Melanie Martinez brings the world of the HADES album to the Kia Forum
Melanie Martinez returns to Inglewood with a completely new concert chapter. HADES: THE SACRIFICE arrives at the Kia Forum on August 14, 2026, with the event announced for 8:00 PM. After tours in which she connected the worlds of the albums Cry Baby, K-12 and PORTALS, this year's performance is focused on HADES, her fourth studio album and the current centerpiece of her musical and visual identity.
This is an important distinction for audiences who last saw Melanie Martinez on The Trilogy Tour. That tour was a retrospective and a kind of journey through three earlier periods of her career. HADES: THE SACRIFICE turns toward new material and new stage design. Performances on the tour so far show that the concert is conceived as a complete piece rather than simply a sequence of the biggest hits from the catalog.
Isabel LaRosa has also been confirmed for the performance at the Kia Forum. Her dark, cinematic alternative pop fits well into an evening whose headliner is known precisely for connecting songs, costumes, stage design and narrative.
Tickets for this event are currently on sale.
HADES is a new phase in Melanie Martinez's career
HADES was released on March 27, 2026 as Melanie Martinez's fourth studio album. The first major signal of the new era was "POSSESSION", a song that arrived after a years-long break from new material. "DISNEY PRINCESS" was released soon afterward, and the album continued the pattern by which Martinez builds not only a sound but an entire concept around each release.
Thematically, HADES is far from harmless pop fantasy. Martinez has described the album through themes of control, power, exploitation and social patterns that are presented as something acceptable or protective. That is why its aesthetic relies on dystopian and dark imagery, while combining it with melodies that remain firmly within the realm of alternative pop.
That combination of sweetness and unease has long been one of her most recognizable signatures. On Cry Baby, she used motifs of childhood and innocence to talk about much heavier themes. K-12 expanded that approach into a film and a complete visual story, while PORTALS changed the appearance of the central character and musically moved deeper into experimental pop. HADES changes the framework again, but retains the idea that an album should be experienced as a world, not merely a collection of songs.
For audiences who know Melanie Martinez primarily through songs such as "Dollhouse", "Pity Party", "Play Date", "Mad Hatter", "DEATH" or "VOID", this concert therefore represents a different kind of evening from a classic greatest-hits tour. HADES is currently the main story.
What previous performances tell us about the setlist
The setlist for the Kia Forum has not been confirmed in advance, and it should not be assumed that every concert on the tour will be identical. Still, records from performances that have already taken place provide very clear context.
At the concert in Dallas on August 2, all 18 songs from the HADES album were recorded as being performed. Among them were "GARBAGE", "IS THIS A CULT?", "POSSESSION", "WHITE BOY WITH A GUN", "DISNEY PRINCESS", "GRUDGES", "MONOPOLY MAN", "AVOIDANT", "MONOLITH", "WEIGHT WATCHERS", "THE PLAGUE", "GUTTER", "UNCANNY VALLEY", "THE VATICAN", "CHATROOM" and the closing "THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH". A similar pattern also appears in statistics from other performances on the tour.
That does not mean the repertoire for Inglewood is guaranteed. Changes between cities are always possible. But the structure so far shows that HADES is not merely a handful of new songs inserted between old favorites. The album is the foundation of the show.
For longtime fans, that is important information before buying a ticket. Anyone who wants the concert primarily because of early songs from Cry Baby or because of a cross-section of the entire discography should know that The Trilogy Tour was the project dedicated to that concept. HADES: THE SACRIFICE belongs to Melanie Martinez's current era.
The concert as a visual show, not just a performance of songs
For years, Melanie Martinez has treated the concert stage as an extension of her own films, music videos and characters. HADES takes that a step further. The tour production has been described as highly cinematic, with practical stage elements and a camera used as part of the visual illusions.
That is particularly interesting in an indoor arena such as the Kia Forum. A stadium can offer an enormous crowd, but an arena allows more controlled lighting, clearer direction of the audience's attention and more precise connections between the music and visual transitions. That kind of format suits an artist whose concerts often function through chapters and scene changes.
The HADES repertoire so far is also divided between different parts of the stage. A record from the Dallas performance marks switches between the main and secondary stages, showing that movement through the space is part of the concert's dramaturgy. This is information from a previous performance, not confirmation of an identical configuration at the Kia Forum, but it provides a better picture of why this tour is conceived as a visually structured whole.
It is worth securing tickets in time if the new HADES era is precisely the reason for attending.
Isabel LaRosa opens the evening
Isabel LaRosa has been confirmed for Inglewood. She is an artist associated with alternative pop and a distinctly cinematic, darker sound. Sony Music describes her approach through alternative pop that turns infatuation and breakups into dramatic pop songs.
That is why her appearance is not a random addition to the program. LaRosa and Martinez have different catalogs and their own identities, but both use a darker pop aesthetic, visually emphasized presentation and an atmosphere that is almost as important as the melody itself.
Audiences coming for Melanie Martinez therefore get an opening act whose sound naturally fits the main show. It is worth arriving early enough and keeping in mind that Isabel LaRosa is an integral part of the evening's program, not merely a name alongside the headliner.
Kia Forum is a venue built for concerts like this
Kia Forum is located at 3900 W Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, in the greater Los Angeles area. The venue opened in 1967 and for decades was home to major sporting events and concerts. After an extensive renovation that began in 2012, it reopened in 2014 with a stronger focus on music and entertainment.
For the Melanie Martinez concert, it is particularly relevant that the acoustics were significantly improved during the renovation. Former sports facilities were adapted to performers' needs, while the arena floor was designed so it could accommodate large concert configurations. Today, Kia Forum presents itself as an arena the size of major sports venues but primarily dedicated to music and entertainment.
Songkick lists the venue's capacity as 17,505 visitors. The actual number of available places can vary from concert to concert because it depends on the stage configuration, production and floor layout.
The venue's history further explains why this tour stop is interesting. Over the decades, artists such as Aretha Franklin, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Eagles and many others have performed on the same stage, while after the renovation Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and other major arena artists have held concerts there.
Melanie Martinez already performed here on The Trilogy Tour in 2024. Her return two years later therefore allows a very direct comparison between two different chapters of her concert work - the retrospective world of The Trilogy Tour and the current HADES concept.
Why Inglewood is an important tour stop
The tour schedule gives this performance additional significance. Before Inglewood come dates in Mexico and Phoenix, while after the Kia Forum there is a break before the European leg of the tour continues in September. The published schedule shows Amsterdam, London, Manchester, Paris and other European cities after the American leg.
mxdwn Music describes Inglewood as the finale of the North American leg of the tour. This means that audiences at the Kia Forum are not getting one of the first concerts where the production is still developing, but a date after a series of arena performances have already taken place. By that point, HADES: THE SACRIFICE will already have passed through multiple American and Mexican cities.
There is also the broader Los Angeles context. Melanie Martinez has already held smaller performances in the city during the HADES era, but the Kia Forum represents a different level of production. The arena makes it possible to realize the stage design and visual elements at full tour scale.
For fans choosing between several cities on the route, this makes Inglewood particularly interesting because of its position at the end of one leg and before the tour moves to Europe.
Practical information for arrival
Kia Forum recommends arriving with enough time for security checks. Entry rules can be adjusted for individual events, so it is useful to check them again immediately before the concert.
The most important information for planning the evening is:
- Location: Kia Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, California.
- Date: August 14, 2026.
- Time listed for the event: 8:00 PM.
- Headliner: Melanie Martinez - HADES: THE SACRIFICE.
- Confirmed opening act: Isabel LaRosa.
- Bags: clear bags may be no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, while small purses up to 9 x 6 inches do not need to be clear. Bags are inspected upon entry.
- Payment: the venue operates cashlessly at points of sale, accepting cards and mobile payments.
- Parking: available next to the venue, but capacity may be limited. Kia Forum encourages carpooling, organized transportation and public transit.
- Photography: professional cameras with detachable or telephoto lenses, video cameras, GoPro devices, monopods, tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted under the venue's general rules.
Particular attention should be paid to the mobile ticket rule. Kia Forum states that mobile tickets are used for entry and that printouts and screenshots are not accepted. Before arriving, it is therefore sensible to open the ticket in the app or digital wallet and check the phone's battery.
The venue also does not permit outside food and most beverages. The exception is a factory-sealed bottle of water up to 20 oz. The list of prohibited items can change depending on the production, so costumes and fashion accessories inspired by Melanie Martinez's visual world should comply with venue rules. Replica weapons and costume weapons are not permitted.
Parking, public transportation and traffic around the venue
Inglewood is one of the busiest areas for major sporting and music events in Los Angeles, with several large arenas and stadiums in the same zone. For that reason, driving there should not be planned like an ordinary evening trip through the city.
Kia Forum has on-site parking, with entrances via Prairie Ave. and Kareem Ct. The venue warns that the number of spaces may be limited and encourages visitors to use carpooling, ride-hailing services and public transportation.
For public transportation, the LA Metro network is useful. Metro has a dedicated page for planning trips to the Kia Forum, and TAP cards are accepted on buses in the system. Since schedules and special services for major events can change, it is smartest to check the route on the day of the concert according to the actual departure time.
If arriving by car, allowing extra time before the concert reduces the risk of spending the beginning of the evening in traffic around Manchester Blvd. and Prairie Ave. Parking for most events opens several hours before the start, but the specific time may depend on the event.
Who will enjoy this concert most
The clearest audience for HADES: THE SACRIFICE is fans who follow Melanie Martinez as a creator of concept albums rather than just individual singles. The tour's repertoire so far shows a strong focus on HADES, so those who already know the new album or want to hear it as a connected whole will get the most out of it.
The concert is also interesting for audiences who enjoy alternative pop in which production is inseparable from visual identity. Martinez has directed and shaped much of her own world for years, and the transition from Cry Baby through K-12 and PORTALS to HADES shows how important the idea of transformation between albums is to her.
On the other hand, a visitor expecting a classic "greatest hits" concert should adjust their expectations. Earlier albums remain essential to understanding her career, but the current tour has not been announced as a new Trilogy Tour. Performances so far clearly place the new album in the foreground.
Isabel LaRosa further expands the evening toward a younger alternative pop audience and listeners who enjoy darker, atmospheric pop production. Because of the related visual sensibility, her performance makes sense to watch from the beginning.
What to check immediately before leaving
For now, the date, Kia Forum and Isabel LaRosa have been confirmed, while details such as the exact opening time of the terrace and entrances may be announced or updated closer to the event. Do not rely on the schedule of another concert at the same venue because entry arrangements change depending on the production.
Before leaving, it is useful to check the current rules for bags, permitted items and any possible time changes once again. If you are coming by public transportation, check the last departures after the concert. If you are arriving by car, plan extra time for traffic and entering the parking area.
For HADES: THE SACRIFICE, it is especially worthwhile to arrive without rushing. This is a tour whose point is not just the main chorus of a few familiar songs, but the entire sequence of scenes and the new world that Melanie Martinez is currently building on stage. It is worth securing tickets in time and planning your arrival so that you also make it to Isabel LaRosa's performance.
Sources:
- Kia Forum - event information, confirmed Isabel LaRosa, address, venue history, acoustic renovation, parking and entry rules.
- Melanie Martinez / Atlantic Records Press - information about the HADES album, the singles "POSSESSION" and "DISNEY PRINCESS", previous albums and concert career.
- Melanie Martinez Tour - current tour schedule and the order of cities around the Inglewood performance.
- Songkick - event date, listed event time and Kia Forum capacity.
- setlist.fm - records of the repertoires from previous HADES: THE SACRIFICE tour performances, used exclusively as an illustration of practice so far, not as confirmation of the Inglewood setlist.
- mxdwn Music - context for Inglewood as the finale of the North American leg and description of the HADES tour concert concept.
- Sony Music Entertainment Europe - context for Isabel LaRosa's musical style.
- LA Metro - information for planning travel by public transportation to the Kia Forum.