On October 6, 2025, longtime friends and bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson surprised fans by announcing that they will tour again in 2026 under the name Rush.
This is huge, because after their final tour in 2015 (the R40 Tour), the group had seemingly bowed out for good.
Then in 2020, the band’s driving force—drummer and lyricist Neil Peart—passed away, leaving Lee and Lifeson uncertain whether Rush could ever truly return.
Still, in private, Lee and Lifeson kept playing together, rekindling the chemistry and spark that defined their career. Over time, that led to this decision: to celebrate “50-something” years of Rush music, to pay tribute to Neil, and to rediscover that thrill of performing on stage.
Who’s Drumming Now? Enter Anika Nilles
One of the biggest challenges in this reunion is filling Neil Peart’s shoes—or, more accurately, filling his drum throne. And that task has fallen to Anika Nilles, a German drummer, composer, and educator with her own growing reputation.
A few things you should know about her:
She comes from a family of drummers; she started playing very early, and later studied popular music formally.
She has released solo albums (under her band Nevell) such as Pikalar, For a Colorful Soul, Opuntia, and False Truth.She’s earned recognition as a clinician, educator, and creative force in the drumming community.
She previously played with Jeff Beck on tour, which is part of how she got on Lee and Lifeson’s radar.
But playing with Lee and Lifeson is different from playing solo or in smaller settings. Understanding their complex arrangements, matching the feel of what Neil did (without copying him), and anchoring the performance emotionally is no small feat. Lee himself described the role as “near impossible.”
That said, Lee, Lifeson, and the band’s inner circle apparently conducted rehearsal experiments in Toronto to see how her style meshed with theirs. It seems the chemistry held up.
The Tour: “Fifty Something”
They’re calling it Fifty Something, a nod to over fifty years of musical journey and deep fan devotion.
Format & Setlists
Each show will be an “evening with” format — meaning two Rush sets per night.
The band will build each night’s setlist from a catalogue of about 35 songs, mixing fan favorites, hits, and deeper cuts.
Because they plan for variation, not every show will be the same — expect a fresh flow each night.
They also hope to bring one or two additional musicians on stage (like a keyboardist) to help expand the sound and give Lee & Lifeson some breathing room.
Dates & Cities
The tour begins June 7, 2026 in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum — a poetic choice, since their last show in 2015 ended in that same city.
Here’s the full lineup:
June 7 & 9 — Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
June 18 — Mexico City, MX, Palacio de los Deportes
June 24 & 26 — Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
July 16 & 18 — Chicago, IL, United Center
July 28 & 30 — New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
August 7 & 9 — Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
September 17 — Cleveland, OH, Rocket Arena
Ticket sales begin October 17, 2025 at 12 pm local time, with various presales (artist, Citi, etc.) before that.
The Emotional Weight & What It All Means
This isn’t just a “greatest hits” reunion for Lee and Lifeson. Behind every song is decades of friendship, struggle, creativity, and loss. Playing without Neil means facing the painful truth that he was, in many ways, irreplaceable. Lee acknowledged that fact directly: “as we all know Neil was irreplaceable.”
That said, the tour has the full blessing of Neil’s family. His widow, Carrie Nuttall-Peart, and daughter Olivia Peart released a statement supporting the “Fifty Something” tour and honoring Neil’s legacy as both an extraordinary drummer and a deeply imaginative lyricist.
Also noteworthy: Lifeson has faced physical challenges in recent years, including concerns about ability and stamina. In interviews, he has described arthritis and doubts about returning to full touring life.
So from a practical standpoint, this tour is a carefully balanced act — honoring the past without being trapped by it. Lee and Lifeson are older, but their voices, passion, and respect for their music remain. Fans will likely view this as a final chapter, not a permanent revival.