Rush opens up on 'difficult decision' to do 2026 reunion tour after death of Neil Peart

Rush is going back on the road despite the loss of their drummer, the late Neil Peart.

Neil died in January 2020 from glioblastoma, meaning a reunion tour for the Canadian rockers seemed unlikely.

But Sunday night, band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed their plans during a private event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, according to Variety.

During a Q&A session, the band was asked if they would go on tour, to which Lee responded after some delay, “I kind of think that we should tour next year.”

The audience was thrilled by the news, as Lee explained it was a “very difficult decision” to go on tour, especially after the “devastating” loss of Peart. “It was a very sad time, and it took time for us to even contemplate,” he said per the outlet, adding, “And how do you replace someone who is irreplaceable?”

Peart’s widow, Carrie Nuttall-Peart, and his daughter, Olivia, have given their blessing for the replacement drummer, Anika Nilles, to join the Fifty Something tour.

“We are thrilled to support the Fifty Something tour, celebrating a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations, and to honor Neil’s extraordinary legacy as both a drummer and lyricist. As the band enters this new chapter, it promises to be truly unforgettable. We are excited to see how their new vision unfolds, and to hear this legendary music played live once again,” they said in a statement.

The Fifty Something Tour will be a 12-date, seven city tour, scheduled for summer 2026, kicking off in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles — where the band played their final show in 2015.

The reunion tour will end in Cleveland in September 2026. They’ll also hit Mexico City, Fort Worth, Texas, Chicago, New York and Toronto.