Last week, Tyler, the Creator brought his Chromakopia World Tour to New Zealand’s Spark Arena, his only show in the country. This wasn’t just another rap concert; it was Tyler’s first time performing in New Zealand since 2022, and expectations were high after watching clips of his North American and European shows that featured expansive stages, shipping containers, and even a B-stage. But in Auckland, it was different. There were no props, no containers (just Chromakopia projected behind), no second stage, just Tyler, his music, and a packed-out Spark Arena ready to erupt.

And it worked.

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The Openers: Paris Texas + Lil Yachty

Paris Texas

The night kicked off with Paris Texas, a hip-hop duo from LA, known for their unpredictable, energetic sound. They didn’t just “open” the show; they detonated it. The performance was raw and chaotic in the best way. For many, this was their first taste of Paris Texas, but by the time they finished their set, they had clearly won over a new fanbase in Auckland.

Lil Yachty

Next up was Lil Yachty, stepping onto the stage in green and boots, soaked in purple light. His set featured nostalgic hits mixed with new ones: hits like “Broccoli” and “iSpy” had the crowd bouncing in unison, while newer tracks like “drive ME crazy!” leaned into a more experimental, psychedelic side of his artistry. Yachty’s charm carried through every second; fans later said he had the arena “in a chokehold,” and it’s hard to disagree. He was less an opener and more a headliner in the way he dominated the stage.

Tyler’s Set

Unlike his shows in the US and Europe, where fans saw massive shipping containers onstage, elaborate lighting tricks, and even secondary stages, Auckland got something else entirely. Tyler walked out dressed in bright yellow, emerging from a small staircase onto a simple square stage with a central catwalk.

That was it. No containers, no B stage.

But instead of feeling like a downgrade, it created an entirely different environment. With no distractions, every eye was on Tyler himself. He didn’t need gimmicks; his energy, storytelling, and presence filled the entire space.

He ripped through songs from Chromakopia, threading in older tracks that had fans screaming every. single. lyric. The performance was stripped down, but that rawness made it feel like a direct conversation between Tyler and the audience. In a 13,000-capacity arena, that’s no easy feat. There were many intimate moments, from Tyler calling this country beautiful to pointing out people in the crowd.

Fans’ Perspective

Many fans came in expecting the containers or the second stage after watching viral clips online. But by the end of the night, most agreed: it didn’t matter. Tyler brought the same soul, humour, and emotion regardless of the stage.

One fan summed it up best:

“No containers, no B-stage … but honestly, I didn’t even notice once the show started. It was insane.”

Final Thoughts

Yes, Auckland missed the containers. Yes, there was no B-stage. But if you came for spectacle, you stayed for Tyler’s raw, magnetic energy. By the time the final song rang out, Spark Arena wasn’t thinking about what wasn’t there; they were thinking about the experience they just had.

Tyler’s Auckland show proved that sometimes less really is more.