Janet Jackson is celebrating four decades of Control with a special live concert that will be filmed for a new movie, giving fans around the world the opportunity to experience one of the most important albums of her career in a completely new way.

The pop and R&B icon will headline the Control 40 Live Concert at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on December 12, 2026. The performance will be filmed for Janet Jackson: Control 40 -The Airtab Music Movie, which is being positioned for a global theatrical release before eventually arriving on major streaming platforms.

Janet Is Taking Fans Back to the Control Era

Originally released on February 4, 1986, Control represented a major turning point in Janet Jackson’s career.

The album transformed her from a member of the Jackson family into a fully established solo superstar, with songs including “Control,” “Nasty,” “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “When I Think of You” and “Let’s Wait Awhile.”

The project became Janet’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, while five of its singles reached the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Four decades later, Jackson is returning to that era with an entirely new production.

A New Show, New Costumes and a Look Behind the Album

Jackson recently revealed that the anniversary concert will feature new costumes, a new stage and a glimpse into the making of Control.

She also teased that every song from the landmark album will receive “a little bit of love” during the performance, suggesting fans can expect a set built heavily around the record rather than a conventional career retrospective.

The concert will also incorporate songs from across Jackson’s career, including major hits such as “Miss You Much,” “Escapade,” “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” “If,” “Again,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Together Again” and “All for You.”

The Concert Will Become a Movie

The December performance won’t simply be another Janet Jackson concert.

It will be captured using a cinematic, multi-camera production directed by Leslie Small, with additional behind-the-scenes material planned for the finished film.

The resulting project, Janet Jackson: Control 40 -The Airtab Music Movie, is currently being positioned for worldwide theatrical release, followed by distribution through major streaming platforms.

That gives fans who cannot attend the Florida performance an opportunity to eventually experience the celebration on screen.

A Milestone for One of Janet’s Most Important Albums

Control remains one of the defining albums of Janet Jackson’s career and a landmark project in contemporary R&B and pop music.

Its themes of independence, confidence and personal control became central to Jackson’s artistic identity. The album also helped establish the creative partnership between Jackson and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, which would become one of the most influential collaborations in pop and R&B.

Four decades later, the album’s influence continues to be felt across generations of artists.

Janet’s Legacy Takes Center Stage

The Control 40 celebration also arrives during a major period for Jackson, who continues to perform for audiences around the world and revisit different chapters of her extensive catalogue.

Rather than simply reissuing the album for its anniversary, Jackson is giving Control a new life through a large-scale visual and live production.

The concert film will also allow her to connect the album’s legacy with the music that followed it, from Rhythm Nation 1814 through some of her biggest later hits.

When Is Control 40 Happening?

The special live performance is scheduled for:

Date: December 12, 2026

Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida

Film: Janet Jackson: Control 40 – The Airtab Music Movie

Director: Leslie Small

Release: Planned global theatrical release, followed by streaming distribution

Tickets for the live event have already gone on sale, with the arena also creating a special VIP floor experience for the occasion.

Four Decades Later, Janet Is Still in Control

For Janet Jackson, Control was about finding her voice and taking ownership of her career.

Forty years later, she is returning to that same moment with a production designed to preserve it for another generation.

With new costumes, a new stage, behind-the-scenes footage and a full concert film planned for global audiences, Control 40 is shaping up to be much more than an anniversary show.

It is a celebration of the album that changed Janet Jackson’s career and the beginning of a new visual chapter for one of music’s most enduring icons.