Rock legend Rod Stewart will soon leave life on the road behind, as he has announced that his upcoming tour will be his final major concert run after more than six decades.
The 81-year-old British singer-songwriter revealed on Sept. 28 on Instagram “The Final Encore,” a European tour scheduled to begin in April in Dublin.
“Come and see me on my The Final Encore Tour for one more round of rock ’n’ roll,” he wrote. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The run will take Stewart through the UK and several other European countries before concluding in Hanover, Germany, in July.
In a video message announcing the move, Stewart reflected on a career that began when he was a teenager, before thanking audiences around the world for supporting him during a central part of his life.
“Ladies and gentlemen, after much deliberation and sadness, I have to announce, next year will be my last tour ever, ever,” he added in the Instagram post.
“I’m not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour. So I want to thank you for everything you’ve given me, and hopefully I’ve given you something in return.”
The farewell comes after Stewart’s 2026 touring schedule was disrupted by several health-related setbacks, including vocal problems and a coronary stent procedure.
The health issues led to the cancellation of his remaining North American dates. In August, representatives for the singer said he was recovering well and had been advised to take time away from performing.
In June, Stewart temporarily paused a concert in Utah after nearly fainting onstage. At the time, he was recovering from the flu and later developed an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis.
Over the years, Stewart has faced a number of health challenges, including a three-year prostate cancer battle after first being diagnosed in 2016.
He was then diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor on his thyroid gland, making a full recovery.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Stewart is best known for his chart-topping hits “Maggie May” (1971), “Tonight’s the Night” (1976), “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978), and “All For Love” (1993), all of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a solo artist in 1994 and once as a member of rock band the Faces. Stewart’s most recent studio album, “Swing Fever,” a collaboration with Jools Holland, reached No. 1 in the UK in 2024.
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