Bruno Mars begins a record-breaking run of concerts in Vancouver

Then there’s the perfectly aimed Just the Way You Are, which would obviously close the show, causing so many girls in the audience to go home feeling like the most special person in the world. Now that’s a pop song.”

Three years after his breakout debut, Mars headlined a sold-out show at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on The Moonshine Jungle Tour in support of his second smash album, Unothodox Jukebox. Writing in The Province, I noted the singer’s dynamic charisma and how “the guy can seduce an audience like few can.”

A year later, he was back at the Squamish Valley Music Festival headlining one of the event’s three nights, reprising his Rogers Arena performance. François Marchand noted that the pop star’s appearance at a festival more oriented towards Arcade Fire and Eminem had seemed somewhat out of place, but Mars left no doubt why he was on the bill:

“American pop sensation Bruno Mars also provided a complete experience Friday, bringing along his gold-plated gear (including everything from light stands to some of the band’s instruments), lasers and supersized booty-shaking grooves for his Moonshine Jungle show. If many wondered if a guy like Mars belonged at a festival like the SVMF, any nagging doubts were quickly silenced when the 28-year-old artist born Peter Gene Hernandez got his soul-machine party going.”

Mars brought his 24K Magic World Tour to Rogers Arena in 2017; he performed two sold-out shows on July 26 and July 27. I noted, “Mars can play an impressive variety of instruments and showcases his manifold skills in concert. In the set, you’ll get him as solo piano man (When I Was Your Man), Michael Jackson-esque balladeer (Versace on the Floor) and even guitar hero (Locked Out of Heaven, and others).”

The singer did not tour through Vancouver with his duo, Silk Sonic, featuring Anderson .Paak. Based on the average 26-song tour setlists, Vancouver audiences will hear a whole set of Silk Sonic sounds at B.C. Place. Anderson .Paak is the support act in his DJ pee .wee role, so he is in the house.

Also on the supporting act lineup is U.K. soul belter Raye. Based on her incredible show at UBC earlier this year, you won’t want to miss her set.

To say Mars is coming in hot for this round of concerts is a gross understatement. Stats from Warner Music Canada paint a clear picture of just how popular he is.

Released on Feb. 27, 2026, The Romantic entered the Billboard Canadian Albums chart at No. 1 and the single I Just Might sat in the top spot on the North American Hot AC, AC and Top 40 charts for 11 consecutive weeks. The song spent 20 weeks in that spot on Canadian AC radio. Even before he racked up his record-breaking booking at B.C. Place, his Toronto dates on the tour broke Taylor Swift’s previous record at that venue in terms of number of shows, as well as ticket sales.

Setting ticket sales records for a single tour stop in two of Canada’s most vibrant concert markets is a huge achievement. Yet it just seems to be the way that Bruno Mars rolls.

With files and research from Postmedia librarian Carolyn Soltau

sderdeyn@postmedia.com