Last Tuesday, global popstar Katy Perry brought her Lifetimes Tour to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

The night started with Rebecca Black, in her pop-disrupting, techno-pop DJ era. Black’s performance radiated confidence and flair, flanked by two dancers who didn’t miss a beat. With a bold, electronic pop sound full of synths and style, Rebecca Black is gaining serious traction, landing spots on The Lifetimes Tour and hitting the festival circuit with growing momentum. It is clear that Rebecca Black is back.

That said, part of the crowd was quietly hoping for a surprise performance of “Friday,” the viral hit that first launched her into the spotlight. She didn’t play it, and while that’s totally fair (she’s been working hard to move past that era), there was still a tiny pang of nostalgia left hanging in the air.

Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour is less a traditional concert and more a full-blown sensory experience, equal parts pop showcase, sci-fi fantasy, and immersive art installation. Designed like a virtual reality video game with a storyline to match, the show takes the fans on a dazzling, five-act journey through a futuristic digital dreamscape where Perry, playing a chrome-clad android named KP147, battles an evil force known as the Mainframe with the help of her feline sidekick, Kittybot.

The concert opened with Act 1: Artificial, as Perry rose from the centre of a glowing, infinity stage in cybernetic armour. Songs like “Chained to the Rhythm” and “Dark Horse” hit hard from the start, their performance matched by a striking visual overload of digital chaos, robotic dancers, and sci-fi theatrics. The crowd was immediately pulled into her stylized world, mixing satire, social commentary, and pure pop fantasy.

Act 2: Woman’s World brought a shift into upbeat anthems and iconic throwbacks, with fans belting out every lyric as if no time had passed since Perry first topped the charts. Songs like “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream” remained iconic and were a joy to see live. The production pulled no punches with pyrotechnics, shimmering LED bodysuits, and tightly synced choreography lighting up the stage.

In Act 3: Nirvana, the mood deepened. The visuals turned dreamlike, almost hallucinogenic, with darker lighting and surreal stage design complementing a more introspective musical tone. At one point, Perry was suspended from the ceiling, performing aerial stunts that felt straight out of Cirque du Soleil. “Wide Awake” stood out, drawing the crowd into a quieter, more reflective space before transitioning into Act 3.5: Choose Your Own Adventure.

Act 3.5 was a moment that made the arena feel smaller in the best way. A giant QR code popped up, prompting fans to vote on what she’d sing next. This wasn’t just a gimmick, Perry truly handed control over, and the vibe shifted into something looser, funnier, and more personal. She invited a group of kids to join her on stage, handed out shakers, and asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. It felt genuine, with no teleprompter in sight. Meanwhile, fans in full costume (yes, cupcake bras and “Roar” jungle looks included) screamed out song requests. One bold fan even asked for “Peacock.” She did treat the audience to fan-voted tracks like “Not Like the Movies” and “The One That Got Away,” with her mini “band” of kids playing along. She riffed, joked, and sang snippets of deep cuts as they were shouted at her. It was chaotic in the best way, and easily the most unpredictable, endearing part of the show.

The tempo kicked back up in Act 4: Mainframe, a glitchy, high-energy section filled with distorted visuals, flashing pixel art, and electronic motifs. Perry performed her 2011 hit “E.T.” while battling a swarm of alien creatures on stage, plus one oversized, worm-like HVAC tube, all while wielding a red, double-bladed lightsaber straight out of a Star Wars fever dream. She belted out defiant, high-octane tracks with ease. Her vocals stayed strong, even amid the acrobatics. The entire sequence felt like the climax of a cyberpunk blockbuster.

The final act, End Game, lived up to its name. Perry emerged triumphantly to perform “Roar” while soaring above the crowd on a giant mechanical butterfly. A bold nod to her near mishap in San Francisco that, in Ottawa, flew flawlessly. She closed the night with “Firework,” as confetti explosions lit up the arena and fans sang at full volume, ending the night on a euphoric high.

Ultimately, the Lifetimes Tour was a reminder of Katy Perry’s singular vision and her ongoing evolution as an artist, despite all he noise around her life and career on social media. Equal parts concert, video game, and space opera, it served as a love letter to her fans.

Upcoming Lifetimes Tour dates:
7/30     Montréal, QC                           Bell Centre
8/1       Québec City, QC                      Centre Videotron
8/3       Detroit, MI                               Little Caesars Arena
8/5       Toronto, ON                             Scotiabank Arena
8/6       Toronto, ON                            Scotiabank Arena
8/8       Boston, MA                             TD Garden
8/9       Philadelphia, PA                     Wells Fargo Center
8/11     New York, NY                         Madison Square Garden
8/14     Newark, NJ                             Prudential Center
8/15     Baltimore, MD                        CFG Bank Arena
8/17     Raleigh, NC                            Lenovo Center
8/19     Nashville, TN                          Bridgestone Arena
8/20     Atlanta, GA                             State Farm Arena
8/22     Tampa, FL                               Amalie Arena
8/23     Miami, FL                                Kaseya Center
More info here.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

KATY PERRY

REBECCA BLACK

All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport