Sweden’s pop icon Benjamin Ingrosso further cements his place on the music scene of the 2020s with both new songs and his biggest arena tour yet, What happens next?. Autumn 2026 marks an important milestone in Ingrosso’s career as he returns with a sound reflecting both artistic maturity and personal insight.
A New Chapter with Fresh Singles
Following the success of the previous album Pink Velvet Theatre—which won the most awards at the Grammisgalan and P3 Guld—Benjamin Ingrosso took almost two years off from releasing new music. During this time, he wrestled with writer’s block and deep self-examination. Out of this challenging period came two new singles: Funny Feeling and Waste My Time, both released on 18 September 2026 via EMI Nordic.
Musically, Funny Feeling moves between soul pop and soft disco, with a prominent piano-driven groove and vocals that hark back to the alternative pop of the ’90s. The lyrics depict both the ecstasy and pitfalls of obsessive love—a theme Ingrosso often revisits. In contrast, Waste My Time is characterized by a blend of new wave and 2000s pop rock, with an intimate and personal approach. Both songs thematically revolve around being chosen and being left, with lyrics that lay bare the emotional costs of these cycles.
The singles are the result of creative collaboration: Jonathan Rado (known for work with Miley Cyrus, The Killers, Father John Misty) and Kane Ritchotte (Sombr, Phoebe Bridgers, Role Model) are responsible for songwriting and production, with David Stewart (on Funny Feeling) and Jon Shave (on Waste My Time) as additional producers. The recordings were completed during two intensive weeks at Benny Andersson's Riksmixningsverket in Sweden—an indication of Ingrosso’s ambition to unite high artistic quality with international collaborations.
These songs reinforce Ingrosso’s already impressive track record: over one billion streams globally, three number one albums, countless gold and platinum singles, and recognition as one of Sweden’s most consistent live artists. Ingrosso’s previous achievements—winning Melodifestivalen 2018, participating in Så Mycket Bättre (2020), and three seasons of his own TV series Benjamins—have clearly established him in both the music and entertainment worlds.
From Vulnerability to Arena Stages
The inspiration for the new material is deeply personal. Ingrosso describes a period of searching for love, which led him to confront his own destructive relationship patterns and begin a journey towards self-understanding. This honesty, combined with overcoming his creative block, has resulted in music that feels genuine and striking. The result can be heard in the open lyrics and conscious production choices together with his international collaborators.
Ingrosso’s journey from songwriting talent to arena entertainer has been accentuated by the album En gång i tiden and the subsequent tours Allt det vackra (2023) and Better Days (2024). His concept album Pink Velvet Theatre, created with Salem Al-Fakir and Vincent Pontare, has further strengthened his reputation, as has the intimate documentary series This is Benjamin and his U.S. debut tour in early 2025.
What happens next? – Arena Tour 2026
For the first time in his career, Ingrosso is embarking on a major arena tour in the Nordics. The What happens next? tour includes eleven dates, starting in Karlstad and ending with two nights at Avicii Arena in Stockholm. The tour reflects both the extent of his success and his close connection to fans in Scandinavia and Finland.
Confirmed dates for the What happens next? tour are as follows:
- 23 October – Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad
- 24 October – Scandinavium, Gothenburg
- 25 October – Scandinavium, Gothenburg (EXTRA)
- 28 October – Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki
- 30 October – Malmö Arena, Malmö
- 31 October – Saab Arena, Linköping
- 5 November – Spektrum, Oslo
- 6 November – Göransson Arena, Sandviken
- 7 November – Gärdehov Arena, Sundsvall
- 13 November – Avicii Arena, Stockholm (EXTRA)
- 14 November – Avicii Arena, Stockholm
Benjamin Ingrosso’s growth as an artist is evident both in his willingness to delve deep into the personal and in a steadily growing ambition for Swedish pop music. With new material that is both innovative and heartfelt, and a large-scale arena tour, Ingrosso solidifies his role as one of the decade’s most important pop voices.
