The rap diva delivered a high-production spectacle during Wednesday’s (Feb. 11) opening night at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Cardi B performs onstage during the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco on February 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Fanatics) Getty Images for Fanatics
When Cardi B announced her Little Miss Drama Tour last September, she promised she’d be “going straight to rehearsal” until the start of the run. And on Wednesday night (Feb. 11), as the rap diva kicked things off with a sold-out show at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. she sure delivered.
The rapper packed 37 songs into her nearly two-hour set, unfolding across several acts that featured her Am I the Drama? almost in its entirety. The first act saw Cardi debut fan favorites from her sophomore album, including “Salute,” “Check Please,” and “Trophies,” stacking the performances with sharp choreography alongside more than 15 onstage dancers.
But even if the tour title suggested it, Cardi made room for her biggest hits, too, including her verses from viral collaborations like Ozuna’s “La Modelo” and Bruno Mars’ “Please Me,” along with Invasion of Privacy classics such as “Bartier Cardi” and “Thru Your Phone.”
The Little Miss Drama Tour marks Cardi’s first-ever solo arena run and comes on the heels of her high-energy musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live — a strong indicator of what was to come with the show. Her SNL rendition of “Bodega Baddie” expanded into a full salsa- and merengue-backed act that was an immediate crowdpleaser. She made room for throwbacks and showed off her curvaceous figure as she slipped into six sexy, bedazzled outfits throughout the night.
Cardi will continue her Little Miss Drama arena tour later this week with shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, before continuing her cross-country trek through mid-April. Here are the seven best moments of opening night of Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert. (And if you want to check out the full setlist, check here.)
ICE on Fire
Before launching into “I Like It” during a Latinafied portion of the show, the rapper made her way up to an elevated, bridge-like platform, playfully singing “La Cucaracha” as she climbed. Once at the top, she scanned the arena. “Any Guatemalans? Any Mexicans?” she asked, before breaking into her best Selena impression: “Como la floooooor.” The Selena vocals were a clear callout to her Latino fans in the crowd, which she summoned earlier during “Taki Taki.” Then, in peak Cardi humor, she declared: “Bitch! If ICE comes in here, we gon’ jump they asses,” she said, prompting the packed crowd to explode in applause. “I’ve got some bear mace in the back! They ain’t taking my fans, b–ch.” The moment also stood in sharp contrast to her longtime rap foe Nicki Minaj, who has recently appeared alongside President Donald Trump at events, praising his policies and political approach.
Featured Features
A Cardi B verse has a way of turning an already buzzy track into a full hit. During the fifth act of her set, she carved out time to spotlight some of her most iconic guest appearances. She performed her verse from Rob49’s “On Dat Money” live for the first time, put that white boy on sazón with her bars on G-Eazy’s “No Limit,” and twerked her way through Blueface’s “Thotiana,” transporting the crowd back to 2018.
Honorable Mentions
If your favorite Cardi song didn’t make the setlist, the rapper made sure to include it during the interludes and the DJ set during the show. Before taking the stage to “Hello,” Invasion of Privacy’s “Get Up 10” backed an introduction video. After “WAP,” a DJ hyped the crowd with songs including 2017’s “Lick,” 2016’s “Foreva,” and Invasion’s “Bickenhead” and “Money Bag.” She even included her verse from Normani’s “Wild Side” as her raven kingdom-inspired visuals played onscreen.
Girl Like Her
At one point toward the end of the show, Cardi held back tears as she took the stage for Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You.” “I don’t want to get emotional,” she told the audience before the song. “I just want to tell you, don’t let nobody take your happiness from you.” Cardi then sat herself onto a floating throne decorated with metallic wings, as she hovered over the arena, and took in the view of the sold-out crowd as Adam Levine’s vocals played.
Caged Queen
Cardi’s stage design included a long runway that led to a B-stage, where she occasionally rose above the audience to deliver her rap verses. In the second act, she used the area to lean fully into the raven-themed theatrics of Am I the Drama?. Dressed in black lace and a dramatic veil, she emerged onstage to the tune of “Man of Your Word,” setting the moodier tone for the portion of the set. She followed it by performing “Be Careful” from Invasion of Privacy, the R&B-tinged “Ring” featuring Kehlani’s vocals and a touch of her hit “Folded,” and “Thru Your Phone,” dropping her bars from inside one of the night’s most fun set pieces: a raven cage that mirrored the imagery and themes of her latest album.
Latina Mami
Cardi dedicated her entire third act to her reggaetón and Latino-inspired discography, taking the stage in a sparkly orange and yellow, fringed bodysuit as she led the crowd in a chant of “Latinos! Latinos!” while performing her verse from the massive hit “Taki Taki.” Cardi was surrounded by her backup dancers in ultra-colorful outfits as she rocked through songs including “Bongos” and “Bodega Baddie,” before they surrounded her with the many flags of Latin America, calling to mind Bad Bunny’s unifying halftime show performance. The portion of the show even included a salsa dance number that could’ve easily been pulled from Dancing with the Stars.
‘Bodak Yellow’ Forever
It took 36 tracks before Cardi performed “Bodak Yellow,” the 2017 song that broke her through — and it was sure worth the wait. Dressed in a light-up superhero bodysuit that made her look like an Avenger, the rapper ending with the song that made her famous, closing off the night with back-to-back bangers and ultra-high energy. The buzzy nightcap felt like a final victory lap for Cardi on her biggest tour to date.
