Lady Gaga returned to the Australian stage for the first time in more than a decade, delivering a commanding and emotionally charged performance that affirmed her status as one of the world’s most versatile and electrifying live entertainers.

The opening night of her Mayhem Ball tour in Melbourne drew an audience of roughly sixty thousand at Marvel Stadium, where she unveiled an elaborate production blending theatrical storytelling, bold visual design and a setlist spanning both new work and reimagined classics.

She began the two-and-a-half-hour show embodying her dark touring persona in a dramatic steel-structured gown, setting a heightened tone that resonated through four acts and an encore.

Over thirty songs, Gaga moved seamlessly between high-intensity choreography and intimate, stripped-back moments, offering the crowd both spectacle and sincerity.

Reinvented renditions of early hits, including “Bad Romance,” “Poker Face” and “Born This Way,” elicited enormous response, while new tracks from her album Mayhem showcased her continued artistic evolution.

Midway through the performance, Gaga paused to acknowledge the immense crowd, expressing genuine emotion as she reflected on her return to Australia after so many years.

The night culminated with her stepping out of character, embracing vulnerability and closing the show as Stefani Germanotta, a gesture that anchored the theatrical production in personal authenticity.

The staging featured gothic-pop aesthetics, intricate costuming and a cast of dancers and acrobatic performers, creating an experience that felt closer to immersive theatre than a conventional stadium show.

Fans, many clad in expressive outfits and makeup inspired by the artist’s past eras, responded with fervour, celebrating both her creative reinvention and her renewed presence in the country.

As the tour moves on to Brisbane and Sydney, anticipation has intensified.

The Melbourne performance demonstrated not only Gaga’s technical mastery but also her enduring ability to fuse character, storytelling and raw emotion in a way few contemporary artists can match.