Zara Larsson Honors College Tour Commitments Despite Rising Fame

Zara Larsson proved this past weekend that loyalty runs deep in her playbook. The "Midnight Sun" performer took the stage at Yale University's Spring Fling '26 Concert, and afterward shared her reasoning for sticking with college gigs even as her career has reached new heights.

The 28-year-old opened up on TikTok about her ongoing college circuit appearances, joking about her Yale credentials while sporting university merchandise. She revealed that she'd inked these deals well before her recent wave of momentum, explaining that she needed the income to fund her main tour, given the substantial costs involved in large-scale productions.

"I signed that s–t a long time ago because I needed to pay for my real tour, because it's so expensive to tour," Larsson explained in the video.

She wrapped the opening North American leg of her Midnight Sun Tour earlier this month and is now making stops at colleges nationwide. Following the college performances, she'll hit various international festivals through August, then move on to two Greek Theatre shows in Los Angeles come September. The tour continues with dates in Australia and New Zealand extending through October.

When the Midnight Sun Tour was first announced last year, demand proved so strong that many venues required upgrades to accommodate the influx of ticket requests. Despite this newfound level of success, Larsson has remained steadfast in her commitment to the college performances.

"Once I've signed that contract, I'm not pulling out. I don't do that. I don't cancel shows," she stated firmly, adding with a laugh, "Some people pay to go to college, I get paid to go to college."

The Swedish artist also reflected on her own educational journey, noting that she didn't complete high school due to her early career demands. She expressed some regret about missing that experience, though she emphasized her intelligence and acknowledged her role in entertaining audiences.

"I wish I went to college. Part of me wishes I went to college because I didn't even finish high school," she shared. "I hate saying that because it doesn't match my brain. Like, I'm a smart girl. But someone has to entertain the educated, and that's my job. And I take that seriously."

She praised the college audiences for their enthusiasm and noted how much she's been enjoying the experience. Yale presented her with branded merchandise following her performance, which she plans to wear regularly. She joked about the inevitable questions that would come from sporting the gear, playfully suggesting she'd claim she'll graduate in two years.

Looking ahead, Larsson is preparing to release Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, the deluxe edition of her latest album, arriving May 1. The project features an impressive roster of collaborators on various remixes.