Summer is when most Filipinos feel freest. Tropical getaways and food trips fill our calendars; upbeat anthems take the local music scene by storm; and before we know it, the enduring season has our names written all over it. So when Zara Larsson dropped by the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 30, 2026, for the Manila chapter of her Midnight Sun world tour, our hearts were set on making her feel right at home.
No surprise here—we accomplished this mission with flying colors.
Photo: Zara Larsson/Instagram
It didn’t take long for the Swedish pop star, endearingly dubbed the “Queen of Summer,” to prove she was in great hands with her Filipino crowd. In true pasabog fashion, we showed up for her with electrifying energy and humor that filled every inch of the arena. The cherry on top? Everyone’s drop-dead gorgeous concert outfits, which turned Araneta into an ocean of cool tones and fiery hues that refused to stay still.
Zara’s music has always been the explosion of color we need to keep going whenever we see the world in a soulless black and white. Listening to her chart-topping songs on full blast is one thing. But hearing them live with all-out choreography and impromptu sing-along sessions with your fellow fans? Now, that’s the kind of “hopecore” that hits all the right notes.
The Midnight Sun concert was one for the books, and we have Zara and her radiant Filipino fans to thank. If you’re still reeling from post-concert depression (PCD), these standout moments will help you relive the show’s magic all over again:
A Setlist That Had Us Feeling Everything at Once
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Unapologetic pop anthems that Filipinos memorize word for word? Power ballads that bring out our inner yearners? Sultry dance tracks that have the whole world grooving? You name it, Zara’s stellar discography has it. Her versatility and passion shone through in her Midnight Sun concert setlist, which kept the crowd on its feet from start to finish.
Like the show’s namesake, Zara’s monumental hit “Midnight Sun” made a phenomenal opener and closing encore. The song transported us to a party that we wished would never end, while fans amped up the energy with dolphin lifts and “alarma” stunts that had our summertime muse in stitches. Araneta erupted with uproarious chants to “Pretty Ugly,” while we danced the night away to her iconic singles “Ain’t My Fault,” “Symphony,” and the remix of Pinkpantheress’s “Stateside.”
Nothing compared to singing our hearts out to “Ruin My Life” with our phones’ flashlights as makeshift lightsticks. Zara kept the breathtaking experience going with “Never Forget You,” while she soundtracked our peak “girlhood” moments with “Puss Puss” and “Eurosummer.”
They Did It for the Girls and Gays
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Zara’s “Lush Life” performances on tour have become her heartfelt way to connect with fans worldwide. It’s always exciting to watch the crowd hype her up as she chooses a lucky attendee to dance with her and score a personalized T-shirt as a souvenir. But we reckon it was even more unforgettable for Louise, a Filipino fan who got to experience the entire segment first-hand.
In a fun-filled ode to the girls and gays, Zara and Louise dedicated their “Lush Life” number to all the baklas in the room who helped make it happen. It was a full-circle moment for Louise, specifically, who taught her the word at her concert in South Korea earlier this year. The wholesome interaction also saw Louise taking a sip from Zara’s bedazzled tumbler, while she cheerfully responded, “I’m nothing without my baklas!”
Sure enough, Louise went home that night with a shirt that said BAKLA in all caps. As we celebrate another triumph for the LGBTQIA+ community, we can’t help but lift Eugene Domingo’s timeless words of wisdom: “Mas masaya ‘pag may bakla! Dapat may bakla!”
Summer-loving Girlies Have More Fun
Photo: Zara Larsson/Instagram
Zara’s all-female band and team of dancers know a thing or two about turning the party. They, too, had many moments to shine at the Midnight Sun concert, leaving us in awe every time—especially when they delighted fans with an adorable dance to the Hotdog classic, “Bongga Ka Day!”
We couldn’t get enough of the dancers’ feisty “pretty girl roll call,” which put all of their fabulous personalities front and center. Summer, Autumn, Madeline, Chelsea, Rosie, and Honey owned every second of their dance relay, letting their sheer talent and charm do the talking.
Zara’s band oozed with charisma, too. With Curly on bass, Sofie on lead guitar, Payton on drums, and Haein on keys, you’ll certainly have a fantastic show to remember.
Serving Up Halo-halo-inspired Glam with a Pretty, Pink Jeepney
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Sophia Sinot never misses with her show-stopping makeup looks for Zara. She incorporates diverse cultures into every work of art she creates for the Midnight Sun tour, even asking fans for feedback and ideas for her next masterpiece.
Filipino fans were overjoyed to see Sophie and Zara’s halo-halo-inspired glam up close throughout the Manila concert. Their carefully crafted interpretation of the beloved dessert featured radiant colors, warm accents, and tiny gems that resembled the pinipig bits on top of every glass.
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Concert attendees also held their own as they posed beside the “Midnight Sun Jeepney Express,” a vivid pink jeep that made its rounds in Cubao and helped fans live out their pop-star fantasies. Zara even rode shotgun as she bid us farewell!
“Artistahin” Appearances
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Our favorite celebrities, Pinoy pop (P-pop) idols, and social media personalities made Zara’s Midnight Sun concert in Manila extra special. These include:
- Alexa Ilacad and Jason Dy, who were all dolled up in their sparkly, summery attire,
- Jessy Mendiola, whose sizzling hot concert fit doubled as a Halloween costume,
- Aviona Dass of RAYA, representing the P-pop community and its arsenal of summer smash hits,
- 4SISTERS, who made heads turn in their coordinated get-ups,
- Ice Neo (also known as Neyow), who brought even more light and laughter to the whole show.
Putting in the Work for Her Lifelong Dream
As she approached her concert’s final act, Zara shared a sentimental moment with her fans that made us honor the aspirations we’ve worked tirelessly for.
“I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I released my first song when I was 15,” she recalled. “I’m 28 now, and this right here is my dream. You guys are making my dreams come true!”
She continued, reminiscing on her artistic journey, “I didn’t have patience when I was a teenager. I wanted to accomplish everything instantly, which made me awfully stressed because I couldn’t fully enjoy it all. But now, the timing is perfect… You can have a lot of dreams and goals, but at the end of the day, life is just gonna do what life does. You can be as stressed as you want, but it won’t get you any further. All you can do is dream and keep working. I promise, at least one of you will be on a stage like this someday. Whatever you want in life, you can make it happen! Just keep going.”
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What are your favorite moments from Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun concert in Manila? Sound off and share your picks with us in the comments below!
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