What to wear, how to get there, and what the “mute challenge” is all about.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
It’s been exactly five years since Beyoncé last performed in her hometown, as part of the joint On the Run II tour with her husband Jay Z in 2018. But Queen Bey will return to Houston this weekend with two dates—Sept. 23 and 24—on the Renaissance World Tour, one of the most anticipated concert tours of the year.
As befitting a queen, the Renaissance Tour isn’t just any concert. Bey’s tribute to the club era and Black and queer culture comes with some rules and expectations. Find out everything you need to know — from what to wear to how to get to NRG Park, with our handy guide below.
How to get last-minute tickets
Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster and other verified resale sites, but they’re pricey, with some starting at $439 each for nosebleed seats for the on Saturday show. Still, for many fans that’ll be worth it — just factor in the other expenses, including food and drinks, merch, and $40 parking at NRG Park.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
How to get to NRG Park
As previously mentioned, parking at NRG will be expensive—$40 a space— and note that the entertainment and sports complex is now cashless. But there are other alternatives, including rideshares, taxis or public transport.
Houston Metro is expecting so many concertgoers heading to NRG this weekend that they’ve put a special plan in place, according to Houston Chronicle transportation reporter Dug Begley.
“Three hours before the start of the concert, we will begin putting additional trains in service to accommodate the increased passenger loads,” Metro spokeswoman Tracy Jackson said in an email to the paper. “Customers can expect a train to arrive every few minutes.” Both Metro’s buses and trains cost $1.25 a ride, and concertgoers can download the RideMetro app ahead of time to make paying a breeze.
The Beyhive can also park at Metro’s 1,000-space lot at the end of the Red Line, Fannin South, for $20 a space. All occupants of the car then ride light rail to NRG Park for free. The lot is first-come, first-served.
Metro is also advising patience once the shows are over for the night, as a rush of crowds leaving the venue may lead to long waits.
“Upon leaving NRG, if the platform is full, you may be directed to a nearby special events bus which will travel the same route as the Red Line and stop at existing bus stops adjacent to rail stations,” Jackson told the Chronicle. “Those special event buses will travel from NRG to Central Station Main. We will continue to run service both nights until the platform is clear.”
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
What should I wear?
Beyoncé, famous Virgo (her birthday is Sept. 4) has asked all fans to wear silver in honor of Virgo season and the final leg of her tour. “We’ll surround ourselves in a shimmering human disco ball each night,” she wrote on Instagram last month.
Now, Virgo season actually ends Sept. 22, the day before her Houston dates, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The good news is that metallics are super in for fall 2023, with everyone from Madewell to Coach and even Target getting in on the trend.
Note that concertgoers are allowed to carry a small clutch no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″, with or without a strap. Larger bags must still be under 12″ by x 6″ x 12″ and must be clear.
What songs will Beyoncé perform?
Look, no spoilers here, but it is called The Renaissance World Tour. Multiple online sources, including ConcertArchives.org and Setlist.fm list between 35 and 45 songs for the tour, but accounts vary. That said, you may have seen TikTok videos of a certain 11-year-old special guest performing alongside Bey. We can tell you previous setlists list that song at about halfway through the show, so if you really want to see Blue Ivy, hit the bathrooms early.
What’s this “mute challenge”?
The Houston Beyhive has had months to practice, and now it’s time to claim her home as the ultimate “everybody on mute” challenge winner. The song “Energy” from Renaissance has the key lyrics, “Big wave in the room, the crowd gon’ move / Look around, everybody on mute,” and attendees and fans are expected to be completely silent for a few seconds. At this point in the show, not only does Beyoncé pause, but the music stops, her background dancers freeze with a finger over their mouths.
She’s previously crowned cities Atlanta and Washington D.C. as challenge winners.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
Will she bring out any special guests?
So far in her historical Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé has been the sole artist on stage singing her top hits and favorites from Renaissance, including “Heated” and “Cuff It” and her timeless classics of pop hits and ballads like “Crazy in Love” and “Dangerously in Love.”
But everything changed in Los Angeles when rapper Kendrick Lamar joined her on stage to sing the remix version of “America Has A Problem.” Pop legend Diana Ross also graced the stage to sing “Happy Birthday” to Beyoncé at the Sept. 4 LA show.
So, for Houston, what is the probability of a special guest, and who are the top contenders?
Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion was supposed to headline the Global Citizen Festival in New York on Saturday, but festival officials confirmed she had dropped out. Instead, many fans are crossing their fingers for two Houston icons to sing Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage (Remix),” which features Beyoncé. Additionally, one of Beyoncé’s closest friends and Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland also canceled an appearance to perform at the music festival Artscape Organizers. Rowland’s move has many fans manifesting an R&B group reunion on the Renaissance stage.
