Surprise: Rush Is Back and touring

After a decade away from the stage, Rush stunned fans Sunday night by announcing a 2026 reunion tour, paying tribute to late drummer Neil Peart and welcoming acclaimed German drummer Anika Nilles to the lineup, Variety reports. Band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed the “Fifty Something” tour, celebrating Rush’s five-decade legacy and Peart’s life, with Nilles taking over drumming duties.

The tour launches with two shows in June at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum—the site of Rush’s 2015 final concert—before stopping in seven North American cities, including extended visits to Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Toronto, concluding in Cleveland on Sept. 17.

The announcement came during a private Rock & Roll Hall of Fame event, catching fans and media by surprise. Lee and Lifeson acknowledged the emotional weight of touring without Peart, the band’s lyricist, who passed away from glioblastoma in 2020. “How do you replace someone who is irreplaceable?” Lee said. Still, revisiting their classic catalog helped lift the “dark clouds,” and Peart’s family has given their blessing, calling the tour a fitting tribute.

While marathon sets of three-plus hours aren’t expected, fans can anticipate over two hours of music, spanning a “vast selection” of songs, Lee said. Nilles, who has performed with Jeff Beck, first impressed the band during casual jams in Canada arranged through Lee’s bass tech. She quickly proved capable of handling Rush’s complex and demanding repertoire.

The band plans to add a keyboardist and possibly other musicians to broaden their sound, allowing Lee and Lifeson to show off some “fancy dance steps,” as Lee joked. “It’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music,” he added. Pre-sale ticket registration begins Thursday, with full details available via USA Today.

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