Rod Stewart told fans he will end his touring career after a final run of shows in 2027, an announcement the British singer posted to Instagram on September 28. The 81-year-old performer described the move as the close of his life on the road rather than a retirement from performing altogether. “Well, here we go… one last time!” he wrote in the post, which was reported by UPI on September 29.
In a video message accompanying the post, Stewart said the decision followed long reflection. “After much deliberation and sadness, I have to announce next year will be my last tour forever, ever,” he said. He then drew a line between leaving the touring circuit and stepping away from music entirely. “I’m not retiring. But this will be the last rock ‘n’ roll tour, so I want to thank you for everything you’ve given me and, hopefully, I’ve given you something in return,” he said.
Stewart did not announce dates, cities or venues for the farewell run, and he did not say how many shows it would include. He has been one of the most durable concert draws in popular music since the early 1970s, first as a member of Faces and later as a solo star. His catalog includes “Maggie May” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?,” and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a solo artist and once with Faces.
The announcement lands as heritage acts continue to anchor the live music business, with veteran performers filling arenas and long Las Vegas engagements while younger touring stars build their own audiences. Stewart, who was knighted in 2016, has kept up a steady concert schedule into his ninth decade and has played extended runs in Las Vegas in recent years. Farewell tours by artists of his standing tend to rank among the busier live music events of the year they are staged.
Stewart signaled that he intends to stay active in other corners of entertainment even after he stops touring, though he did not detail those plans. His message closed on a note of gratitude to the audiences that have followed him across a career spanning more than five decades. “One last time,” he wrote, echoing the sense of finality that ran through the announcement. Further specifics on the 2027 schedule had not been released as of the day the news broke.
