Ariana Grande is ready to switch her bubble for a stage.
As the multi-hyphenate approaches the end of the press tour for Wicked: For Good—which is nominated in seven categories at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 4—she's looking ahead to her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first in six years.
"I've been working on the set list for months now," she told E! News' Justin Sylvester on the show's black carpet outside the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. "It's in a good place, but we'll never know until we get into the rehearsals—which are starting very soon—and we put things on their feet if it'll make sense or not."
But on the specifics of what fans are in for, Ariana remained mum. (See every star on the carpet here.)
As she coyly added, "I want to let it be a surprise."
While the upcoming tour marks a return more than five years in the making, for Ariana, being back on the road doesn't change much of her inner world.
"I think it's the same person," she said of who she is now and who she is while touring. "I am grateful to work, and I'm excited for the tour."
And The Eternal Sunshine Tour is sure to be well-attended by Ariana's many A-list peers—including her Wicked costar and friend Bowen Yang. After all, Ariana was by his side when the comedian performed in his last Saturday Night Live episode on Dec. 20.
For Ariana—who hosted the episode—being there for Bowen's milestone was simply wonderful.
"It was really special," she told Justin of the experience. "I was really grateful, because I really just wanted to celebrate him and be there to support him, and I love him so much, and we're real friends for life. He's just so incredible."
As she put it, "I'm such a huge fan of his, so to be there for him in that moment as a friend and a fan was very special."
And as both she and Bowen approach the final hurdles of their time with Wicked, Ariana feels a sense of calm.
"It feels actually really beautiful," the 32-year-old said. "I think we're really proud of what we've done, and it was an amazing chapter, and now we've given it to the world and get to let them have it and enjoy it. It feels peaceful."
For more from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, read on.
Teyana Taylor
in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Jessica Biel
in Lanvin.
Ariana Grande
in custom Alberta Ferretti, Christian Louboutin and Swarovski jewelry.
Paul Mescal
in custom Gucci and Cartier.
Jacob Elordi
in Bottega Veneta, Oliver Peoples and Cartier.
Michael B. Jordan
in custom Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin.
Leighton Meester & Adam Brody
in Carolina Herrera and Chopard jewelry (Meester); Valentino and Jager Le Coultre wath (Brody).
Alexander Skarsgard
in Valentino.
Adam Scott & Naomi Scott
in Dolce & Gabbana.
Marcello Hernandez
in Dolce & Gabbana.
Mckenna Grace
in vintage Vera Wang and Chopard diamonds.
Krys Marshall
in Sehnsucht Atelier.
Rhea Seehorn
in custom Louis Vuitton and Brilliant Earth jewelry.
Nicole Brydon Bloom
in Akris.
Sara Wells & Noah Wyle
in Brioni (Wyle).
Adam Sandler & Jackie Sandler
Leo Woodall
in Paul Smith.
Ryan Coogler & Zinzi Coogler
in custom Louis Vuitton.
Katherine LaNasa & Grant Show
in custom Louis Vuitton and Messika jewelry (LaNasa).
Seth Rogen
in Zegna.
Sarah Shahi
in Georges Hobeika.
Ginnifer Goodwin & Josh Dallas
in Giorgio Armani and a Tyler Ellis bag(Goodwin).
Ike Barinholtz
in Dior.
Jimmy Kimmel & Molly McNearney
in Alex Perry, Tyler Ellis purse and Manolo Blahnik shoes (McNearney).
Sterling K. Brown
in Brunello Cucinelli, Jacques Marie Mage glasses, Omega watch, Rachel Katz Jewelry cufflinks, Effy Jewelry rings and Melinda Maria earrings.
Sarah Snook
in Akris and Chopard.
Tramell Tillman
in Anamika Khanna and Lagos Diamonds jewelry.
Natasha Lyonne
in Celine and Le Vian and L'Dezen jewelry.
Chase Infiniti
in custom Louis Vuitton and Messika jewelry.
Owen Cooper
in Bottega Veneta.