special guest is Olivia O'Brien, a singer-songwriter known for her emotional alternative pop.
The Tulsa concert is part of a U.S. tour that began in Pittsburgh in early July and travels through major venues across the United States. Denver follows Tulsa, followed by the West Coast and other parts of the world. This is a full arena production, not a one-off promotional appearance.
Ticket sales for this event are underway. Arriving early is particularly useful for visitors from outside the city because a free program will take place in front of the venue before the concert.
From an intimate ballad to an arena chorus
Boone's international breakthrough came with "Beautiful Things", a song that begins like a piano confession and then transforms into a powerful pop-rock chorus. That transition between vulnerability and a sudden vocal peak became his trademark. His voice can sound close and restrained in the verses, then fill a large arena only a few moments later.
The 2024 debut album "Fireworks & Rollerblades" solidified that style through a combination of ballads, contemporary pop, piano, guitars and large choruses. Alongside "Beautiful Things", some of the most recognizable songs from that period are "Slow It Down", "Cry", "Drunk in My Mind" and "There She Goes". Earlier singles "Ghost Town" and "In the Stars" have remained important because they show how Boone initially won over audiences with direct writing about loss, relationships and emotional insecurity.
A Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category and his performance at the 2025 ceremony further demonstrated that he does not rely solely on studio production. He builds his stage identity around a powerful voice, physical energy and acrobatic movements, but singing remains at the center of the performance.
"American Heart" and a new stage of his career
The second studio album "American Heart", released in June 2025, shifted Boone's sound toward warmer, brighter and occasionally more theatrical pop. The album contains ten songs, including "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else", "Mr Electric Blue", "Mystical Magical", "Momma Song", "I Wanna Be the One You Call", "Wanted Man" and "Young American Heart". The title of the current tour was taken directly from that release.
The change is heard most clearly in the energy. The older ballads build toward an emotional peak, while songs from "American Heart" more often call for movement and communal singing from the outset. "Mr Electric Blue" has a livelier pop-rock dynamic, "Mystical Magical" emphasizes playfulness, while "Momma Song" retains a more personal approach.
In 2026, Boone released "The Time of My Life", his first new release of the year. The Wanted Man Tour is therefore not merely a continuation of the previous album's promotion, but an overview of a career that is already entering its next chapter.
What the audience can expect from the repertoire
There is no guarantee that the order of songs in Tulsa will be identical to earlier dates. Nevertheless, the opening concerts of the Wanted Man Tour provide a clear framework. The repertoire connects the current album, key songs from "Fireworks & Rollerblades" and earlier singles that helped Boone build an international audience.
Songs performed at the tour opener included "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else", "Mr Electric Blue", "Wanted Man", "Slow It Down", "Mystical Magical", "Pretty Slowly", "In the Stars", "Momma Song", "The Time of My Life", "Cry" and "Beautiful Things". This is not a confirmed set list for BOK Center, but a guide to the range of material in the current production.
The faster songs allow Boone to use the large stage and his physical energy, while the ballads reduce the intensity and turn the arena into a space for communal singing. "Beautiful Things" delivers one of the greatest vocal peaks, but the concert no longer rests on a single hit. Frequent transitions from piano to the full band create the effect of the sound suddenly expanding, without any need to assume the exact song order or production surprises in advance.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially when the aim is to choose the part of the venue that best suits the desired experience - a closer view of the stage, a broader view of the production or an easier exit after the concert.
Olivia O'Brien as the special guest
BOK Center has confirmed Olivia O'Brien as the special guest for the Tulsa performance. Her musical profile fits Boone's audience well, but she does not sound like a copy of him. O'Brien relies on intimate alternative and electronic pop, often with very direct lyrics about relationships, breakups and self-confidence.
A wider audience discovered her through her collaboration with gnash on the song "i hate u, i love u", which reached the top ten of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her better-known solo songs include "hate u love u", "Josslyn", "Empty", "Care Less More" and "Love Myself". Her performance gives the evening an additional emotional nuance and provides a natural introduction to Boone's blend of ballads and arena pop.
The exact length of her performance and the door-opening time are not specified in the available information. The entire program is listed as beginning at 8:00 p.m., so visitors who want to hear the special guest should be in their seats before that time.
BOK Center as a concert venue
BOK Center is located at 200 South Denver Avenue in downtown Tulsa. The arena accommodates up to 19,199 visitors, depending on the configuration, and regularly hosts major concert and sporting productions. It was designed as a city landmark, with flowing lines inspired by the Arkansas River, transportation routes and local cultural heritage.
For Boone's type of performance, the arena is large enough for a wide stage, screens and a full band, while the stands are clearly directed toward the stage. With the piano, the space can feel quiet and focused, while the arrival of the full arrangement gives the choruses physical power through the same volume.
The capacity of 19,199 seats applies to the largest configurations and does not mean that exactly that many tickets will be available for this concert. The stage, technical equipment and closed sections change the actual number of seats.
- Address: 200 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
- Maximum capacity: 19,199 visitors, depending on the configuration
- The venue does not accept cash at food, beverage and merchandise sales points
- Denver Avenue Station is located across from BOK Center
- The designated ride-hailing zone is on 1st Street between Denver Avenue and Cheyenne Avenue
Rock the Block before the concert
Rock the Block, a free street gathering, will take place in front of BOK Center from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. before the evening performance. The program includes music from Mix 96.5 Tulsa, glitter face painting, local food trucks, customized hat making and other accompanying activities. The first 200 guests can receive free ice cream.
The program turns the area in front of the venue into a meeting place several hours earlier, which suits families, groups and visitors who want to avoid the later traffic pressure.
Rock the Block ends one hour before the concert begins, leaving time to enter, pass through security and find the correct section. Because the door-opening time has not been specifically announced, visitors should follow venue updates on the day of the concert and should not rely on schedules from other performances.
Arrival, parking and public transportation
BOK Center is located in the Arena District, in the western part of downtown Tulsa. The surrounding streets can become congested before and after major events, so the venue recommends arriving early and planning transportation in advance. Parking facilities are available nearby, but availability changes depending on other events in the city center.
Denver Avenue Station, the main hub for city bus routes, is located across from the venue. MetroLink Tulsa operates fixed routes from Monday through Saturday, while MicroLink supplements evening transportation options after regular daily service ends at around 6:30 p.m. Aero Bus Rapid Transit connects downtown with the Peoria corridor and also stops at Denver Avenue Station. Schedules should be checked for the precise return route because the concert will end after the usual daytime timetable.
A designated ride-hailing zone is located on 1st Street between Denver Avenue and Cheyenne Avenue. Visitors staying downtown can also consider walking to hotels, restaurants and entertainment districts.
Practical arrival plan
- If you are arriving by car, choose a parking facility before entering the central downtown area and allow time for walking.
- If you are using the bus, check both the outbound and return connections because the evening system differs from daytime service.
- If you are using a ride-hailing service, arrange pickup in the designated zone.
- If you are attending Rock the Block, prepare to spend time outdoors before entering the air-conditioned venue.
- Save your digital ticket and increase your screen brightness before the security check.
Bag and payment rules
BOK Center applies a clear-bag policy. One clear bag per person is permitted, measuring no more than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or one clear one-gallon plastic bag. In addition, one smaller item that does not need to be transparent, such as a small purse or wallet, is permitted if it is no larger than 5 x 8 inches.
The simplest approach is to bring only what is necessary. Fewer belongings speed up the security screening and reduce the possibility of having to return to the car. The rules also apply to visitors who previously attended the program outside the venue.
BOK Center is a cashless venue for food, beverages and merchandise. Debit and credit cards are accepted, while vouchers are available for visitors without a card. The venue's box office may still accept cash. The possibility of paying cash at the box office therefore does not mean that cash will be accepted at the stands inside the arena.
Who will find the concert especially appealing
The Wanted Man Tour is not limited to fans of "Beautiful Things". Fans of emotional pop will get ballads centered on voice and piano, while audiences more inclined toward pop-rock will hear stronger drums, guitars and arena choruses. Younger fans will recognize songs from social media, while the broader audience can hear a combination of singer-songwriter directness and large-scale production.
The concert may also appeal to families with teenagers. Boone's lyrics are often emotional, but the performance is neither closed-off nor monotonous. The same repertoire can include songs about loss, family, falling in love, self-confidence and the joy of performing. Olivia O'Brien further expands the evening toward alternative pop and an audience that appreciates direct, personal lyrics.
Tulsa as part of the concert journey
BOK Center is located in a part of Downtown Tulsa that provides easy access to the Arts District, restaurants, hotels and the city's musical landmarks. Tulsa has a deep musical history, from the development of the Tulsa Sound to places such as Cain's Ballroom, the Woody Guthrie Center and the Bob Dylan Center. Visitors staying for more than one evening can connect the concert with a city that does not treat music merely as an occasional event.
Tulsa is also connected with Route 66, but on the day of the concert it is more practical to focus on downtown: an early dinner, Rock the Block, an unhurried security check and a realistic return plan. It is worth securing tickets in good time and paying equal attention to arrival arrangements and the venue's rules.
Sources:
- BOK Center - information about the concert, special guest, program start, bag rules, payment and address
- BOK Center Rock the Block - time and content of the pre-concert program
- Benson Boone and Warner Records - tour schedule, the album "American Heart" and the release "The Time of My Life"
- InMusic - repertoire from the tour's opening concert, used as a guide rather than as a confirmed set list for Tulsa
- BOK Center About and Pelli Clarke & Partners - venue capacity and architectural context
- Downtown Tulsa Partnership - public transportation, Denver Avenue Station, Aero BRT, MicroLink and the designated ride-hailing zone
- Visit Tulsa - the city's musical history, Arts District and Route 66
- Olivia O'Brien - biographical information, musical style and best-known releases