Madonna announced her new tour, the “Sticky and Sweet” world tour, following the success of her 11th studio album “Hard Candy,” which topped the charts in 27 countries. The Madonna 2008 “Sticky and Sweet” world tour starts in Cardiff, Wales, on August 23 with stops in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Britain during August and September 2008

***UPDATE: See Video & Photos: Madonna Sticky and Sweet Tour Kicks off in Wales 8-23-08

The European leg includes performances at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 11 and Paris’s Stade de France on September 20.

It moves to North America on October 3 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden followed by performances in Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles before ending at Miami Dolphin Stadium on November 26th.

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The U.S. singer will once again team up with music tour and promotion company Live Nation, with which she signed a recording and touring contract last year.

The 10-year deal, reported to be worth $120 million, involves a three-album commitment and brought her long-term collaboration with Warner Brothers to an end.

It was an example of the so-called “360-degree deal” which is increasingly popular in a music business struggling to make money just selling records. The agreements typically involve publishing, touring and merchandising as well as recording.

“Hard Candy”, Madonna’s 11th and last studio album with Warner, debuted at number one in 27 countries including the United States, Britain and Japan.

Madonna’s 2006 “Confessions” tour was the highest grossing concert tour of all time by a female artist with ticket sales of just under $195 million.

Tickets to some of the “Sticky & Sweet” concerts will go on sale from May 16.

Source: Madonna tour kicks off in Cardiff in August

Photos from Madonna’s April 30, 2008 Roseland Ballroom New York City Concert.

Here are the “Sticky and Sweet” world tour dates:

23-Aug – Cardiff Millennium Stadium – Fri. May 16
26-Aug – Nice Stade Charles Ehrmann – Fri. May 16
28-Aug – Berlin Olympic Stadium – Wed. May 21
02-Sept – Amsterdam Arena – Sat. May 17
04-Sept – Dusseldorf LTU Arena – Wed. May 21
06-Sept – Rome Olympic Stadium – Fri. May 23
09-Sept – Frankfurt Commerzbank Arena – Wed. May 21
11-Sept – London Wembley Stadium – Fri. May 16
20-Sept – Paris Stade de France – Fri. May 16
03-Oct – E. Rutherford Izod Center – Mon. May 19
06-Oct – New York City Madison Square Garden – Mon. May 19
07-Oct – New York City Madison Square Garden – Mon. May 19
15-Oct – Boston TD BankNorth Garden – Sat. May 17
18-Oct – Toronto Air Canada Centre – Sat. May 24
22-Oct – Montreal Bell Centre – Sat. May 24
26-Oct – Chicago United Center – Sat. May 17
30-Oct – Vancouver BC Place Stadium – Sat. May 24
01-Nov – Oakland Oracle Arena – Sun. June 1
04-Nov – San Diego Petco Park – Sun. June 1
06-Nov – Los Angeles Dodger Stadium – Sun. June 1
08-Nov – Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena – Sat. May 31
11-Nov – Denver Pepsi Center – Sat. May 31
16-Nov – Houston Minute Maid Park – Sat. May 31
19-Nov – Philadelphia Wachovia Center – Mon. June 2
22-Nov – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall – Mon. June 2
24-Nov – Atlanta Philips Arena – Sat. May 31
26-Nov – Miami Dolphin Stadium – Sat. May 31

Source: Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet” Tour – Official Press Release

That’s the latest news on the Madonna “Stick and Sweet” world tour. Additional tour dates will be announced.