Josh Groban announced the GEMS North America Tour for 2026 via Instagram, naming Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as a confirmed special guest.
Groban’s caption made the excitement clear. “I can’t keep this in any longer!! I’m so insanely happy to announce… I’m hitting the road for my GEMS North America tour in 2026 and so honored to be joined by the incomparable @iamjhud!” he wrote.
Pre-sale tickets go live December 17 at 10am local time. General on-sale follows December 19 at the same hour. Tickets are available exclusively at JoshGroban.com.
The tour connects to a catalog Groban has built over more than two decades in adult contemporary and classical crossover music. His live shows consistently pull from across his discography. Fan staples like “You Raise Me Up,” “February Song,” and “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” have been concert constants for years.
Hudson brings serious credentials to the bill. She finished seventh on American Idol’s third season in 2004, a result that drew controversy at the time. What followed made that ranking irrelevant. Her debut in Dreamgirls (2006) earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her self-titled debut album, released in 2008, won the Grammy for Best R&B Album. She has since appeared in films including Sex and the City (2008) and Cats (2019). She starred as Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic Respect and has hosted The Jennifer Hudson Show since 2022. Hudson is also one of a handful of performers to hold EGOT status, completing that set with a Tony Award for her role in The Color Purple on Broadway.
Groban called Hudson “incomparable” in his announcement. Both artists have built their following around live vocal performance rather than production spectacle.
The two also share a Broadway connection. Groban received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his 2017 run in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Hudson’s Tony win for The Color Purple puts both performers in that same theater-to-tour territory.
Groban has a solid track record with North American touring. His Bridges Tour in 2018 drew well across the U.S. and Canada. The GEMS rollout follows a proven structure, pairing a headline act with a high-profile guest and opening a fast ticket window to build early momentum.
Full dates and venue information have not been released yet. Fans can check JoshGroban.com for the complete schedule. The pre-sale window opens December 17.
