Roxette

2026 marks 40 years since Roxette released their debut album Pearls of Passion, launching one of the most successful international careers in Swedish pop history. Simultaneously, Roxette’s classic hit "It Must Have Been Love" has reached a new milestone, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify.

Roxette will be celebrating this milestone with a stop at the Greek Theatre on October 5. Tickets go on sale May 29 at 10 AM via Ticketmaster.

With timeless hits such as "The Look," "Listen to Your Heart," "It Must Have Been Love" and "Joyride" Roxette has been established as one of the world's most beloved pop bands since the late 1980s. As "It Must Have Been Love" joins the Spotify Billions Club, Roxette becomes, alongside ABBA, the only Swedish acts with songs released before the 2000s to enter this exclusive club.

Roxette has made a profound impact on global pop history with over 80 million albums sold and countless number-one hits across Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia. Artists Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson’s breakthrough as Roxette in 1989 made them one of the few acts from a non-English speaking country to conquer the American charts, an achievement that remains groundbreaking. Roxette is the Swedish act with the most number-one hits - four in total - on the US Billboard chart.

"I am a very proud father of 'It Must Have Been Love,' and the fact that it has now passed one billion streams is a bit hard to take in. It was written on the piano in the attic in Halmstad and was a bit difficult for me to sing, but when Marie took hold of it, it sounded magical immediately. Clarence Öfwerman's sparse production also ensured that the melody, lyrics, and Marie's fantastic vocals were maximized," recalls Per Gessle.

"It Must Have Been Love" continues to reach new milestones on other platforms as well; for instance, the music video is also approaching one billion views on YouTube.

During the anniversary year of 2026, several projects are planned, including remastered music videos, remixes, new reissues and deep dives into the band's archives, where previously unreleased material and historical recordings will be presented.

As one of the most successful musical exports in history, Roxette played a decisive role in cementing Sweden’s reputation as a global pop powerhouse. Their incredible song catalog continues to find new listeners worldwide, more than 40 years after it all began. The 2026 anniversary will therefore not only be a tribute to Roxette's history, but also a celebration of their continued significance on the global pop scene.

As part of the anniversary, Per Gessle continues to tour the world with Roxette's music alongside singer Lena Philipsson.