Abba Voyage: Celebrating Three Years with a Revamped Setlist

ABBA’s Virtual Voyage Concert Update

The ABBA Virtual Voyage concert residency is set to undergo a “small” reconstruction this May to mark its third anniversary in London – find out more below.

• Read more: ABBA Voyage Live in London: Epic mega-MIKS Avatar from a bold new world

Today (March 27), the group and the ABBA Voyage team announced new changes to the renowned virtual concert experience in celebration of their three consecutive years in London.

In the press release, the group expressed: “When we first opened, we never thought that we would still be in London after 3 years. We are very grateful that many of you have joined us. Of course, the support from our audience is why we can sustain our concert for so long!”

Starting on May 27, exactly three years after the launch of ABBA Voyage, the group will implement “a few adjustments to our concert.”

While the specifics of the changes remain under wraps, the ABBA team confirmed that “some additions and minor changes will be made to the ABBA Voyage set” in the press release.

Future Plans and Evolution of the Show

This isn’t the first instance of discussing changes to the set. In an interview with NME in April 2023, Björn Ulvaeus revealed that they are working on a substantial number of songs that could be incorporated into future iterations of the show. “We’ve captured more songs than we have currently in this concert,” he stated. “There’s development regarding songs that might be animated for ABBA-Trand in the future. Who knows? There might be a new song from time to time, but I can’t provide specifics right now.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvz3spkwobo

ABBA Voyage originally debuted in May 2022 and was initially set to conclude last November. However, due to overwhelming demand, the concert has been extended until January 2026. You can get tickets here.

After concluding the London show, the group plans to take the experience on a worldwide tour, including Asia, Australia, and North America, although specific plans have yet to be announced.

Upon viewing the opening night on May 27, 2022, NME awarded it five stars, dubbing it the “epic mega-mix of the avatar from a bold new world.” The review noted: “Aging rockers and pop performers may try to replicate this concept, but it will be a challenge to reach the experience of ABBA Voyage. We gladly welcome our new overlords via Abbatar, as they bring these songs back to us in a completely new and joyous manner.”

Reflections on ABBA’s Future

Regarding the future of ABBA themselves, the group believes that “Voyage” was their final release. In June of last year, Ulvaeus mentioned they would likely not appear together in public again after being honored by the Royal Vas, Swedish chivalry.

Speaking on this honor, Ulvaeus shared that he and his bandmates quietly recognized it might be their “last occasion” to be together. “We stood there quietly, receiving it from the king’s hand, and as he spoke a few words, it was a very serene and elegant ceremony. All four of us were present, of course.”

When asked about the frequency of their meetings, Ulvaeus replied, “It’s publicly very rare, and Frida (Lyngstad) later remarked, ‘This might be the last occasion.’ It’s quite sad to think about, as I reflected on it later, but we are not getting any younger.”