Rush are back and have announced a reunion tour across North America that’s set to kick off next year – find out more below.
- READ MORE: Neil Peart obituary, 1952-2020: The Professor of drums who weaved fantasy into rock
The legendary Canadian prog rock band last performed together for a farewell tour in 2015 playing 35 headline shows across North America, having formed over four decades prior. Drummer Neil Peart died from brain cancer in early 2020, aged 67.
Last night (October 6), Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson shocked fans by taking to social media to announced that they were getting the band back together for a series of shows in 2026. In a clip, Lee and Lifeson are seen jamming in Geddy’s home studio, before Geddy says: “After 2015, it was a very quiet and sad period. And when I think back to the tribute concerts for Taylor Hawkins, we went out on stage and played our songs for the first time in a long time. There was a special feeling attached to that. Bittersweet because of obvious reasons.”
“When we started jamming again down here, it felt like a continuation of that moment. You were getting even more excited than I was. And that’s what’s put us in this terrible situation,” Lee joked with a smile. “We have to announce that we’ve made a decision to go back on tour.”
Alex Lifeson turns to the camera and says cheerfully: “Hi, we’re going back on tour! So we’ll see you soon! I think it’s great. We’re musician and we’re players and our music is special.”
Later on in the clip, the musicians confirmed that each show will feature a tribute to late drummer Neil Peart: “It’s gonna be beautiful to be able to celebrate him every single night.”
As for who will be taking over the drum throne, Lee announced: “How do we replace someone who is irreplaceable? I have heard from Scully, my bass tech, who had been on tour with Jeff Beck. And he had been working with this drummer named Anikka Nilles and he mentioned how impressive she was, how talented and musical she was. And powerful.”
“I think you and I playing with her started to put a charge in us, when we heard those songs come back to life. It was only once we had those successful rehearsal sessions with her, that made me feel like ‘Yes, we can do this. We can do justice to this and it’s going to be fun.’”
Lee – who also sings in the band, and occasionally plays the keyboards and other instruments onstage – also suggested that he would like to focus on his vocals and bass playing for the upcoming run: “I think we will find ourselves adding more members on stage, maybe a keyboard player… I think for songs like ‘Tom Sawyer’, it will be important for me to play those signature keyboard parts.”
The reunion tour is dubbed ‘Fifty Something’, and will celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary. So far, dates have been announced only for North America, beginning with two shows in Los Angeles in June 2026. Other stops include Fort Worth, Toronto, Mexico City, Chicago, Cleveland and New York.
Fans can now sign up for the Rush artist pre-sale until October 9 at 11:59pm ET, with the pre-sale itself beginning on October 13. General tickets go on sale October 17. You can get your tickets here.
Rush’s ‘Fifty Something’ 2026 reunion tour dates are:
JUNE
07 – Los Angeles, CA – KIA Forum
09 – Los Angeles, CA – KIA Forum
18 – Mexico City, MX – Palacio de los Deportes
24 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
26 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
JULY
16 – Chicago, IL – United Center
18 – Chicago, IL – United Center
28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
AUGUST
07 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
09 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
SEPTEMBER
17 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena
Rush’s comeback tour announcement comes after Lifeson seemingly ruled out a reunion earlier this year after reflecting on their performances at Taylor Hawkins’ tribute concerts: “The energy was fantastic around that show, I know, and some days I wake up wanting to go out and tour again and some days I don’t. For forty years Rush included Neil, and I don’t think putting some new version together would have the same magic.”
“But after a few weeks that wore off and it occurred to me that despite all the pain of loss, Rush went out on a high note playing as well as ever with one of our best stage shows on R40. I guess I’d rather be remembered for that legacy than returning as the top Rush tribute band.”
