WASHINGTON (7NEWS) — The nation’s capital turned into a holiday hit parade as the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball took over Capital One Arena Tuesday, bringing some of the biggest names in music to downtown Washington, D.C.
The annual concert — part of iHeartRadio’s nationwide Jingle Ball tour — featured a star-studded lineup that crossed genres and generations. Fans packed the arena to see performances from Nelly, Jelly Roll, AJR, Zara Larsson, MONSTA X, and rock heavyweights Shinedown, making it one of the most anticipated live music events of the season.
The nation’s capital turned into a holiday hit parade as the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball took over Capital One Arena Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, bringing some of the biggest names in music to downtown Washington, D.C. (7News)
The Jingle Ball tour stops in major cities across the country each year and has become a holiday tradition, blending chart-topping artists with festive energy as the year winds down.
Shinedown Reflects on D.C. Connection
Ahead of their performance, 7News caught up with Shinedown on the red carpet, where the multi-platinum band spoke about what it means to take the stage in Washington — a city they say holds deep personal significance.
Lead vocalist Brent Smith highlighted the band’s long-standing relationship with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), an organization Shinedown has worked with for more than a decade.
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“We’ve also been working with the AFSP here in D.C. for over 14 years — the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” Smith said. “We were here in October — they are an incredible organization, so that kind of holds a lot of our heart here.”
Smith also emphasized the band’s long history with local fans.
“The people of D.C. have always been with us for 20-plus years,” he added. “We’ve got nothing but love for this town.”
The nation’s capital turned into a holiday hit parade as the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball took over Capital One Arena Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, bringing some of the biggest names in music to downtown Washington, D.C. (7News)
A Boost for the District
Beyond the music, the concert delivered an economic lift for the city. With thousands of fans descending on downtown D.C., restaurants, hotels, bars, and Metro trains saw a surge in traffic as concertgoers made a night of it in the District.
Major live events like Jingle Ball are a key driver of tourism during the holiday season, drawing both local fans and visitors from across the region. As the final notes rang out inside Capital One Arena, the message was clear — iHeartRadio Jingle Ball once again delivered big performances, big crowds, and a big boost for the city, closing out the year with music, meaning, and holiday spirit.
