This Is What I Must Do”: Visiting a State Outside My Tour Schedule — A Journey to the Heart of My Biggest Fan Base

“This Is What I Must Do”: Visiting a State Outside My Tour Schedule — A Journey to the Heart of My Biggest Fan Base

Statement by Chris Martin

There are moments in every artist’s life when the noise of schedules, commitments, and logistics fades away, leaving only one truth standing: the music exists because of the people. The songs, the stages, the lights, the applause — none of it matters without the souls who listen, who show up, who sing back every lyric as if it were part of their own story. And sometimes, that truth becomes so loud that it pulls you somewhere you did not plan to go. Somewhere off the map of your scheduled dates, somewhere unexpected, somewhere real.

For me, that place has just revealed itself — a state not listed on my 2026 tour calendar, but one that has consistently been home to some of the most passionate, loving, and life-filled fans I have ever encountered. After months of receiving thousands of messages, stories, videos, and heartfelt invitations, something inside me finally said, “You know what? This is what I must do.”

This isn’t just an extra stop. This is a journey of gratitude, a journey back to the roots of why I sing.

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The Unexpected Call of a Fan Base That Never Gave Up

Every tour begins with planning — cities chosen, venues booked, routes mapped out. It’s a huge machine with hundreds of people working tirelessly to make it happen. But even with all that planning, there is always an emotional part of the process that never makes it into spreadsheets or tour schedules: the places where the music is loved the loudest.

Over the last few years, I have noticed something extraordinary. While we played stages around the world — from London to Los Angeles, from Cape Town to Tokyo — there was one state, one community, that consistently showed a level of energy, engagement, and devotion that stunned even us.

These fans weren’t just listening — they were living the music. They weren’t just attending concerts — they were creating a movement. They weren’t just posting online — they were building a family.

Every night after a show, I would scroll through messages. There were thousands, but the ones from this state always stood out. People sharing how Coldplay’s music carried them through heartbreak, illness, new beginnings, and everyday struggles. People thanking us for songs that helped them heal. People begging — kindly, passionately — “Please, Chris… please come here. Even just once. We’ll make it worth it.”

And then I realized:
This wasn’t just a request. It was a calling.

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A Journey Beyond the Schedule

The 2026 tour schedule was already tight, polished, and complete. Every city had a purpose. Every date had a meaning. But the heart doesn’t understand schedules. The heart follows connection. So after weeks of conversations with the band, the crew, and our management, the answer became clear:

I am going.

It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t part of the plan.
It doesn’t matter how complicated it might be.
Some journeys are worth the difficulty, because they are guided by something pure — gratitude.

Visiting this state is not just a musical decision. It is a human one. It’s me stepping into a place where the music has found a second home. A place where fans have created their own universe from our songs. A place where, in many ways, I am not the one giving — I am the one receiving.

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Meeting the People Who Turn Songs into Memories

Whenever I think about this upcoming visit, I imagine the faces I will see. The fans who have been there from the beginning. The ones who discovered the band during “A Head Full of Dreams.” The children who have grown up singing “Sky Full of Stars” in their school choirs. The adults who use “Fix You” as their reminder that hope is still alive. The couples who danced to “Yellow” on their wedding day.

Music becomes real when people connect their own stories to it. That is the greatest privilege of being an artist — watching strangers turn your lyrics into part of their life journals. And this visit will allow me to experience those stories in the place they were born.

This is why the trip means more than any scheduled show. It isn’t about a stadium, a lighting rig, or a setlist. It is about presence. It is about intimacy. It is about standing in the very heart of the fan base that has poured an immeasurable amount of love into our journey.

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A Gift to the People Who Gave Us Their Hearts

When I told my team, “This is what I must do,” I meant it in the truest sense. This visit is a gift — not just from me, but from the entire Coldplay family. A thank you. A moment of recognition. A celebration of a fan base that has shaped our identity more than they know.

Some of the most powerful musical experiences happen in the least expected places. I imagine singing acoustically, perhaps even spontaneously. I imagine hearing the crowd sing back louder than any stadium. I imagine walking streets, meeting people, visiting community spaces, listening to stories, and connecting not just as an artist but as a human being.

There is something magical about showing up somewhere simply because the love there was too strong to ignore. That is the essence of this journey.

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A Message to the Fans of That State

To everyone who has written to me, posted videos, held up signs at concerts, tagged me in messages, or simply kept believing:

Thank you.

Thank you for being louder than distance.
Thank you for being consistent when schedules were not in your favor.
Thank you for turning your state into one of the brightest homes of our music.

I want you to know that I see you.
I hear you.
And now, I am coming to you.

This journey is for you — the fans who lifted us when we were tired, who inspired us when we were searching for meaning, and who made us feel at home even from miles away.

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Why This Visit Matters More Than You Realize

Some people might wonder why a single state matters so much. But every artist knows that success is not measured by charts, awards, or sold-out arenas. It is measured by connection — the depth of it, the sincerity of it, the magic of it.

And the connection I have with this fan base is something special. It is something rare. It is something worth stepping outside of the official tour blueprint for. Because at the end of the day, music is not about perfection. It’s about emotion. It’s about moments. It’s about going where you are needed, wanted, loved, and understood.

This journey reminds me why I started singing in the first place — to touch hearts. And sometimes, a heart that beats for you deserves a visit, even when it’s not on the schedule.

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“This Is What I Must Do” — And I Can’t Wait

As I prepare for this unscheduled, unplanned, beautifully chaotic journey, I feel both grounded and uplifted. Grounded by gratitude, uplifted by the love that awaits. This visit might not be part of the official tour, but perhaps it is part of something bigger — a story about connection, sincerity, and the power of showing up.

To the fans waiting for me:
I’m not coming because it’s convenient.
I’m not coming because it fits the plan.
I’m coming because you earned this moment.

This is what I must do.
And I cannot wait to stand in the heart of my biggest fan base and let the music — and the love — guide the rest.

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