Tinashe has explained why she agreed to open for Harry Styles during his 2027 stadium tour, saying she only accepts opening slots when she feels the headline artist understands her artistry.
The singer made the comments in New York on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while discussing her upcoming performances with Styles and her expectations for the stadium shows.
Tinashe said her experience opening for major artists has made her more selective about the opportunities she accepts, stressing that she wants to work with artists who respect what she brings creatively.
“I’m not gonna open for anyone unless I feel like they really understand what I’m about,” she said.
She said Styles stood out to her because of his openness to different forms of artistry and his focus on creating enjoyable experiences for audiences.
“And I will say that the Harry shows, and Harry Styles in general, I feel like he’s very open to the artistry and wanting fans to have a good time,” she said.
Tinashe said she values the opportunity to enter new rooms, meet different audiences and create connections through live performances.
She added that her previous opening-act experiences include performances alongside Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Beyoncé.
“I think when it comes to opening acts, I’ve opened for a lot amazing artists,” she said, before listing the three performers.
“I’ve opened for Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Beyonce, I’ve done a cool run,” she added.
The upcoming Harry Styles dates will give Tinashe another significant live-performance opportunity when the tour reaches State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Tinashe is scheduled to perform on Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3, 2027, as Styles begins the North American leg of his Together, Together tour.
The two Phoenix performances will also represent a new experience for Tinashe because she said she has never performed her own songs in a stadium.
“I’m excited to be able to get up there in Phoenix,” she said.
“That’ll be really fun! It’ll be sick, I never perform my songs in a stadium! It’ll be great!” she added.
The Phoenix concerts are part of a larger 2027 expansion of Styles’ Together, Together tour, which includes stadium performances across North America and Europe.
Tinashe’s two appearances are among several different opening-act arrangements on the tour, with different artists scheduled to join Styles in different cities rather than one supporting act travelling across the entire stadium run.
The announcement also comes during a major period for Tinashe, who is preparing for the release of her fifth studio album, Popstar, scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026.
Her upcoming stadium appearances will therefore place her before large audiences while she enters another stage of her music career.
For Tinashe, however, the decision to accept the Phoenix dates is tied not only to the scale of the venues but also to the artistic relationship she expects from the headline performer.
Her comments show that the opportunity appealed to her because she believes Styles provides an environment where her individuality can remain part of the performance.
The two Phoenix concerts will consequently mark Tinashe’s first stated opportunity to perform her songs in a stadium, while also giving her a place on the opening weekend of Styles’ 2027 North American stadium run.
