Add The New York Post on Google In my younger days, I was a fledgling stand-up comedian.
I, admittedly, was never very good but one joke of mine always seemed to get laughs. It ended like this:
“Shazam isn’t for finding music you like. Shazam is for finding out you’ve liked Pitbull for years.”
Now, nearly a decade after using the Miami native as a punchline — in my defense, his catchy songs are ubiquitous at grocery stores — I have seen the light. Mr. Worldwide isn’t someone to be made fun of for liking his music, he’s a one-of-a-kind hitmaker worthy of celebration.
To amend my error, I took the LIRR and a $25 Uber to witness the man, the myth, the bald icon live at the absolutely crawling Long Island’s Jones Beach Theater on Tuesday, Aug. 25 as part of his ongoing 2026 North American ‘I’m Back Tour’ with very special guest Lil Jon.
Not only does the song-and-dance showman have an unimpeachable back catalog of bangers, bops, jams, ragers and party-starters but he’s also amassed a passionate fanbase of all ages who don bald caps to show their appreciation for his shiny dome.
Here are my five very real reasons you need to catch Pitbull in concert (he’ll be at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sept. 2 and Holmdel’s PNC Bank Arts Center on Sept. 3, by the way).
The moment Armando Christian Pérez Pitbull takes the stage, you get on your feet (and squeal like The Beatles just got off an airplane in 1964). No questions asked.
This was certainly true at the Jones Beach show I attended where the 45-year-old seemingly appeared out of thin air as his gifted guitarist and steady drummer rocked out to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.”
Once Mr. Worldwide sauntered into the spotlight with his backup dancers “The Most Bad Ones” in their trademark nude catsuits, the mostly female crowd screamed so loud you could hear them across the river before rising to their collective feet and flat-out refusing take a seat for the next 90 short minutes (his live show flies by).
Every song he performed had the whole place jumping. Pitbull doesn’t do ballads. There are no slow songs. The man is all about getting the party started and creating an authentic yet welcoming club atmosphere.
Mission accomplished. I couldn’t believe it but by the end of Mr. 305’s set where his voice never wavered once, I’d moved so much, my iPhone reported I’d “walked” 8,000 steps over the duration of his performance. Not a bad byproduct of putting on a lively show.
Sure, there were a few brief lulls when Pitbull would introduce his songs (it would be nice if the show had more of a through line) but that’s completely forgivable when you’re putting on a clinic with a DJ, live instrumentals and one of the most commanding vocalists in the game sharing a stage.
As you might recall, I joked about “finding out I liked Pitbull for years.”
That’s because the man has released hit after hit after hit for decades now.
And, when you see him live, he delivers them all in quick succession.
After starting with the invigorating “Don’t Stop the Party” (which is louder, nastier and wilder live and capped with fireworks!) he jumps into the poppin’ anthem “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor”), electric, epic singalong “Hotel Room Service” (there’s nothing better than screaming “we’re at the hotel, motel, Holiday Inn” with thousands of other Pitbull fans) and hypnotic, shockingly sensual “International Love.”
At this point, the man from where the Heat, Marlins and Dolphins play was still warming up. Just when you think we hit 11, Pitbull turns it up a notch.
Case in point, the beefed-up “Suave,” raucous “Culo” (where the slinky saxobeat works its way into your ear and refuses to leave) seductive “I Know You Want Me,” endlessly catchy “On The Floor” and near-transcendent crossover smash “Feel This Moment” (a true pop rollercoaster that never stopped and should never end) all had yet to come.
“Timber” (this one resonated extra hard and the crowd hung on every word like they’ve been singing along in the shower for decades), “Time Of Our Lives,” “Fireball,” “Mentirosa” (which blew Jones Beach to the moon) and “Give Me Everything” were still on the horizon, too.
Plus, “DJ’s Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” an epic that marries RB and Latin Hip-Hop like none other, was on the way as well.
See? We told you there was a lot. You forget just how many hits the man has.
Heck, we didn’t even mention that Lil Jon pops in to perform with Pitbull, too.
Or his “Gasolina” cover that lit the place on fire.
Or his heartfelt tribute to the late Dolly Parton where he shone a light on how smart, impactful and downright hysterical she was, capping the ode with “9 to 5,” which he sampled in the glorious “Powerful Women.”
Each phat beat track was better than the last and performed word perfect with impressive gusto and non-stop energy other than the occasional break where DJ Laz lent a hand dropping throwback hits. Simply put, the man can throw a Hip-Hop soirée with Miami flair.
An hour before it was time to worship at the altar of Pitbull, Lil Jon had the place hopping to the hits of the aughts.
Think “Soulja Boy,” “Snap Yo Fingers,” “Damn” (the place turned up for the hoppin’ “if you don’t give a damn, we don’t give a f—” bit), “Goodies” (fans gave this one a gasp of admiration) like it was 2004 all over again and no time had passed.
However, Jon doesn’t only rock his own hits. The Atlanta legend also likes to look back to the past and pay tribute to artists as varied as Neil Diamond, The Sugarhill Gang, Gwen Stefani, The Black Eyed Peas and The Eurhythmics in a downright giddy karaoke section while kitschy, glitchy graphics play in the background that shouted out Myspace and box-y, old-school TVs.
The man coasts on rizz while unleashing hair-raising nostalgia for days. Not a bad combination.
Really there’s no need to intellectualize, though. We were all there just to shake rump and get down to “Turn Down For What.”
Essentially, it was a non-stop dopamine hit — that felt a bit like I was getting bottle service at a club in 2005 — featuring the best parts of songs from Millennial’s heyday. It’s the “Get Low” show for people with bad knees.
Pitbull may have brought the Miami but Lill Jon gave us Atlanta.
Side note: the biggest laugh of the night came when Lil Jon said “y’all don’t know where the window is and where the wall is.”
Side side note: It’s hard to write when Lil Jon tells you to put your “f—ing hands up every two minutes.”
As noted above, Pitbull is flanked by a squad of sirens in nude catsuits — The Most Bad Ones or TMBO as they are affectionately known — who keep the rapturous ruckus moving and shaking all night long.
They twerk, they hot-step, they groove, they jam, they’re unapologetically sensual and, most importantly, they serve as a template for just how much one can “feel this moment” while Mr. Worldwide wails.
While they all rule and own every second they’re onstage, one particular standout was Shannie Fernandez who got a minute in the sun and shook her tuchus where the sun don’t shine. The audience went wild.
Honestly, above all else, Pitbull fans foster an environment that’s inclusive, fun-loving and unendingly energetic.
As you are likely aware (and as I already mentioned), his most loyal diehards don bald heads — they go for $15 at the merch shop, by the way — that don’t mock the man but pay tribute to his famous hair-free head in a humorous, reverential way.
More than anything though, everyone in the building came ready to get down. Young and old fans lip sync along and embrace the non-stop mayhem where everyone’s hips move like butter to Mr. Worldwide’s deep, playful baritone. This is a party after all and freaks of all ages are welcome.
Pitbull is no punchline. He’s a party-starter with attitude his the crowd can’t get enough.
A complete calendar including all remaining North American ‘I’m Back Tour’ dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
Make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).
According to Set List FM, here’s everything he performed in Hershey, PA on Aug. 22.
02.) “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)”
11.) “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
12.) “On the Floor” (Jennifer Lopez cover)
13.) “I Like It” (Enrique Iglesias cover)
14.) “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” (Usher cover)
Note: Pitbull’s set list for his Jones Beach show has not been made public, which is why there is no Dolly Parton tribute listed.
On Aug. 21, Lil Jon got the show underway in Virginia Beach. This is what Set List FM reported he took to the stage.
01.) “Let’s Go” (Trick Daddy cover)
04.) “What U Gon’ Do” (Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz song)
06.) “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (Soulja Boy cover)
08.) “Sweet Caroline” (Neil Diamond cover)
09.) “Hollaback Girl” (Gwen Stefani cover)
12.) “Kernkraft 400” (Zombie Nation cover)
14.) “Lean Back” (Terror Squad f. Remy, Fat Joe cover)
15.) “Get Low” (Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz song)
17.) “Party Up (Up in Here)” (DMX cover)
21.) “Turn Down for What” (DJ Snake & Lil Jon song)
23.) “Pump It” (Black Eyed Peas cover)
Now that that’s been established, here are five similar artists — who happen to be on tour this year (!) — that we think you’ll love if you’re a fan of Mr. Worldwide.
Who else is pounding the pavement? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
