Teddy Swims: The Ugly Tour // Fort Worth, TX 10/30/26

Few tours arrive with expectations as high as Teddy Swims’ The Ugly Tour. With a breakthrough hit that became impossible to escape and a reputation built around his remarkable voice, anticipation has followed this arena run. Friday’s stop at Ariat Arena in Fort Worth added a Halloween twist to that promise.

Swims’ rise has been more than a fleeting chart moment. “Lose Control” from his 2023 debut album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1)” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2024 and finished as that year’s top song. In May 2025, it broke the chart’s longevity record with its 92nd week. Follow-up hits “The Door” and “Bad Dreams” also reached the top 40, establishing a catalog with enough recognition to support an arena show beyond one blockbuster single.

MarcLo Gallery.

MarcLo and Avery Anna opened the Fort Worth stop, with MarcLo embracing the Halloween occasion by dressing as Eleven from Stranger Things. The costume supplied an early glimpse of the playful spirit that would carry into the headlining performance. Avery Anna brought fresh desert grunge tunes, giving the night a broader musical frame before Teddy Swims took over.

Swims arrived dressed as Shrek, accompanied by band members portraying various characters from the movie – the three blind mice, Lord Farquad and Donkey all made appearances. The stage setup was truly one of the most extravagant to come through DFW this year which helped with dynamic photos. Teddy and the band used the scaffolding throughout the entire show. Fireworks and other pyrotechnics created visuals unlike any other show.

Avery Anna Gallery.

Opening with “The Door” and “Hammer to the Heart,” he put familiar material up front rather than saving every mega hit for the finale. “Funeral” followed early, allowing the set to establish its musical footing beneath the fairytale wardrobe. The whole evening of performances balanced hits, deep cuts and surprises. “911,” “Devil in a Dress” and “Bad Dreams” helped shape a set that had room for both momentum and reflection. Fans were also delighted to hear Swims perform two unreleased songs from his upcoming album. At one point, someone dressed as the Kool-Aid Man broke through a wall, sending the band members into a tizzy. Around midway through the set, Swims slowed things down with a small acoustic set, providing a welcome counterweight to the spectacle and concentrating attention on the songs. Throughout the set, Swims took time, while performing(!), to sign things for his fans at the barricades.

The closing stretch brought several covers including Van Halen’s “Jump,” Illenium’s “All That Really Matters,” and Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One.” Swims and band performed “Bed on Fire” and “Goodbye’s Been Good to You” before the inevitable finale, “Lose Control.”

The Ugly Tour is approaching the end of its North American leg, with 13 dates remaining after Fort Worth. Get your tickets now at www.teddyswims.com/#tour