Bruce Springsteen Opens 2026 Minneapolis Tour: Every Song He’s Played in First Show

No musician at the level of Bruce Springsteen’s commercial success, artistic endurance and popularity has ever spoken as much when it comes to President Donald Trump’s ICE operation in Minnesota. In separate incidents in January, ICE agents shot and killed two US citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) in Minneapolis. Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis” protest song came out days after Pretti’s murder at the hands of ICE agents. The Trump administration was quick to portray Good and Pretti as domestic terrorists without providing evidence; Eyewitness accounts and videos of both killings appeared to tell a different story than that presented by the federal government. “Their statement was self-defense, sir, don’t believe what you see,” Springsteen sings in the song. “It is our blood and our bones and whistles and calls against it [Stephen] Miller and [Kristi] Call it dirty groin.”

The 20-time Grammy winner gave “Streets of Minneapolis” its debut at the famous First Avenue venue during Tom Morello’s fundraiser for the Pretti and Good families (mother of three) on January 30 and returned to it on March 28 at the No Kings Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, in front of the Minnesota State Capitol.

On Tuesday (March 31) night, Springsteen continued his advocacy for the Minnesota protest by kicking off his Land of Hopes and American Dreams tour at the Target Center in Minneapolis. An artist of his stature has more than his fair share of Billboard Hot 100 hits, radio standbys and deep hits to choose from for a set list, but in the face of all that Minnesotans are facing in 2026, it seemed as if the “Boss” opening night list would be more politically skewed than usual – as it did, but it was filled with an amazing crowd.

Below, check out Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s opening night set for the Land of Hopes and Dreams American Tour, which featured Tom Morello as a guest on several songs. For a recap of the best moments (including Prince’s cover), click here. And to see how residents feel about Springsteen’s protest song and advocacy, head here.