Concert Review: MIKA's Spinning Out North America Tour at the Riviera Theatre Chicago, 5-7-2026

For my first MIKA concert ever, I couldn't have really asked for anything more than the experience I had at the Riviera Theatre on May 7th, 2026. This marked the energetic artist's Chicago date of the North American leg of his Spinning Out tour. The tour promotes the recent release of his 7th album Hyperlove, an album I recently reviewed and enjoyed thoroughly.

While waiting hours in the wind, and cold, and rain, and then wind again, was a bit of a shock to the system, the day and concert were both wonderfully crazy experiences from beginning to end; and not something I would've wanted to miss any part of. I'm used to the weather anyway.

Somehow I had the bizarre luck to get front row, almost perfectly in the center, which was beyond my wildest dreams for a first concert when I knew nothing about queuing at this venue or for this tour. But I also have had a run of front row luck, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

Seeing and hearing songs I've been singing, and watching, and loving for years at this point (or months in a few cases) was an experience that felt so surreal I don't even know how to describe it. The stage, set, lights...all of it was simply perfect, and simply a dream I was actually living. 

Some songs, such as "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" with its rousing audience visit and "Elle me dit" really highlighted both how excited we all were to be singing along with our favorite artist and how amazing Mika is at performing with high passion and high energy. Of course I knew all of this about him already, but seeing it live is something else completely.

Mika himself got quite emotional throughout the night, and said at one point that the Chicago audience made him feel at home in a unique way (I'm paraphrasing here, as I didn't get everything on camera that I would've liked to). He also promised to come back much sooner than 13 years next time and that the American fan base has taught him that this tour.

I was definitely not expecting the giant megaphone to fit on the Riviera stage and make an appearance, but Mika worked his magic as usual and made it happen, complete with pink confetti that released over the audience.

Being near Mika, and helping him off the barricade so he could get back on stage after Big Girl...and meeting him after the gig...AND getting his autograph on my poster and giving him my bracelets..were all incredible experiences to accompany a first-ever MIKA show as well. I'm sure it won't be my last.