There's nothing like going to see your favorite artist live in concert, especially when that artist comes to your home state!

I was curious about how many of the top 20 highest-grossing tours have had Iowa dates. After doing a little research, I'm bummed that the answer is only four. Unfortunately, a lot of major tours skip right over us! I'm guessing it's because of the sizes of our concert venues. According to Wikipedia, here are details on all the top tours and if/when they had an Iowa date:

  1. The Eras Tour - Taylor Swift (2023-2024)
    • Grossed $1,039,263,762
    • No Iowa stops
  2. Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour - Elton John (2018-2023)
    • Grossed $939,100,000
    • Stopped at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on March 26th, 2022
  3. Music of the Spheres World Tour - Coldplay (2022-2024)
    • Grossed $810,966,041
    • No Iowa stops
  4. ÷ Tour - Ed Sheeran (2017-2019)
    • Grossed $776,200,000
    • Stopped at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on June 30th, 2017
  5. U2 360° Tour (2009-2011)
    • Grossed $736,421,586
    • No Iowa stops
  6. Love On Tour - Harry Styles (2021-2023)
    • Grossed $617,325,000
    • No Iowa stops
  7. Not in This Lifetime... Tour - Guns N' Roses (2016-2019)
    • Grossed $584,200,000
    • No Iowa stops
  8. Renaissance World Tour - Beyoncé (2023)
    • Grossed $579,800,000
    • No Iowa stops
  9. A Bigger Bang Tour - The Rolling Stones (2005-2007)
    • Grossed $558,255,524
    • No Iowa stops
  10. No Filter Tour - The Rolling Stones (2017-2021)
    • Grossed $546,500,000
    • No Iowa stops
  11. +–=÷× Tour - Ed Sheeran (2022-2024)
    • Grossed $556,400,000
    • No Iowa stops
  12. A Head Full of Dreams Tour - Coldplay (2016-2017)
    • Grossed $523,033,675
    • No Iowa stops
  13. The Wall Live - Roger Waters (2010-2013)
    • Grossed $459,000,000
    • No Iowa stops
  14. Black Ice World Tour - AC/DC (2008-2010)
    • Grossed $441,900,000
    • Stopped at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on April 17th, 2010
  15. WorldWired Tour - Metallica (2016-2019)
    • Grossed $430,000,000
    • Stopped at the Iowa Speedway in Newton on June 9th, 2017
  16. Sticky & Sweet Tour - Madonna (2008-2009)
    • Grossed $411,000,000
    • No Iowa stops
  17. Beautiful Trauma World Tour - Pink (2018-2019)
    • Grossed $397,300,000
    • No Iowa stops
  18. The Joshua Tree Tours 2017 & 2019 - U2
    • Grossed $390,778,581
    • No Iowa stops
  19. Vertigo Tour - U2 (2005-2006)
    • Grossed $389,000,000
    • No Iowa stops
  20. 2023 Tour - Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band
    • Grossed $379,496,085
    • No Iowa stops

Even though a lot of these big tours don't stop in Iowa, they do typically have other Midwest dates in places like Omaha, Minneapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis, which aren't too bad of a drive. The furthest I've traveled specifically for a concert is about 8 hours back to my home state of Michigan. How far have you gone to see one of your favorite musical acts? Let us know by sending us a message on our station app!

94.1 KRNA logo
Get our free mobile app

Want to see who is coming to Iowa in 2024? Check out a full list of upcoming concerts HERE!

LOOK: See the Most Famous Musician Born the Same Year As You

Stacker identified musicians born in every year from 1920 to 2003 and determined the most famous born the same year as you.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

TIMELESS: Bestselling Musicians of the ’70s, Then and Now

Using historical Billboard charts and top song and album lists from the 1970s, Stacker spotlighted 25 of the bestselling musicians of the decade.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From 94.1 KRNA