Rod Stewart announces 'The Final Encore' — says 2027 tour will be his last run of shows on the road

# What happened Sir Rod Stewart announced "The Final Encore" tour on 28 September 2026, saying the 2027 run will be his last extended tour. In messages to fans — including a written note to his "dear friends" and a video — the 81-year-old said the time had come to "say farewell to life on the road" after more than six decades of performing.

# What he said Stewart wrote that he has been singing since he was 19 and that touring has given him "a life beyond anything I could ever have imagined." He asked fans to join him so he can thank them "the best way I know how… with the music and one hell of a show." In a video message he added that he is "not retiring" but that next year will be "my last tour for ever, ever" and clarified it will be his last rock-and-roll tour.

# UK dates announced The announcement includes five UK arena shows in spring 2027:

• Belfast — 27 April 2027
• Glasgow — 29 April 2027
• Birmingham — 4 May 2027
• Manchester — 6 May 2027
• London — 11 May 2027

The announcement lists a broader European leg with shows in multiple cities across the continent (Dublin, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Rattvik, Trondheim, Bergen, Budapest, Munich, Pula, Prague, Krakow and Hannover).

# Tickets and timings A fan pre-sale is scheduled for 29 September, and general ticket sales will begin on Friday 2 October. These are the dates provided with the tour announcement.

# Health and recent cancellations Stewart cancelled the remaining dates on his US tour the month before this announcement after undergoing a coronary stent operation. The final-tour announcement follows that medical episode and his subsequent recovery.

# What this means for fans If you want to see Stewart on a large-scale arena tour, this is billed as the last extended opportunity to catch him on the road. He has not ruled out one-off performances in the future, but he described this run as his final touring cycle. Prospective attendees should note the fan pre-sale and public sale dates if they want priority access.

# Practical takeaways

• Verify exact venues and ticketing channels (official box offices, venue websites, or authorized sellers) before purchasing.
• If you plan to use the fan pre-sale on 29 September, check whether fan-club registration or a code is required.
• Expect arena-scale production and a set drawing on his decades of hits, based on Stewart's promise to "thank you the best way I know how… with the music and one hell of a show."

# Closing note Stewart framed the tour as a personal farewell to life on the road while stressing he will keep singing. The dates and sale timetable give fans concrete windows to secure tickets for what he calls The Final Encore.