The Weeknd went from anonymous uploads on YouTube to one of the biggest artists in the world. With "Blinding Lights" rewriting the chart record books and a stadium tour breaking records for a male solo artist, Abel Tesfaye has become a defining voice of modern pop and R&B.
His After Hours til Dawn Tour, which began in 2022, rolled on through 2026, including six straight sold-out nights at the Stade de France in Paris. At the end of 2025 he also became the first artist on Spotify with thirty songs past a billion streams. Find more stars in our R&B music collection.
The Weeknd Fact File
| Full name | Abel Tesfaye (born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 February 1990 (age 36) |
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor |
| Years active | 2009-present |
| Genres | R&B, pop, synth-pop |
| Labels | XO, Republic Records |
| Signature song | "Blinding Lights" (2019) |
| Stage name | The Weeknd |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key releases |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | XO | Mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, Echoes of Silence |
| 2013 | XO / Republic | Kiss Land |
| 2015-2016 | XO / Republic | Beauty Behind the Madness, Starboy |
| 2020-2022 | XO / Republic | After Hours, Dawn FM |
| 2025 | XO / Republic | Hurry Up Tomorrow |
The table shows his three 2011 mixtapes and six studio albums. Hurry Up Tomorrow debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Early Years in Toronto
Abel Tesfaye was born in Toronto to Ethiopian immigrant parents and grew up in the city's Scarborough area. He began posting songs online anonymously under the name The Weeknd, letting the music do the talking while fans tried to work out who was behind it.
In 2011 he released three mixtapes, House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence. Their hazy, moody sound turned heads across the industry, and he co-founded his own label, XO, before signing with Republic Records.
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Starboy and the Breakthrough
His debut studio album Kiss Land arrived in 2013, but it was Beauty Behind the Madness (2015) that made him a household name, thanks to hits such as "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills". Starboy (2016), with its title track featuring Daft Punk, cemented his place at the top of pop.
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Blinding Lights and After Hours
Then came After Hours in 2020 and "Blinding Lights", a retro synth-pop smash that became the best-performing song in Billboard Hot 100 history. It spent 90 weeks on the chart, the longest run by a solo artist, and was the first song to stay in the top ten for a full year. In February 2021 he headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show.
Dawn FM (2022) continued the concept, and the After Hours til Dawn Tour went on to set the record for the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist.
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Hurry Up Tomorrow and Beyond
In January 2025 he released Hurry Up Tomorrow, the album completing his trilogy, which debuted at number one in the US. A companion film of the same name, co-starring Jenna Ortega, followed in May 2025. He has also begun moving away from the stage name, legally simplifying his own name to Abel Tesfaye in 2024.
Awards
Music
- Four Grammy Awards
- "Blinding Lights": best-performing song in Billboard Hot 100 history
- First Spotify artist with thirty songs over a billion streams (December 2025)
Live
- Super Bowl LV halftime headliner (2021)
- After Hours til Dawn Tour: highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist
Charts
- Hurry Up Tomorrow: number one debut on the Billboard 200 (2025)
Away From the Spotlight
Since 2021 he has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme, and he has spoken publicly in support of racial equality and food security.
FAQs
How old is The Weeknd?
The Weeknd was born on 16 February 1990, which makes him 36 years old.
What is The Weeknd's real name?
His real name is Abel Tesfaye. He was born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye and removed his middle name in 2024.
Where is The Weeknd from?
He was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, to Ethiopian immigrant parents.
How many albums has The Weeknd released?
He has released six studio albums, from Kiss Land (2013) to Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025), plus three 2011 mixtapes.
How many Grammys has The Weeknd won?
He has won four Grammy Awards.
What record does Blinding Lights hold?
"Blinding Lights" is the best-performing song in Billboard Hot 100 history and spent 90 weeks on the chart.
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Discover more in our R&B music collection and pop music collection, or create your own custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Michael Jackson: The King of Pop and Usher Career Story.
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