Iconic Canadian rock band Rush is hitting the road once again, and due to overwhelming fan demand, they’re going even further than originally planned.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and Grammy winners Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush have announced 17 additional dates, according to a statement from the band, for their upcoming 2026 “Fifty Something” tour, a celebration of their music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
The new shows, revealed Monday, will bring the tour to cities including Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Edmonton, Seattle and Vancouver. The newly announced dates come in response to swift sellouts of the initial seven-city run that was unveiled earlier this fall.
“We are blown away from the response to the announcement we made a few weeks ago that we’re going back on tour,” Lee and Lifeson said in a new video shared online. “We cannot tell you how surprising and overwhelmed we are and the way you guys have welcomed Anika Nilles. It’s been very heartwarming, and I know that she’s very appreciative of that. We’re even more excited to get back on stage and play with her.”
The “Fifty Something” tour will mark the first time Lee and Lifeson have toured together in more than a decade. Their last live performance as Rush took place on Aug. 1, 2015, at The Forum in Los Angeles, as part of the band’s R40 Tour. Fittingly, the 2026 tour will begin where the last one ended, with a return to The Kia Forum on June 7, 2026.
What to Expect From Rush’s 2026 Tour
These special “evening with” performances will feature two full sets each night, spanning a hand-curated setlist drawn from a 35-song catalog of Rush’s most beloved hits and deep cuts. The band has promised that each night’s show will have its own unique setlist, offering fans a fresh experience at every stop.
In what is sure to be one of the most talked-about elements of the tour, Lee and Lifeson will be joined by renowned German drummer Anika Nilles. Known for her technical prowess and recent stint as Jeff Beck’s drummer, Nilles steps into the massive shoes left by Peart, who died in 2020 following a private battle with brain cancer.
While no one could truly replace Peart, whose virtuosic drumming and introspective lyrics helped define Rush’s sound, Nilles brings both a fresh energy and deep respect for the legacy she’s now helping to carry forward.
Lee and Lifeson acknowledged the sensitivity around selecting a drummer to join them onstage. “Neil was one of a kind, and we would never seek to replace him,” Lee said in an earlier interview. “But we still have so much love for this music, and so many fans who want to hear it live again. Anika brings something new, while honoring everything that Neil stood for. She’s earned our trust and the fans’ respect.”
Fans eager to get tickets to the newly announced shows will have early access via the Rush Artist Presale, beginning Monday, Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. local time in both the U.S. and Canada. To sign up for presale access, fans can visit livemu.sc/rush before Thursday, Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. No code is needed, as presale access will be tied to the user’s account. The general public on sale will follow on Friday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m. local time.
So far, every show announced has sold out within hours, according to the band, pointing to the enduring appeal of Rush’s expansive catalog and their legendary musicianship. Since forming in Toronto in 1968, the band has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, with hits like “Tom Sawyer,” “The Spirit of Radio” and “Closer to the Heart” cementing their status as rock legends.
While Rush officially retired from touring in 2015, fans have long speculated about a possible return. Those hopes seemed dashed following Peart’s death. But the duo’s decision to hit the road once more, under a banner that celebrates their shared history and the unbreakable bond with their late bandmate, has been met with a wave of emotional fan support.
“This is not about starting over,” Lifeson said. “It’s about honoring what we’ve built and sharing it with the people who have stood by us all these years.”
The “Fifty Something” tour, as its name wryly suggests, nods to both the band’s age and their more than 50-year career. Lee and Lifeson, both in their early 70s, show no signs of slowing down, and their decision to return to the road has brought a fresh sense of purpose and gratitude to their storied legacy.
“We’re not the same guys we were in 1975, or even in 2015,” Lee said. “But the songs still mean something. And playing them live again, with a new energy, in front of fans who know every lyric, that’s a beautiful thing.”
A complete list of the 17 newly announced cities is expected to be posted on the band’s official website and ticketing pages in the coming days. Additional cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico are still to be revealed, according to a spokesperson.
For now, fans are marking their calendars, re-listening to classic albums like “Moving Pictures,” “2112” and “Hemispheres,” and preparing for a reunion few thought would happen, but many had long hoped for.
About Rush
Formed in Toronto in 1968, Rush became one of rock’s most respected and technically accomplished bands. With more than 40 million records sold worldwide, the band is known for its intricate compositions, philosophical lyrics and virtuosic performances. Rush was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. The band concluded its final tour in 2015 before the death of drummer Neil Peart in 2020.
Key Dates:
- Artist Presale Sign-Up Deadline: Thursday, Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Artist Presale Begins: Monday, Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. local time
- General Onsale: Friday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m. local time
Fans can sign up at Livemu.sc/rush for presale access. For more information, including a full list of tour dates, visit Rush.com.
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