Sir Rod Stewart has announced his final concert tour, declaring that six decades on stage will end with a 2027 farewell run across the UK and Europe.
The 81-year-old rock icon, born in London, will launch The Final Encore at Dublin’s 3Arena next year before continuing through multiple cities including Manchester. The announcement comes weeks after the singer underwent a heart procedure that forced him to cancel the remaining 11 dates of his US tour, including a six-date Las Vegas residency.
Stewart addressed fans directly in a statement released alongside the tour news, reflecting on a career that began when he was a teenager. “After more than six decades, The Final Encore will most definitely be my last,” he wrote. “I’ve been singing the music I love since I was 19 years old, and I’ve had the privilege of taking it around the world to all of you. It has given me a life beyond anything I could ever have imagined, and I hope I’ve given you some fond memories in return.”
The farewell shows promise to deliver the hits that made Stewart one of the best-selling performers in history, with a set list spanning “Maggie May,” “You Wear It Well,” “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “Hot Legs,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks.” His commercial success includes more than 250 million records sold worldwide and dual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of The Faces.
Stewart’s medical intervention last month involved the fitting of a stent, a small wire tube inserted into coronary arteries to maintain blood flow when blockages occur. The procedure immediately sidelined his American tour schedule and raised questions about his future performing plans.
His own early update on Instagram struck an optimistic note about his condition. “I’m already feeling better and very much on the mend,” he wrote. “I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me,” He added that he was “deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down,” while expressing hope to “get back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.”
A representative expanded on his progress in a follow-up Instagram post, noting that doctors were “pleased with his recovery.” The message detailed that Stewart had “returned to his normal daily activities” but would spend four weeks recuperating to “regain full fitness before returning to the stage.” That timeline ultimately proved incompatible with completing the US dates, with promoters and venues left to handle refunds and rescheduling communications for affected performances.
The health scare and its aftermath have now reshaped what Stewart has framed as a deliberate endpoint rather than a forced one. His farewell statement closed with an explicit invitation to fans. “So, may I take this opportunity to thank you for making this extraordinary life possible,” he wrote. “I hope you’ll join me so I can thank you the best way I know how… With the music and one hell of a show. See you there.”
The Final Encore represents a rare instance of a major artist announcing a definitive endpoint while still actively performing, rather than mounting an endless series of “farewell” tours. Stewart’s approach follows a British and Irish routing that keeps him close to his longtime base without the transatlantic demands of recent years.
The Dublin opening night at 3Arena will mark the start of his scheduled final run, with additional UK and European dates to be detailed through official ticketing channels.