PWR/UP Tour: AC/DC and The Pretty Reckless - Winnipeg, MB

After more than a decade of waiting, AC/DC finally returned to Winnipeg. The legendary Australian rockers last played the city in 2015 on the Rock or Bust World Tour, and their September 20, 2026, stop at Princess Auto Stadium marked their long-awaited return as part of the PWR/UP Tour. Along for the ride were The Pretty Reckless, themselves making their first Winnipeg appearance since 2023, last opening for Greta Van Fleet.

It was an evening built around one very simple idea: rock ’n’ roll doesn't have an expiration date. The Pretty Reckless got the night moving with a compact, punchy set that demonstrated exactly why the band has remained one of modern rock's most reliable live acts. Opening with “Death by Rock and Roll,” the group immediately established a dark, muscular atmosphere before tearing through “Since You're Gone,” “Follow Me Down,” and “For I Am Death.”

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The Pretty Reckless. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

Their set moved comfortably between swaggering rockers and more dramatic material. “When I Wake Up” and “Witches Burn” brought a darker, moodier edge, while “Make Me Wanna Die” offered a welcome trip back to the band's earlier material. “Heaven Knows” was particularly memorable, opening with the familiar introduction from Pink Floyd's “Another Brick in the Wall” before launching into one of The Pretty Reckless' biggest songs.

The band closed its performance with “Going to Hell” and “About You,” leaving the stadium warmed up and ready for the main event. Then came AC/DC. From the moment the opening notes of “If You Want Blood (You've Got It)” rang out, Princess Auto Stadium became a sea of raised fists, red flashing devil horns, and powerful voices. There was no elaborate mystery to what AC/DC were there to do. They came to play the songs people had waited years to hear, and they delivered them with an energy that was remarkable.

The most impressive part of the performance was just how much fun the members of AC/DC appeared to be having onstage. There was a looseness and sense of joy running through the entire show. Despite their ages, the band didn't appear to be taking a cautious approach to the material. They played with confidence, enthusiasm, and the kind of intense physical energy that has always been central to AC/DC's identity. And then there was Angus Young. Young remains one of rock's great performers, and he spent the night proving that the years haven't taken the electricity out of his playing or his stage presence. His trademark duckwalk made numerous appearances throughout the set, to the delight of the crowd, and he attacked his guitar parts with the same mischievous intensity that has defined him for decades.

“Back in Black” and “Demon Fire” kept the momentum high before “Shot Down in Flames” and “Thunderstruck” turned the stadium into one enormous singalong. “Have a Drink on Me” kept the party going, while “Hells Bells” brought one of the night's most spectacular stage moments as a giant bell descended above the stage.

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AC/DC. All photos by Samuel Stevens.

The set continued with “Shot in the Dark,” “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Highway to Hell,” and “Shoot to Thrill,” each one greeted as if it were the song everyone in the stadium had been waiting for.

“Sin City” and “Jailbreak” dug further into AC/DC's catalogue, followed by “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “High Voltage” and “Riff Raff.” By this point, the sheer longevity of the band's catalogue became almost overwhelming. Decade after decade of rock history was being compressed into one evening.

“You Shook Me All Night Long” provided another massive crowd moment before “Whole Lotta Rosie” set the stage for the night's centrepiece.

“Let There Be Rock” became an extended showcase for Angus Young, with the guitarist launching into a nearly twenty-minute guitar solo. It was excessive in exactly the way an AC/DC concert should be excessive. Young stretched the performance out, wringing every last ounce of energy from his guitar while the crowd watched, cheered, and waited for the inevitable explosion of celebration. When it finally came, the stadium erupted in confetti.

The encore began with “T.N.T.,” keeping the volume and adrenaline levels firmly in the red. But AC/DC saved their biggest spectacle for last. “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” arrived with excessively loud cannon blasts and a massive fireworks display that brought the evening to a suitably explosive conclusion. With the sky lighting up above Princess Auto Stadium and the crowd roaring below, there was little doubt that AC/DC knew exactly how to leave an audience wanting more.

The PWR/UP Tour's Winnipeg stop was more than just a long-awaited return for AC/DC. It was a celebration of the enduring power of live rock music. The Pretty Reckless provided a strong opening set, but once AC/DC took the stage for two-and-a-half hours, the evening became a reminder of why the band has remained such an enormous force for over fifty years.

AC/DC may have been away from Winnipeg since 2015, but judging by the reception they received, the city hadn't forgotten them. And neither had AC/DC forgotten how to put on one hell of a rock show.