The annual Jingle Ball Tour has always been a highlight of the holiday season, but this year’s edition is shaping up to be one for the ages. Announced on October 4, 2025, the 30th anniversary of the beloved music event brings together a dazzling roster of pop, hip-hop, and R&B stars, promising a festive spectacle that’s bigger, bolder, and more star-studded than ever before. The tour, presented by Capital One, will kick off on December 2 in Dallas/Fort Worth and wind its way through major cities including Atlanta and Miami, before wrapping up on December 20. For fans who can’t make it in person, a network special on ABC will beam the concert’s holiday magic into living rooms across the country.
At the heart of this year’s Jingle Ball is a lineup that reads like a who’s who of contemporary music. Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Sean Paul, BigXthaPlug, Alex Warren, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist, Nelly, The Kid LAROI, and Reneé Rapp are all set to take the stage, delivering performances that span genres and generations. According to iHeartRadio, which is making tickets available through its website, this year’s event is a celebration not just of music but of three decades of bringing fans and artists together during the holidays.
For Ed Sheeran, one of the tour’s marquee acts, this year carries a special significance—not just professionally, but personally. In a candid interview with Andy Cohen for Sirius XM’s Small Stage Series, Sheeran revealed that he’s on a new mission: to achieve six-pack abs for the first time in his life. “I’d put on a load of weight last year, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna hit the gym heavy, try and lose a stone’. As I was doing that, I was like, ‘I’m gonna see how far I can take this’,” Sheeran shared, as reported by femalefirst.co.uk.
It’s a relatable struggle for many—balancing career demands, family life, and personal health. Sheeran, who shares two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter, with his wife Cherry Seaborn, admitted that sticking to his fitness goals has been challenging, especially when it comes to social temptations. “I keep messing up, ’cause I keep being out somewhere being like, ‘I’ll have a couple of beers’, and it just, you know. But I’d say it’s going all right. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life,” he said during the interview. The singer-songwriter’s openness about his journey adds a human touch to his superstar persona, making his upcoming performances all the more anticipated.
Sheeran’s commitment to fitness isn’t entirely new. He first spoke about his transformation back in 2019, when he appeared on the Behind the Metal podcast. At the time, he reflected on a major lifestyle change: “I stopped smoking three years ago, and ever since then started exercising. I love it.” His ongoing dedication to health and self-improvement mirrors the resilience and evolution that have defined his career—qualities that resonate with fans worldwide.
Of course, Sheeran isn’t the only big name drawing crowds to the Jingle Ball Tour. Jelly Roll, known for his genre-blending hits and raw storytelling, brings a unique energy to the lineup. Sean Paul, a perennial favorite for his infectious dancehall anthems, promises to get audiences moving, while BigXthaPlug and Alex Warren add a fresh edge. R&B powerhouse Kehlani, soulful Mariah the Scientist, hip-hop veteran Nelly, chart-topping The Kid LAROI, and rising star Reneé Rapp round out a bill that’s as diverse as it is dynamic.
According to iHeartRadio, the decision to broadcast the tour via a network special on ABC is part of an ongoing effort to make the event accessible to a wider audience. It’s a nod to the tour’s enduring popularity and its role as a cultural touchstone during the holiday season. Over the past three decades, the Jingle Ball has evolved from a regional concert into a nationwide phenomenon, consistently drawing top-tier talent and enthusiastic crowds. This year’s milestone anniversary only amplifies the sense of celebration and nostalgia.
The 2025 tour comes at a time when live music is experiencing a renaissance, with fans eager to reconnect after years of pandemic-related disruptions. The excitement surrounding ticket sales—now open on iHeartRadio’s website—reflects a broader appetite for communal experiences and the joy of shared celebration. For artists, the Jingle Ball offers a rare opportunity to connect with fans in a festive, high-energy setting, often debuting new material or collaborating with fellow performers in surprise onstage moments.
Behind the scenes, the logistics of mounting a multi-city tour of this scale are formidable. Coordinating travel, staging, security, and broadcast production requires a small army of professionals, all working to ensure that each stop delivers the kind of spectacle audiences have come to expect. The partnership with Capital One, a longtime supporter of live music events, underscores the tour’s stature and the resources required to bring such an ambitious vision to life.
For those planning to attend, the anticipation is already building. Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Miami are just the anchor points of a journey that promises memorable moments and, no doubt, a few surprises along the way. The inclusion of a network special means that even those unable to secure tickets can still be part of the experience, tuning in from home to catch the highlights and soak up the holiday spirit.
In a music landscape that’s constantly shifting, the Jingle Ball Tour remains a reliable source of joy and connection. Whether you’re a fan of Sheeran’s heartfelt ballads, Jelly Roll’s gritty narratives, or Kehlani’s smooth vocals, there’s something in this year’s lineup for everyone. And with the added intrigue of Sheeran’s personal fitness quest, audiences may be treated to a performer who’s not just at the top of his musical game, but in the best shape of his life—literally and figuratively.
As the countdown to December begins, all eyes are on the Jingle Ball Tour—not just as a concert series, but as a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the enduring power of music to bring people together. With tickets selling fast and excitement building, this 30th anniversary promises to be a holiday event to remember.
