There has been a lot of speculation recently about whether Justin Bieber will still be performing in Melbourne as part of his Justice World Tour in November 2023. Bieber originally announced the tour dates back in 2021, but there have been questions around whether he might cancel or postpone some shows due to ongoing issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
What are the tour dates for Justin Bieber in Melbourne?
According to the current tour schedule on Bieber’s website, he is slated to perform at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on November 18th, 2023. This is a Saturday night show scheduled to start at 7:30 PM local time. He also has a second show scheduled at Marvel Stadium for November 19th, starting at the same time. Tickets originally went on sale in November 2021.
Has Justin Bieber canceled or postponed any 2023 tour dates?
So far, Bieber has not announced any cancellations or postponements to his 2023 Justice World Tour dates. He completed the North American leg of the tour in March 2022 and is scheduled to kick off the international dates in May 2023 with shows in Mexico.
There is always a possibility that rising Covid cases or other factors could lead to changes in the schedule, but as of now the Melbourne shows appear to still be happening as planned. Fans worried about potential cancellations should keep an eye on Bieber’s social media pages and the tour website for any updates.
What has Bieber said recently about coming to Australia?
In a recent radio interview in September 2022, Bieber expressed excitement about getting to perform in Australia as part of his world tour.
“I can’t wait to get down there,” Bieber told the Australian radio host when asked about his upcoming shows down under. “It’s been a few years since I’ve performed in Australia and I’m looking forward to seeing all my fans.”
This would seem to indicate that Bieber himself is still planning and intending to make the trip to Australia and honor his scheduled tour dates there, including the shows in Melbourne. Of course, things can always change unexpectedly, but right now it appears the singer fully intends to come.
Have there been any rumors of cancellations?
There have not been any major rumors or reports so far about Bieber potentially canceling his 2023 Australian dates.
Some speculative fan comments on social media questioned whether rising Covid cases might derail the plans, but no one close to Bieber’s camp has indicated the Melbourne or other Australia dates are in jeopardy at this point.
Unless any concerning rumors or reports come directly from Bieber’s management, most sources assume the Justice World Tour is still headed down under. The singer himself has not given any indication he would cancel.
How have ticket sales been for the Melbourne shows?
By all accounts, ticket sales for Bieber’s Melbourne shows have been very strong. The 70,000+ seats available at Marvel Stadium sold out quickly when they first went on sale in 2021.
The concert promoter, Live Nation, has not released any official ticket sales figures for the Melbourne dates. However, given the completely sold out status, it’s clear fans snapped up all the seats rapidly as soon as they were available.Demand clearly exists for Bieber to perform in the city.
Reports indicate it was the fastest selling concert at Marvel Stadium since the venue opened in 2000. This makes it unlikely the shows would be canceled due to lack of interest. If they are pulled, it would likely be due to other external factors impacting the tour.
Has Bieber postponed or canceled any other 2023 tour dates?
Aside from the Australia dates, Bieber is not scheduled to perform anywhere else on the Justice World Tour until February 2023, when the European leg kicks off in the UK.
As of now, no dates on the European leg have been postponed or canceled either. All shows are still on sale and proceeding as planned.
Bieber has not announced any major changes to his 2023 tour schedule beyond the already completed North America dates. Every other stop planned for 2023 still appears to be happening.
How has Covid impacted Bieber’s touring plans?
The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on Justin Bieber’s 2020 tour plans. He originally was slated to kick off a world tour that summer in support of his Changes album.
However, the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus forced Bieber to postpone the entire tour to 2021, and then eventually to 2022 and 2023. Select dates were ultimately canceled after the prolonged delays.
This demonstrates Bieber has not hesitated to alter his tour plans when public health issues demand it. His priority was keeping fans, crew, and himself safe by avoiding shows during dangerous peaks of transmission.
If Covid flares up again in a major way leading up to the Australia dates, it’s definitely conceivable Bieber could decide to postpone shows until numbers improve. His pastprecedent illustrates he takes these risks seriously.
Could rising Covid rates impact Bieber’s Australia trip?
This brings up the question of whether rising Covid rates in Australia itself could derail Bieber’s Melbourne concerts or other Aussie tour stops.
Currently, daily case numbers in Victoria have been steadily climbing from lows earlier in 2022. The 7-day average of daily cases rose from around 5,800 in mid-September to over 10,000 by mid-October. Hospitalizations and deaths are down significantly though thanks to vaccination levels.
Date | 7-Day Average Cases |
---|---|
September 15 | 5,800 |
October 15 | 10,100 |
It remains to be seen how severe this wave will be compared to others. Australia has tightened some domestic restrictions to combat the spread. But large events like concerts have still been going on, just with increased precautions.
Bieber could decide to hold off if outbreaks intensify through November. However, if conditions resemble the current situation, it’s unlikely rising cases alone would cause a cancellation unless major lockdown measures returned.
What precautions might Bieber take for Australian tour stops?
If Bieber does move ahead with the Australia tour dates, he would likely implement certain safety protocols to lower Covid risk.
Precautions at his 2022 shows have included:
- Requiring proof of vaccination or negative test to enter
- Encouraging mask-wearing indoors
- Social distancing in certain areas
- Increased sanitization measures
- Providing hand sanitizer stations
- Limiting entry to reduce capacity
Rules and guidelines in Australia would dictate exact policies. Bieber would need to follow local regulations around masks, testing, social distancing, etc. But he would likely take a safety-first approach.
How could travel restrictions affect Bieber’s Australia visit?
One other factor that could derail Bieber’s ability to get to Australia is global travel restrictions.
If border policies in either Canada or Australia were to tighten significantly between now and November, it could complicate international travel for the singer and his crew.
This seems unlikely, given Australia dropped its final incoming travel restrictions in July 2022. Fully vaccinated visitors no longer have to test or quarantine. Canada also currently allows unrestricted travel.
But major rule changes before November would certainly create challenges to coordinating a global tour. Bieber would have little choice but to postpone. Barring that, he should face no border obstacles getting to and from Australia.
Conclusion
In summary, as of mid-October 2022, Justin Bieber appears to still be on track to bring his Justice World Tour to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne this November. He has not announced any cancellations or intent to postpone the Australia dates.
Despite some fan speculation about rising Covid cases potentially derailing plans, Bieber and his management team have not indicated concern. Current conditions don’t necessarily warrant cancellations unless outbreaks grow more extreme.
Bieber seems committed to coming down under to see Australian fans. Barring unforeseen developments with global travel policies or public health, the Melbourne concerts should go on as scheduled.
Of course, the Covid pandemic remains unpredictable. Fans anxiously awaiting the shows would be wise to keep an eye out for any concerning announcements in the coming weeks. But the pop star himself has provided no reason yet to think he won’t make it to Marvel Stadium in November.