Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny has explained why his massive 2025–2026 world tour will not include any U.S. dates, despite him being one of the biggest global artists with a long history of sold-out shows across American arenas and stadiums, and it has to do with what many of his fans guessed.
The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, told I-D magazine this week that fears over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations influenced his decision to leave the U.S. off his upcoming "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" tour.
"There were many reasons why I didn't put the U.S. on the schedule, and none of them were about hate. I've performed there plenty of times," the 31-year-old said. "But specifically, doing a residency here in Puerto Rico, when we are still part of the U.S., fans from the States can come here and see the shows."
Bad Bunny added that a major factor was concern about ICE appearing outside his concerts. The agency has stepped up enforcement in recent months, with high-profile raids at factories and residential complexes drawing national attention.
"Latinos and Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. could come here or travel anywhere else in the world to see me," he said. "But the issue was, ICE could be outside the venues. We talked about it, and we were very worried about it."
His remarks come just a week after ICE detained hundreds of workers in Georgia and Colorado in operations that dominated headlines across Latino communities. For many fans, Bad Bunny's comments tapped into broader anxieties about immigration enforcement during public events.
The artist first announced the world tour in May, sparking disappointment among U.S. audiences who noticed the absence of domestic stops. Some ticket holders had expected performances in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, where the Puerto Rican rapper has previously sold out arenas.
The tour begins November 21 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and will span Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia before concluding in Brussels, Belgium, on July 26, 2026.
History With ICE Criticism
This is not the first time Bad Bunny has spoken out against the federal agency. Earlier this summer, he posted an Instagram video criticizing ICE vehicles operating in his home country, calling agents "sons of bitches" for targeting residents instead of, as he put it, "leaving people alone."
His stance adds to a growing pattern of artists weighing in on immigration issues. For Bad Bunny, whose music has become an anthem for Latino identity worldwide, the decision to keep the tour outside U.S. borders underscores both his political voice and his sense of responsibility toward fans who may feel threatened.
While his tour avoids the United States, Bad Bunny remains omnipresent in American pop culture. He attended the Met Gala in May, starred in the summer blockbuster Happy Gilmore 2, and appeared at the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert in New York in February.
Yet his most personal performances will remain in Puerto Rico, where he launched a residency in July at San Juan's Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot. "Every time I sing here, it feels like home, and it feels like the whole world is watching," he said in that earlier show.
A Global Stage, A Local Message
Bad Bunny's tour choices reflect not just artistic ambitions but also a political message. By skipping U.S. cities, he has brought immigration enforcement into the global spotlight while still ensuring American fans can travel to Puerto Rico or abroad to see him perform.
For his supporters, the absence of U.S. stops may be disappointing, but for Bad Bunny, the decision appears to be as much about safety and solidarity as it is about music.
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