featuring @janetjackson
Janet Jackson is celebrating one of the most important albums of her career in a major way, with her upcoming Control 40th anniversary concert set to be filmed for a theatrical release.
The pop icon has announced that her special concert celebrating the landmark 1986 album will take place on December 12, 2026, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The event will not simply be a one-night celebration for those lucky enough to be in the arena, however, as Jackson has confirmed that the performance will be captured for a global motion picture event.
Jackson revealed the news in a social media video, teasing fans before announcing that the highly anticipated concert would be filmed for the big screen.
The show, officially titled Janet Jackson: Control 40 – Four Decades of Hits, is expected to celebrate the enduring influence of the album while also showcasing Jackson’s wider career. According to the announcement, fans can expect new costumes, a look back at the making of Control, and performances that pay tribute to the album’s complete tracklist.
Released in February 1986, Control represented a major turning point for Jackson. The album transformed her from a promising young performer into a global superstar and produced some of her most recognisable songs, including “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “Nasty,” “The Pleasure Principle,” and “Control.”
The album also marked the beginning of Jackson’s hugely influential creative partnership with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, helping establish the distinctive blend of pop, R&B, funk and dance music that would define much of her subsequent career.
Four decades later, the songs remain a major part of Jackson’s live shows. Tracks from Control have appeared throughout her career, including on tours such as the Rhythm Nation World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, Rock Witchu Tour and her more recent Together Again performances.
The upcoming anniversary concert promises to give longtime fans an opportunity to experience the era again while introducing the album’s legacy to a new generation.
Jackson has also suggested that the event will be about more than simply recreating the past, with the production expected to feature fresh visual elements and costumes alongside stories and insight into the making of Control.
The decision to film the performance for cinemas adds another significant chapter to Jackson’s relationship with concert films and televised performances. Her elaborate live productions have long been recognised for their combination of choreography, music, fashion and theatrical staging.
While details surrounding the eventual theatrical release have yet to be announced, the December performance will provide the foundation for what is being positioned as a global cinematic event.
For Janet Jackson fans, the 40th anniversary of Control is shaping up to be a celebration worthy of the album’s enormous legacy — and this time, audiences around the world will have the opportunity to experience it on the big screen.
