"Further, it challenges the artist to consider the theatrical narrative of the whole performance, not just each song; there's no "teleporting" the way you could with an LED wall. In Carpenter's show, she moves from room to room, sometimes making use of the bedroom set for her more risqué tracks, then the conversation pit for songs with a confessional bent-perfect for gossip sessions with thousands of participants. The set becomes packaging-connective tissue for a show, not just a collection of songs sung live."
"As the streaming age continues to change the music industry, live performances have become increasingly important. Upping the ante through theatrical, narrative sets is a way to make them more engaging and immersive. It also doesn't hurt that they're extremely photogenic-great fodder for organic advertising through social media shares. Who hasn't come across a TikTok compilation of Carpenter crooning on her heart-shaped bed?"
"As such, it's a trend that experts believe will continue to reign in 2026. Imogene Strauss, a creative director who has worked with the likes of Clairo and Charli XCX, tells AD she's working on Tame Impala's upcoming tour, "which also has a lot of elements that feel home-like. There is a stage that has rugs and lamps, and it's meant to feel like his home studio where he made a lot of the music.""
Live performances increasingly use theatrical, narrative sets that resemble rooms or homes to create cohesive, storylike concerts. Artists move between staged rooms — bedrooms for risqué tracks and conversation pits for confessional songs — to shape emotional arcs and avoid the instant scene changes of LED walls. The set acts as connective packaging that unifies songs into a continuous performance rather than discrete live renditions. Home-like elements such as rugs, lamps, and studio motifs make shows immersive and visually appealing. Photogenic staging fuels organic social-media promotion through clips and TikTok compilations. The trend toward residential stage design is expected to continue into 2026.
Read at Architectural Digest
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