Brief
Rod Stewart announces final tour and retirement after heart surgery
The legendary singer said next year will be his last tour ever after a heart operation, scheduling a final run from Ireland to Germany.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Rod Stewart, 81, confirmed that the 2026 tour will be his last after undergoing a coronary stent procedure this summer. The singer, who had an unknown underlying heart issue that led to a blockage, had to cancel the remainder of his US tour last month and was advised to take four weeks off from performing.
In a clip posted on Monday, Stewart said, "After much deliberation and sadness I have to announce that next year will be my last tour forever ever." He thanked fans for their support and announced the dates for his "Final Encore Tour," which will begin in April in Ireland and finish on 24 July in Germany.
The tour will include UK and Ireland dates with support from Howard Jones, and will see Stewart perform in cities such as Manchester, London, Berlin and Prague. He has already been on the road since March, but had to pull out of several shows in June due to an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal strain, and again after his heart surgery.
Tickets for the tour are available on the Fanclub presale, with general release on 2 October. Stewart’s spokesperson said doctors are pleased with his recovery and that he is doing very well, returning to normal daily activities.
Key facts
- Rod Stewart, 81, announced his retirement and final tour dates (dailymail.co.uk)
- He underwent a coronary stent procedure after a blockage was found (dailymail.co.uk)
- The Final Encore Tour will run from April in Ireland to 24 July in Germany (dailymail.co.uk)
- Howard Jones will support on UK and Ireland dates (dailymail.co.uk)
- Tickets go on sale 2 October (dailymail.co.uk)
Background
Felo News previously covered other high‑profile retirements, such as Katy Marchant’s Olympic sprint retirement and Laz Diaz’s MLB umpiring career, providing context on how athletes and entertainers transition out of public life.
Why it matters
The announcement marks the end of a six‑decade career for one of Britain’s most iconic singers, affecting fans, venues and the music industry.
What happens next
Tickets for the tour are on sale, with the first show scheduled for April in Ireland and the final performance on 24 July in Germany.
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Rod Stewart, 81, announces his retirement after six decades on stage”
