Benson Boone brings the Wanted Man Tour to New Orleans
Benson Boone is coming to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans with the Wanted Man Tour 2026, at a stage in his career when he is no longer simply the artist behind one enormous hit. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM, doors open at 7:00 PM, and Luna Li will appear as the special guest.
Boone's rise has been rapid, but his concert identity is already highly recognizable: a powerful pop-rock vocal, piano, sudden transitions from intimate ballads to huge choruses, and an intensely physical performance. "Beautiful Things" remains the song that turned him into a globally recognized name, but his repertoire has expanded considerably in the meantime through the album "American Heart", earlier songs such as "In the Stars" and "Slow It Down", and the new phase opened by the single "The Time of My Life".
For audiences who know him primarily from radio and streaming platforms, this concert offers an opportunity to see why large arenas have become a natural environment for him. For longtime fans, another layer is more important: Boone combines songs from different periods on tour, so the performance is not designed merely as promotion for a single album.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
From "Beautiful Things" to a new phase of his career
Boone is from Monroe, Washington, and a wider audience began following him after a brief appearance on "American Idol" and the growth of his audience on social media. Before his major breakthrough, he already had songs such as "Ghost Town" and "In the Stars", but "Beautiful Things" from 2024 changed the scale of his career. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Global 200.
The 2024 debut album "Fireworks & Rollerblades" connected Boone's earlier emotional ballads with larger pop-rock arrangements. His second album, "American Heart", released in 2025, further emphasized the more energetic side of his sound. The album debuted at number two in the United States and Canada and at number one in Australia and New Zealand. Songs that defined that period include "Mystical Magical", "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else", "Mr Electric Blue", "Momma Song", and the title-related "Wanted Man".
In June 2026, "The Time of My Life" arrived, Boone's first new single of that year. The song begins much more restrained, with acoustic guitar and vocals, and then expands toward a more powerful rock-pop ending with drums, electric guitar, and layered vocals. That contrast accurately describes what Boone also does on stage: he does not keep quiet, personal moments separate from arena-pop energy, but uses them as preparation for huge choruses.
The Wanted Man Tour began in early July as a U.S. arena tour. New Orleans comes in the later part of the route, after performances in San Antonio and Dallas and before Jacksonville and Charlotte. In the published tour schedule, it is the only stop in Louisiana, making the date especially interesting for audiences who want to see Boone in that state.
What previous Wanted Man Tour concerts reveal about the performance
It is not advisable to lock in the exact set list for New Orleans in advance, because the order of songs and individual details may change. Nevertheless, reports from earlier Wanted Man Tour stops provide a fairly clear picture of the type of evening Boone is creating.
Concerts so far have featured songs from both studio albums as well as new material, including "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else", "Mystical Magical", "In the Stars", "Momma Song", "The Time of My Life", and "Beautiful Things". Reviews describe a performance that moves between a full arena sound and quieter sections in which the focus is on the vocals, lyrics, and relationship with the audience.
Boone's physical energy is also part of his concert signature. At previous performances on the tour, he has used a long stage with sections that bring him closer to the audience, while his well-known backflips and constant movement across the stage appear as part of the performance. Production elements that lift him above the audience have also been reported in some venues. This does not mean that every detail will be identical in New Orleans, but it shows how much the Wanted Man Tour is designed for a large arena rather than as a simple concert with a performer remaining in one place.
Songs such as "In the Stars" and "Momma Song" create a particularly interesting contrast. They slow the pace and leave more room for Boone's voice before the concert moves back into more powerful pop-rock sections. The closing portion of performances so far has often relied on songs that the audience recognizes very quickly and sings together, which is an important part of Boone's transition from clubs and theaters to arenas.
Who will find this concert especially appealing
- Fans who have followed Boone since "Ghost Town" and "In the Stars" and want to hear how the earlier ballads work in an arena production.
- Audiences who discovered him through "Beautiful Things", "Slow It Down", "Mystical Magical", or "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else".
- Fans of modern pop-rock with major vocal climaxes, piano, guitars, and choruses designed for singing together.
- Visitors who value a performer who actively moves around the stage and tries to reduce the sense of distance in a large arena.
Luna Li opens the evening with a different kind of pop
Luna Li, a Korean-Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, has been confirmed as the special guest. Her sound leans toward dreamier indie and baroque pop, featuring guitar, keyboards, violin, harp, and other instruments that she frequently incorporates into her arrangements. She released the album "When a Thought Grows Wings" in 2024, and in 2026 she continued with new music, including the single "Multiplied".
It is an interesting choice for Boone's tour because the evening does not begin with an artist who simply copies the main pop-rock sound. Luna Li brings a softer, more detailed, and more psychedelic texture, giving the program before the main performance a character of its own.
It is important not to assume the exact time when she will take the stage. For this event, it has been confirmed that the doors open at 7:00 PM and the program begins at 8:00 PM, but a separate performance schedule has not been published in the venue information. Visitors who also want to see Luna Li should therefore reasonably plan to enter before the program begins.
Smoothie King Center: a large arena, but with several ways to get closer to the stage
The Smoothie King Center is located at 1501 Dave Dixon Drive, next to Caesars Superdome and close to downtown New Orleans. The arena uses different seating configurations and can accommodate more than 18,000 visitors, depending on the type of event and stage setup. For that reason, the experience can vary considerably depending on the section: the floor and lower levels provide a more immediate feeling, while upper levels offer a broader view of the production and the entire stage.
For Boone's type of performance, the arena's size makes sense. His songs often build tension from quieter verses toward huge choruses, while the Wanted Man Tour uses the space for movement, visual transitions, and contact with different parts of the audience. On the other hand, no one should expect an identical experience from every section. Views of the stage extensions, elevated production elements, and screens may vary depending on the concert configuration.
Seats are disappearing quickly.
Arrival, parking, and public transportation
The complex around the Smoothie King Center and Caesars Superdome has seven public garages and two surface parking areas, with a total capacity of approximately 7,000 vehicles. Not all capacity is necessarily open for every event, so drivers are advised to check availability in advance for the specific evening. The venue states that parking can be reserved in advance for this concert.
For those arriving without a car, there is a public transit stop on Poydras Street, across from the Superdome near Gate A Ground Level. The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority also lists the Superdome and Smoothie King Center among the popular destinations in its network. The rideshare zone is located on Poydras Street, north of the complex, approximately a five-minute walk from the arena.
If you have come to New Orleans solely for the concert, the location is convenient because the arena is part of the sports and entertainment complex and is only a short distance from central parts of the city. This makes it easier to combine the concert with a stay downtown without having to organize the entire day around a distant suburban venue.
Entry rules worth checking before you leave
A clear bag policy applies to this concert. Clear vinyl bags up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches, one-gallon bags, and small clutch bags up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches are permitted. Larger bags and a range of other items are not permitted. Prohibited items listed include outside food and beverages, bottles and cans, video cameras, recording devices, selfie sticks, drones, and other items that management considers inappropriate.
The Smoothie King Center operates cashlessly for concessions, merchandise, and parking. Visitors carrying only cash can convert it to a card inside the arena at locations near sections 108 and 310. A no-reentry policy also applies: once you leave the arena, you are not permitted to return.
It is practical to arrive with enough time for the security screening, especially if you are approaching the start of the program. Doors open at 7:00 PM, one hour before the listed event start time.
How to prepare for the evening in New Orleans
The best plan depends on whether you primarily want Boone's main performance or the entire program with Luna Li. In the latter case, it makes sense to be in the area around the arena before the doors open, especially if you need to park, pass through security, or find a seat on the upper levels.
If you are arriving by car, keep in mind that the arena is located in a complex that may host multiple events and experience heavier traffic. If you use public transportation or rideshare, Poydras Street is the key reference point for arrival and departure. After the concert, it may be useful to walk a few minutes away from the busiest part of the complex before requesting a ride, but follow the designated rideshare zone because pickups are geographically limited to the designated area.
For the concert itself, the most important thing is to expect an evening with a broad dynamic range. Boone is not an artist whose catalog works at only one tempo: "In the Stars" and "Momma Song" demand quiet and concentration, while "Beautiful Things", "Mystical Magical", and the more energetic material from "American Heart" naturally push the audience toward singing together and greater physical energy.
The Wanted Man Tour therefore best suits audiences who enjoy arena-pop that is not completely separated from a singer-songwriter approach. Boone still uses piano and emotional directness as a foundation, but now places them within a much larger concert framework.
It is worth securing tickets in time.
Sources:
- Smoothie King Center - concert date and time, door opening, Luna Li as the special guest, address, bag rules, cashless operations, parking, and entry rules.
- Warner Records Press - current single "The Time of My Life", information about the album "American Heart", the success of "Beautiful Things", and the Wanted Man Tour schedule.
- GRAMMY.com - Boone's career development, Best New Artist nomination, and context surrounding his breakthrough with "Beautiful Things".
- Mirth Films - description of one of the earlier Wanted Man Tour performances, including the song selection, concert dynamics, and production elements seen at that stop.
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - public transportation and connections to the Smoothie King Center area.
- Apple Music - Luna Li's profile, the album "When a Thought Grows Wings", and the single "Multiplied".