Cardi B and Rihanna, two of the music industry’s most influential female artists, have confirmed plans for a joint world tour kicking off in 2026, marking a historic collaboration between the Bronx rapper and the Barbados-born pop icon. The announcement, dropped during a surprise joint appearance on Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty livestream on November 4, 2025, sent shockwaves through the fanbase, blending Cardi’s high-energy hip-hop flair with Rihanna’s genre-defying R&B and pop anthems. Set to span 40 dates across North America, Europe, and select Asian cities, the tour promises a multimedia extravaganza featuring elaborate stage designs, guest performers, and interactive fan experiences, positioning it as one of the year’s most anticipated events.

The reveal came midway through the livestream, where Rihanna, fresh off her Fenty Beauty holiday collection launch, welcomed Cardi as a special guest. “We’ve been talking about this for years—now it’s time to take it global,” Rihanna said, her smile lighting up the screen as pyrotechnics simulated a stage burst behind them. Cardi, donning a custom Savage x Fenty set layered with diamond chains, jumped in: “Ri and I? Unstoppable. Get ready for the energy—it’s going to be a full takeover.” The clip, viewed by over 2.5 million in real time, exploded on social media, with #CardiXRihanna trending worldwide within minutes. Ticket presales open December 1 via Ticketmaster, with general sales following on December 8, and early buzz suggests stadium sellouts in under an hour.

This partnership builds on a foundation of mutual admiration. Cardi has long cited Rihanna as a blueprint for blending music with empire-building, from her 2018 Instagram shoutout during Invasion of Privacy‘s promo—”Rihanna paved the way for us bad girls”—to covering “Bitch Better Have My Money” in live sets. Rihanna reciprocated in a 2023 Vogue interview, praising Cardi’s authenticity: “She’s got that fire, that realness—reminds me of my early days.” Their paths crossed professionally at the 2019 Grammys, where Cardi presented Rihanna with the Vanguard Award, and more recently at a 2024 Met Gala afterparty, where unconfirmed reports swirled of them brainstorming tour concepts over champagne. Now, with both artists in peak form—Cardi riding the wave of her 2025 single “Outside” and Rihanna teasing new tracks post-maternity— the timing feels electric.

The tour itinerary, detailed in a joint press release from Live Nation and Roc Nation, launches February 14, 2026, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a nod to Valentine’s Day romance themes woven into their setlists. North American legs hit major hubs: Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium, March 5), New York (MetLife Stadium, March 20), and Chicago (Soldier Field, April 10), before crossing to Europe with stops in London (Wembley Stadium, May 15), Paris (Stade de France, May 28), and Berlin (Olympiastadion, June 12). Asia rounds out with Tokyo Dome (July 5) and Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium (July 18), wrapping in Sydney’s Accor Stadium on August 20. Production details hint at innovation: Holographic projections of their career highlights, aerial drone light shows synced to hits like “Umbrella” and “Bodak Yellow,” and sustainable elements like carbon-offset travel, aligning with Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation initiatives.

For Cardi, the tour represents a milestone in her post-hiatus era. After welcoming her third child in 2024 and focusing on Whipshots expansions, she’s channeled renewed vigor into performances, as seen in her Las Vegas residency teases. “Touring with Ri means elevating everything—my flows, my looks, my message,” she shared in a follow-up Instagram Reel, previewing a tour outfit blending streetwear with Fenty glamour. Rihanna, whose last major outing was the 2017 Anti World Tour, views it as a creative reset. “Motherhood grounded me; now I’m ready to share that joy on stage,” she noted, hinting at acoustic medleys of early tracks alongside fresh collabs. Rumors swirl of surprise guests—Offset for Cardi sets, A$AP Rocky for Rihanna’s—and potential new music drops mid-tour, fueling speculation of a joint EP.

Fan reactions have been a mix of euphoria and strategy. On X (formerly Twitter), posts like “Cardi and Ri in the same stadium? Pinch me” garnered 1.2 million likes, while Reddit’s r/popheads dissected setlist predictions, from mashups of “Diamonds” and “WAP” to empowerment anthems like “WAP” and “Work.” Ticket demand is already fierce: VIP packages, including meet-and-greets and merch bundles, sold 50,000 units in the first hour of presale announcements. Scalpers are circling, prompting Live Nation to implement verified fan protocols. International devotees, especially in Asia where Rihanna’s fanbase rivals BTS levels, are organizing watch parties for the route reveal, with Seoul tickets projected to vanish fastest.

This tour arrives amid a booming live music economy. Post-pandemic, global concert revenues hit $30 billion in 2025 per Pollstar, driven by hybrid virtual-physical formats. Cardi and Rihanna, with combined streams exceeding 100 billion on Spotify, tap into that surge—Rihanna’s catalog alone generates $50 million annually in royalties. Their joint draw could shatter records: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour grossed $1.1 billion; insiders estimate this duo at $800 million, factoring in sponsorships from Fenty and Cardi’s fashion lines. Economically, it boosts host cities: Miami’s leg alone could inject $20 million via hotels and eateries, per local chamber estimates.

Challenges loom, but both artists are prepared. Logistical hurdles like coordinating crews—Cardi’s high-production hip-hop setups with Rihanna’s island-infused visuals—require seamless integration, overseen by veteran promoter Arthur Fogel. Health considerations, given Cardi’s past lupus management and Rihanna’s recent maternity, include wellness riders for rest days and on-site medical teams. Creatively, they’ve assembled a dream squad: Choreographer Parris Goebel for dance routines, stylist Law Roach for wardrobe, and producer Tainy for sound design, ensuring a cohesive yet distinct vibe.

The announcement caps a banner year. Cardi dominated summer charts with “Outside,” while Rihanna’s Fenty empire hit $1.5 billion in sales. Their friendship, forged in industry sisterhood, adds authenticity—Cardi attended Rocki’s birth celebration in September, and Rihanna hyped Cardi’s Vegas shows. As they prep, joint workouts and strategy sessions in Barbados have leaked via stories, building hype.

For fans, this isn’t just a tour—it’s a cultural moment. Women-led lineups remain rare in hip-hop/pop crossovers; this one spotlights Black excellence, with proceeds earmarked for women’s health initiatives. As Rihanna put it: “We’re not just performing—we’re celebrating the queens who paved our way.” With dates locked and energy building, 2026’s global takeover feels inevitable. Cardi and Rihanna aren’t arriving; they’re redefining the stage.