Ariana Grande ditches heels for London O2 shows after 'deep cut' injury
Synopsis
Ariana Grande is closing out her Eternal Sunshine Tour at London’s O2 Arena with a bandaged foot and no signature heels — a small but telling detail ahead of a deliberately planned retreat from the spotlight she says she’d decided on ‘quietly, a long time ago.’
Key Takeaways
Ariana Grande revealed via Instagram that she sustained a deep cut to her foot, requiring bandaging.
She will wear flat, ‘cosy’ footwear instead of her signature heels at her London O2 Arena shows.
The performances are the final dates of her Eternal Sunshine Tour , with Tuesday’s show being the last.
Grande confirmed the injury is not a sprain or muscular issue and said she is ‘on the mend.’ She previously announced a planned step back from the spotlight, describing it as a long-considered, empowering decision made ‘quietly, a long time ago.’
Singer-actress Ariana Grande has revealed she will forgo her signature high heels at her final London O2 Arena shows on the Eternal Sunshine Tour, after sustaining a deep cut to her foot that has left her struggling to bear weight on it. The 33-year-old shared the update directly with fans ahead of her closing performances at the venue.
What Ariana Said
Grande addressed fans in an Instagram post, writing, “My sweet petals, I wanted to let you know I will need to be in cozy footwear for this evening’s show (and possibly tomorrow’s) as I am bandaged up underneath, recovering from a minor injury. It is not a sprain or anything muscular but just a deep cut! So when you see me tonight without my signature heels, or even possibly having a little trouble putting weight on that foot, that is why.”
She reassured fans, adding, “But please do not fret. On with the show and I am on the mend! I cannot wait to perform for you tonight and tomorrow (even if I am a few inches shorter than usual) … I love you always.”
The Final Leg of the Eternal Sunshine Tour
The London O2 Arena dates mark the closing chapter of Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour, with Tuesday’s show set to be the final performance of the run. Despite the injury, the artist made clear she has no intention of cancelling or scaling back the concert.
Notably, high heels have long been a visual hallmark of Grande’s stage persona, making the switch to “cosy footwear” a rare departure that fans are likely to notice.
Grande’s Planned Break from the Spotlight
The tour’s conclusion also signals a deliberate step back from public life for Grande. Speaking to the audience at Chicago’s United Center in August, she addressed a prior announcement about her plans, saying, “Can we get a little real tonight? The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided to plan. It was a thoughtful decision. It was an empowering decision. I made it quietly, a long time ago.”
She added, “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me… as this love that we share.” The remarks suggest a considered, long-planned withdrawal rather than a response to any external event.
What Comes Next
With the Eternal Sunshine Tour wrapping up in London, Grande is expected to step away from the public spotlight for a period, as she indicated during the Chicago show. How long that hiatus will last remains unspecified. Fans at the O2 will get one of the last live glimpses of the artist before she retreats from the stage.
Point of View
’ ‘empowering,’ ‘decided quietly, a long time ago’ — reads as a deliberate counter-narrative to tabloid speculation about her motivations. Artists of her profile rarely announce hiatuses in such personal, fan-direct terms; it signals a degree of audience trust that is itself worth noting. The Eternal Sunshine Tour close is less an ending than a controlled pivot, and the industry will be watching how long the silence actually lasts.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ariana Grande not wearing heels at her London shows?
Ariana Grande sustained a deep cut to her foot, leaving her bandaged and struggling to bear weight on it. She announced on Instagram that she would wear flat, comfortable footwear for her London O2 Arena shows as a result.
Which shows are affected by Ariana Grande’s foot injury?
The injury affects her final London O2 Arena performances on the Eternal Sunshine Tour, including the last show on Tuesday. She indicated the flat footwear may be needed for both the show on the day of her post and possibly the following day.
Is Ariana Grande cancelling her London concerts due to the injury?
No. Grande confirmed she will perform as planned, writing ‘On with the show and I am on the mend.’ Only her footwear will change; the concerts are proceeding.
What is Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour?
The Eternal Sunshine Tour is Ariana Grande’s concert tour promoting her album of the same name. The London O2 Arena dates mark the final performances of the tour.
Is Ariana Grande taking a break from music after the tour?
Grande has indicated she plans to step away from the spotlight after the tour concludes. Speaking in Chicago in August, she described the decision as thoughtful and empowering, made quietly well in advance, though she has not specified a timeline for her return.
