Hottest Tickets: Everything You Need To Know About Rush's Fifty Something Tour
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Written by Stereoboard
Photo: Richard Sibbald
Rush have announced a fresh batch of dates for their Fifty Something Tour, with the prog icons poised to return to the road later this year amid great fanfare. As the race for tickets for their UK and European shows hots up this week, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know about one of 2026’s most eye-catching comebacks.
Why is the Rush reunion such a big deal?
Well, we’re talking about one of the most storied rock bands of all time, for starters. Formed in Toronto by guitarist Alex Lifeson in the late ‘60s, Rush rapidly evolved into a fearlessly creative force built around virtuosic playing and bassist Geddy Lee’s otherworldly voice, which was both a vehicle for melody and a vessel for some mind-expanding lyrics penned by drummer Neil Peart. Having joined the group following the release of their first LP, recorded with original sticksman John Rutsey, Peart became the fulcrum around which Rush’s music turned — his drum solos became centrepieces of live shows, while his esoteric writing gave the band’s increasingly proggy music a more fantastical edge.
At their best, Rush were the combination of three searching creative people operating at peak performance, with Lifeson’s pyrotechnic-yet-characterful playing underpinned by Peart’s multisyllabic drumming and Lee’s unique combination of wandering bass and idiosyncratic vocals. So, when Peart retired in 2015, it made sense for the whole thing to go with him. That only became more apparent with his death in 2020 from cancer. But the continuing pull of Rush’s music, and the esteem in which Peart’s memory is held by Lee and Lifeson, makes their comeback one of the more heartening spectacles in recent rock history — a celebration of what they achieved together even though they’ll now always be apart.
Sounds interesting. Where should I start?
Released in 1976, ‘2112’ is perhaps the most significant record in Rush’s discography, but it’s not the easiest to get along with if you’re a prog rube. It represents one of those rare occasions when responding to a commercial dip with something less approachable, and more ambitious, worked wonders. Its title track, comprising seven parts, 20 minutes and whole side of vinyl, pulls together the scope of their vision perfectly, but it’s certainly not the most concise access point for a newbie.
For that, you might consider The Spirit of Radio — a perfect radio-ready rock song that represents Rush operating at the other end of the spectrum entirely — but for something that manages to split the difference, look no further than Tom Sawyer. There’s a reason that a lot of folks consider it to be the band’s signature song. The first cut on their 1981 mega-album ‘Moving Pictures’ is both full-bore prog and also entirely accessible, orbiting earworm hooks, a sensational Lifeson solo, Peart in full flight and lyrics (co-written with Pye Dubois of the band Max Webster) that square literary history with a portentous glimpse into a scary future thanks to lines such as, “No, his mind is not for rent to any god or government.” It’s all the competing strands of Rush’s brilliance tied together in four minutes and change.
Who’s playing drums?
For a long while, this was the burning question preventing Rush from getting back out there. One does not simply replace Neil Peart. Even Dave Grohl, that paragon of modern drumming, who inducted the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, considered the job to be well beyond his talents. “His power, precision, and composition was incomparable. He was called ‘The Professor’ for a reason: We all learned from him,” he wrote upon Peart’s passing.
Lifeson has spoken in the past about getting emails from prospective drummers almost immediately after Peart’s death – that’s not cool, but it does speak to the fact that whoever steps up is going to be walking on hallowed ground. It took a tip from Lee’s old bass tech to find the right person: Anika Nilles, who had been touring with Jeff Beck.
Nilles is, in many ways, the perfect modern drummer. She has insane chops, social media clout and also a bone-deep love for the discipline that has crossed over from solo instrumental collections to work as an educator. “There’s no drummer in the world who thinks he or she could ever become the drummer for Rush, and when you get a call from one of the Rush band members, your world is turned upside down,” she recently told Slagwerkkrant, a Dutch drumming magazine. That’s an understatement, but there is no higher bar to clear than getting the approval of Lee and Lifeson, who are so keen to preserve Peart’s legacy. This should be fun.
Where can I see Rush?
Their Fifty Something Tour, comprising two career-spanning sets per night to cover five decades in the game, is poised to get underway this summer in Los Angeles, beginning with a multi-night stand at the Kia Forum. From there they’ll tour the United States, Canada and Mexico for the remainder of 2026, including hometown shows in Toronto during August. The run has also recently been expanded to include new dates, beginning in Argentina on January 15 before they hit Europe in February, returning to the continent for the first time since 2013.
From February 19 to April 10, they’ll call in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland alongside UK arena gigs in Glasgow, Manchester and London, with new dates already being added due to demand. Tickets for their South American, UK and European shows go on general sale at 10am local time on February 27.
Alongside Lee, Lifeson and Nilles the tour will feature keys from Loren Gold, who has played with everyone from Hilary Duff to The Who.
Rush Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun June 07 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Tue June 09 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Thu June 11 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Sat June 13 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Wed June 24 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena (USA)
Fri June 26 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena (USA)
Sun June 28 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena (USA)
Tue June 30 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena (USA)
Thu July 16 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Fri July 17 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Sat July 18 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Mon July 20 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Wed July 22 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Tue July 28 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Thu July 30 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Sat August 01 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Mon August 03 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Fri August 07 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Sun August 09 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Tue August 11 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Thu August 13 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Fri August 21 2026 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Xfinity Mobile Arena (USA)
Sun August 23 2026 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Xfinity Mobile Arena (USA)
Wed August 26 2026 - DETROIT Michigan - Little Caesars Arena (USA)
Fri August 28 2026 - DETROIT Michigan - Little Caesars Arena (USA)
Wed September 02 2026 - MONTREAL Quebec - Centre Bell (Canada)
Fri September 04 2026 - MONTREAL Quebec - Centre Bell (Canada)
Sat September 12 2026 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA)
Mon September 14 2026 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA)
Thu September 17 2026 - CLEVELAND Ohio - Rocket Arena (USA)
Sat September 19 2026 - CLEVELAND Ohio - Rocket Arena (USA)
Wed September 23 2026 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Frost Bank Center (USA)
Fri September 25 2026 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Frost Bank Center (USA)
Mon October 05 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Ball Arena (USA)
Wed October 07 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Ball Arena (USA)
Sat October 10 2026 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA)
Mon October 12 2026 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA)
Thu October 15 2026 - SAN JOSE California - SAP Center at San Jose (USA)
Sat October 17 2026 - SAN JOSE California - SAP Center at San Jose (USA)
Sun October 25 2026 - WASHINGTON District Of Columbia - Capital One Arena (USA)
Tue October 27 2026 - WASHINGTON District Of Columbia - Capital One Arena (USA)
Fri October 30 2026 - UNCASVILLE Connecticut - Mohegan Sun Arena (USA)
Sun November 01 2026 - UNCASVILLE Connecticut - Mohegan Sun Arena (USA)
Thu November 05 2026 - HOLLYWOOD Florida - Hard Rock Live (USA)
Sat November 07 2026 - HOLLYWOOD Florida - Hard Rock Live (USA)
Mon November 09 2026 - TAMPA Florida - Benchmark International Arena (USA)
Wed November 11 2026 - TAMPA Florida - Benchmark International Arena (USA)
Fri November 20 2026 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Spectrum Center (USA)
Sun November 22 2026 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Spectrum Center (USA)
Wed November 25 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena (USA)
Fri November 27 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena (USA)
Tue December 01 2026 - GLENDALE Arizona - Desert Diamond Arena (USA)
Thu December 03 2026 - GLENDALE Arizona - Desert Diamond Arena (USA)
Thu December 10 2026 - EDMONTON Alberta - Rogers Place (Canada)
Sat December 12 2026 - EDMONTON Alberta - Rogers Place (Canada)
Tue December 15 2026 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Thu December 17 2026 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Fri February 19 2027 - PARIS LA Defense Arena (France)
Sun February 21 2027 - BERLIN Uber Arena (Germany)
Tue February 23 2027 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Thu February 25 2027 - MUNICH Olympiahalle (Germany)
Sun February 28 2027 - COLOGNE Lanxess Arena (Germany)
Tue March 02 2027 - HAMBURG Barclays Arena (Germany)
Thu March 04 2027 - STUTTGART Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle (Germany)
Mon March 08 2027 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Fri March 12 2027 - MANCHESTER Co Op Live
Sun March 14 2027 - MANCHESTER Co Op Live
Tue March 16 2027 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu March 18 2027 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat March 27 2027 - KRAKOW Tauron Arena (Poland)
Tue March 30 2027 - MILAN Unipol Dome (Italy)
Thu April 01 2027 - BASEL St Jakobshalle Basel (Switzerland)
Sun April 04 2027 - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena (Denmark)
Tue April 06 2027 - OSLO Unity Arena (Norway)
Thu April 08 2027 - STOCKHOLM Avicii Arena (Sweden)
Sat April 10 2027 - HELSINKI Veikkaus Arena (Finland)
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