The Weeknd Closes Out 15-Year Career with Historic Final Show in Toronto
Words by: Alex Henein | Photo by: Keemya Parsa
The Weeknd grew up watching the Toronto Blue Jays play at the Skydome – now Rogers Centre – a venue with a capacity of over 50,000. On this night, the Scarborough-born R&B superstar Abel Tesfaye stood on that same field, no longer the anonymous artist who once refused to show his face, but a global icon closing out a legendary career. In front of a roaring, sold-out crowd, he played his last-ever show in Toronto before his planned retirement of the moniker “The Weeknd,” completing an extraordinary run of four consecutive sold-out hometown shows on one of the largest stages in Canada.
Photo by Keemya Parsa for THHGURU
Over a 15-year career that began with a trio of haunting mixtapes – House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence—Abel rose from underground to worldwide superstardom in 2011, all while carrying Toronto on his back. The final performance was a love letter to the city that shaped him. In a fitting full-circle moment, he closed his career in the same stadium where he once watched the hometown Jays as a kid, setting an all-time record for most headline shows (six) at Rogers Centre by a Canadian artist. “If it wasn’t for Toronto, I wouldn’t be a star,” he told the crowd. It’s been a beautiful 15 years.”
Photo by Keemya Parsa for THHGURU
The night opened with the stadium roof retracted, the CN Tower glowing over a sea of thousands. The stage—a sprawling cross-shaped platform—featured a post-apocalyptic cityscape, its crumbling buildings symbolizing the obstacles and chaos Abel has faced throughout his career. Red-robed dancers moved in unison as The Weeknd emerged wearing a silver metal mask with robotic glowing eyes, a haunting visual that evolved throughout the set.
The performance began steeped in darkness and mystery, with shadowy lighting and intense choreography. As the show progressed, the visuals shifted dramatically, evolving from the initial chaos of the ruined cityscape to brighter, more hopeful scenes. This transformation from darkness to light symbolized The Weeknd’s personal and artistic evolution over the years.
Halfway through the set, in a striking and intimate moment, Abel Tesfaye removed his mask, revealing himself fully to the audience for the first time that night. This powerful act symbolized shedding the enigmatic persona of The Weeknd, marking a turning point in the show and highlighting the growth and authenticity behind the artist.
Touring behind his sixth studio album Hurry Up Tomorrow, released earlier this year, Abel has made clear that this tour marks the final chapter of his ongoing album trilogy, which began with 2020’s After Hours and continued with 2022’s Dawn FM. As the show reached its climax, the screens lit up with the image of a burning figure, symbolizing the death of The Weeknd persona, followed by a glowing moon and heavenly gates slowly closing in bright white light—a powerful metaphor for an ending to a new beginning.
From an aspiring Toronto artist fighting for a chance, to one of the biggest stars in music history, Abel Tesfaye’s journey is a testament to belief, vision, and relentless ambition. That night, he broke the Rogers Centre record for most shows by a male solo artist and was presented with the Key to the City by Toronto’s mayor. It was more than a concert—it was a moment etched into the city’s history.
Photo by Keemya Parsa for THHGURU
The Weeknd’s final Toronto show wasn’t just the end of an era—it was the perfect full-circle closing to one of music’s most extraordinary stories.
