It’s happening, Aotearoa: Our drawbridge is coming down, and eagerly waiting on the other side are some incredible artists ready to make all our epic concert dreams come true. Flex your ticket-buying fingers and practise your dance moves because these gigs are going to be well worth the two years we’ve spent waiting for them.

Ed Sheeran just announced today he’s going to be treating us Kiwis to two huge shows next February, and we are beyond excited. Don’t lament the long wait too much, though – there are plenty of equally awesome concerts to let your hair down to between now and then.

In September, Grammy Award-winning punky pop princess Billie Eilish will rock out the stage at Auckland’s Spark Arena, with three incredible shows poised to show off her killer vocals and signature stage presence to maximum effect.

Next up is the pop phenomenon that is Dua Lipa, bringing her record-breaking, accolade-collecting dance sound to Spark Arena on November 2 and 3. You’ll need to keep your shizzle together though, because following right behind on November 4 and 5 is the lovable gangsta rap legend himself, Snoop Doggy Dogg. He’s hitting Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium first, then heading to Auckland’s Trusts Arena on November 5.

When talking of musical icons guaranteed to get an entire stadium singing along in unison, you’ll be coming out of your cage and doing just fine when The Killers make it to our shores in November – Monday 21 for Auckland, Friday 25 for Christchurch.

Justin Bieber fans may want to request their Christmas gifts early this year, because the Biebs will kick off our holiday season in style on December 7 at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium. Meanwhile, classic rock is going to be headbanging into Wellington on December 8, and Auckland’s Eden Park on December 10, by way of rock ‘n’ roll legends Guns N’ Roses. Don’t put away your moshing boots too soon – the Foo Fighters will close out the year with their unbeatable energy and catalogue of all-time rock hits in Wellington and Auckland on December 15 and 17.

The beginning of 2023 will be off to an amazing start with the long-awaited return of absolute icon Elton John, set to finish off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour with two Auckland shows on January 27 and 28. In February, Ed Sheeran - the redheaded crooner with a guitar you’d like to take home to meet your mother – is back in New Zealand for the first time in four years, and it’s guaranteed to be a bucket list event. Finally, one for the ‘90s kid in all of us – the ultimate boy band is bringing Backstreet back to Auckland on March 11.