Canadian prog-rock legends **Rush** have officially announced their return to the stage with a 2026 reunion tour entitled *Fifty Something*, the band’s first full-scale outing since their 2015 **R40 Live** run.
This tour marks a historic shift: it will be the first time Rush performs live without their longtime drummer and lyricist **Neil Peart**, who passed away in 2020. ([AP News][1]) Filling his formidable shoes will be **Anika Nilles**, a German drummer and composer celebrated for her technical facility and expressive playing.
Founding members **Geddy Lee** and **Alex Lifeson**—both now in their early 70s—announced that the tour is a celebration of over fifty years of Rush’s music. The project has their full emotional conviction. “It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of Rush alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil,” Lee stated, adding that “we … came to the decision that we … miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of Rush music.”
Originally announced with seven dates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the *Fifty Something* tour has since been expanded to 23 dates due to overwhelming fan demand, with additional shows added in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Toronto, Fort Worth, and Cleveland. The tour will kick off June 7, 2026, at the **Kia Forum** in Los Angeles—the same venue where the band closed their 2015 run—and conclude in September in Cleveland.
Lee and Lifeson have also signaled that additional supporting musicians may be brought in to enrich the live sound. ([AP News][1]) Meanwhile, Peart’s widow and daughter expressed their support for the tour, emphasizing that this new chapter is a heartfelt tribute to Neil’s musical legacy. ([AP News][1])
If you like, I can also pull together a full list of tour dates, venues, and what to watch for in the set list. Would you like me to do that?
