The Sweetener Sessions

The Sweetener Sessions (officially American Express x Ariana Grande: The Sweetener Sessions in the United States, and Capital Up Close Presents Ariana Grande in the United Kingdom) was a brief four-show promotional tour by American singer Ariana Grande, in support of her fourth studio album Sweetener (2018). Carried out over the 18 days following the release of the album, it began on August 20, 2018, in New York City, United States and ended on September 4, in London, England. It was followed by her 100-show Sweetener World Tour in 2019.

The Sweetener Sessions

Promotional tour by Ariana Grande
Location	North America • Europe
Associated album	Sweetener
Start date	August 20, 2018 (2018-08-20)
End date	September 4, 2018 (2018-09-04)
Legs	2
No. of shows	3 in North America 1 in Europe 4 in total
Ariana Grande concert chronology

Background

Three performances took place at New York City's Irving Plaza, The Vic Theatre in Chicago, and Los Angeles' Ace Theater between August 20 and 25, 2018, following the release of her studio album Sweetener.

Tickets for the intimate shows were made available exclusively to American Express cardholders.

The New York City concert occurred after her appearance at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, where she performed "God Is a Woman".

On August 28, 2018, a London concert was announced in partnership with Capital Up Close. Tickets to the show were not available for purchase, instead Capital listeners could win tickets in competition rounds.

Set lists

August 20, 2018

1. "Breathin'"
2. "R.E.M"
3. "Better Off"
4. "Sweetener"
5. "Successful"
6. "Pete Davidson"
7. "Borderline"
8. "Everytime"
9. "Goodnight n Go"
10. "God Is a Woman"
11. "Get Well Soon"
12. "No Tears Left to Cry"
13. "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)"

August 22, 2018

1. "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)"
2. "Blazed"
3. "Goodnight n Go"
4. "Honeymoon Avenue" (original version)
5. "Everytime"
6. "Sweetener"
7. "Successful"
8. "Pete Davidson"
9. "Better Off"
10. "Breathin'"
11. "God Is a Woman"
12. "R.E.M"
13. "Get Well Soon"
14. "No Tears Left to Cry"
15. "Be Alright" (a cappella)
16. "Right There" (a cappella)
17. "Tattooed Heart" (a cappella)
18. "Be My Baby" (a cappella)
19. "Best Mistake" (a cappella)
20. "Break Your Heart Right Back" (a cappella)
21. "One Last Time" (a cappella)

August 25, 2018

1. "Breathin'"
2. "Only 1"
3. "Sweetener"
4. "Successful"
5. "Blazed"
6. "Goodnight n Go"
7. "Be My Baby" (a cappella)
8. "Everytime"
9. "R.E.M"
10. "Borderline"
11. "Better Off"
12. "Pete Davidson"
13. "God Is a Woman"
14. "No Tears Left to Cry"
15. "Get Well Soon"
16. "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)"

September 4, 2018

1. "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)"
2. "Blazed"
3. "R.E.M"
4. "God Is a Woman"
5. "Better Off"
6. "Everytime"
7. "Goodnight n Go"
8. "Sweetener"
9. "Successful"
10. "Pete Davidson"
11. "Honeymoon Avenue" (original version)
12. "You'll Never Know" (a cappella)
13. "Borderline"
14. "No Tears Left to Cry"
15. "Tattooed Heart" (a cappella)
16. "Get Well Soon"
17. "Breathin"
18. "One Last Time" (a cappella)
19. "Best Mistake" (a cappella)
20. "Why Try" (a cappella)
21. "Right There" (a cappella)

Shows

List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue.

Date	City	Country	Venue
2018
North America
August 20	New York City	United States	Irving Plaza
August 22	Chicago		The Vic Theatre
August 25	Los Angeles		The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Europe
September 4	London	England	KOKO

Reception

The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan rated the London show four out of five stars.