The US singer was welcomed back to the city with huge cheers on Sunday night as she made a much-anticipated return at Mayfield Depot.

The 26-year-old poignantly opened her set with ‘no tears left to cry’ – the first single she released after the tragedy in May 2017.

She went on to delight fans with energetic performances of some of her biggest hits with a few swift costume changes in between.

At one point Ariana took her microphone stand to the centre of the stage to address the crowd.

“I just wanted to take a second to thank y’all so much for having me here tonight. For so many reasons,” she said.

Later the songstress drew roars of appreciation as she danced around with a rainbow flag after belting out hit song Break Free.

Ariana delighted fans with performances of her biggest hits at the event (Image: Getty Images for AG)

Before appearing in front of fans, Ariana took a moment to speak on the sense of occasion and shared a special message about how much the the northern city meant to her.

“Cant wait to give you all our love. You’re in my heart in every way,” she wrote on Instagram followed by three bee emojis.

Ariana had been asked to headline Manchester’s annual LGBTQ+ event this year and promised ‘something special’ after she missed out on performing in the city during her Sweetener tour.

The American pop star took to Instagam to share her message (Image: Instagram)

Her set had been expected to bring Manchester Pride to an emotional close as it’s only the second time Ariana has returned to the northern city since the fatal terrorist attack at her concert in 2017.

She last performed at charity gig One Love Manchester which she helped arrange to raise funds for victims of the bombing.

Twenty two people were killed on May 22 and another 50 injured after a bomb exploded in the foyer of Manchester Arena moments after Ariana left the stage on her Dangerous Woman tour.

Ariana performs during the One Love Manchester Benefit Concert (Image: Getty Images Europe)

In June 2018 the Thank U Next singer said she was suffering from anxiety and ‘signs of PTSD’ a year after the attack.

“Yeah, it’s a real thing. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well,” she told British Vogue.

“It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss … I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience – like I shouldn’t even say anything.

“I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”

The same year Ariana honoured her 22 fans by getting a Manchester bee tattoo inked behind her ear.

The worker bee symbolises the industriousness of the city and became a rallying point for tributes to the victims – even making its way into Coronation Street’s on-set memorial to the bombing.