Ghost • February 10, 2026 • Delta Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
On February 10, 2026, fans clad in black robes, skeletal makeup, and elaborate outfits converged on the Delta Center for what was billed as one of the most anticipated experiences in modern rock. Swedish occult rock icons Ghost brought their Skeletour World Tour 2026 to Utah. What made this evening different from a typical concert was not just the draw of the music itself, but the ritualistic atmosphere Ghost has crafted around their live performances. It’s a spectacle that blurs the line between show and ceremony.
It was clear this would be an extraordinary event. The exterior of the venue, usually home to Jazz games and more mainstream concerts, had been transformed in spirit. Long lines of fans ranging from die-hard long-time devotees to people like me, a curious first-timer drawn by the band’s reputation, wove their way toward the entrances. Conversations ranged from excited speculation about the band’s set list to deep discussion about the meanings behind their latest album, Skeleta, which had recently topped mainstream rock charts and expanded Ghost’s global reach.
I was greeted not by the usual flood of cell phone flashes and social media documentation, but by an unusual silence. Ghost’s commitment to a phone-free experience meant that every fan’s personal device was secured in a pouch upon entry. I hate to admit it, but being without my phone initially left me feeling unsettled. “What if someone calls? Or emails? What if I miss an important text? I self-corrected my thoughts, remembering the “good old days” when all concerts were phone-free concerts. I threw my phone into its pouch and embraced the moment.
Without screens dividing attention, the crowd felt present and focused. Collectively primed for what many described as more than a typical rock show. The air of anticipation was a communal suspension of everyday life in favor of something larger, theatrical, and deeply emotional for many of the fans.
When the lights dimmed, an expectant hush fell over the arena. A spotlight pierced the shadows and revealed the band: Ghost’s enigmatic frontman, robed in elaborate papal vestments, stood flanked by his “Nameless Ghouls,” their identities concealed but their presence unmistakably powerful. With one opening chord, the air crackled with electricity. What followed was not merely a succession of songs, but a meticulously choreographed journey through sound, shadow, and spectacle.
The set list was an artful blend of material from Skeleta alongside a selection of fan favorites. Songs battered through walls of heavy guitar and resonant percussion, yet were tempered by melodies. Tracks seemed to take on new life inside the Delta Center. Hearing these songs live was a totally new experience. Pulsating through the arena’s acoustics and into the bones of everyone present. Each piece carried weight, some erupting in fierce intensity, others unfolding in eerie beauty, but all contributing to a narrative arc that held the audience in thrall from start to finish. I find this music so interesting. The subject matter can be dark, and well, yeah, very dark, yet the melodies set the tone at times of songs with a much lighter message. It’s a unique contrast.
It wasn’t just the music that captivated; it was Ghost’s stagecraft. Elaborate lighting sculpted the gloom, flickering like arcane symbols. Smoke and shadows danced across the stage, amplifying the mystique and drawing every eye forward. Throughout the performance, there was an almost ritualistic quality to the pacing, as if each song was a verse in a larger incantation. Audience and performers became part of the same shared experience, bound together in moments of thunderous applause, collective awe, and breathless silence. Headbanging could be spotted throughout the arena. I was impressed by the stamina.
By the final encore, the Delta Center felt less like the building that I had just seen the Harlem Globetrotters the night before and more like a shared crucible of energy. As the last chords of “Squared Hammer” resounded and the lights faded to black, the crowd lingered. They seemed reluctant to let go of something that had felt so rare and potent. Exiting into the cool Salt Lake City night, many fans wore expressions that mixed exhilaration, reflection, and connection, the marks of a performance that had transcended entertainment to become something more like collective catharsis.
This was my first time seeing Ghost. Utah Concert Review has had the fortunate opportunity to cover them multiple times now. I knew I had to be there to experience all that I had heard about. Ghost lived up to the hype. What a one-of-a-kind show.
