Performing on an innovative stage built around two spherical video screens, the star focused on tracks from her recent albums Sweetener and thank u, next.
But she excluded two songs, Ghostin' and Imagine, that discuss her relationship with Mac Miller, who died of an accidental overdose last year.
Speaking at the soundcheck, Grande said Imagine was "too heavy" to play live.
However, she honoured her ex-boyfriend by playing his music as fans filtered into the Times Union Center in Albany, New York.