The 80-year-old singer-songwriter had been due to launch a June-July tour across the U.K. and Europe, with shows scheduled in cities including Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and at venues such as the Eden Project and Blenheim Palace, as well as dates in France, the Netherlands and Italy. The run, billed as part of his ongoing ‘Love Earth‘ project with Chrome Hearts, had been highlighted as one of the summer’s standout classic-rock tours, with Elvis Costello & The Imposters booked to join as support on selected nights.
News of the cancellation arrived via a brief, personal statement on Young’s official Neil Young Archives website. “I have decided to take a break and will not be touring Europe this time” he wrote, before thanking fans who had already bought tickets and adding, “I’m sorry to let you down, but this is not the time.” He closed the note by stressing his enduring connection to live performance, saying that he loves playing live and being with fans and the Chrome Hearts, and signing off, “LOVE Neil be well”.
No specific reason has been given for the decision, beyond Young’s emphasis that he needs to “take a break” and that 2026 is simply not the right moment for him to undertake a full European tour. In recent years, he has been candid about the physical and emotional toll of touring at his age, previously describing how illness within the band and his own sense of having “hit a wall” led to the cancellation of earlier dates with Crazy Horse. Those experiences appear to inform this latest call, even if he has stopped short of tying the 2026 decision to a particular health issue.
For fans, the announcement is a sharp disappointment, especially after a wave of ticket purchases and travel plans across multiple countries. Promoters have confirmed that all ticket holders will receive full refunds at the point of purchase, softening the financial blow but not the sense of a missed occasion. Still, Young’s message leaves the door open to future appearances, underlining that his passion for live music remains intact even as he steps back from the road, at least for now.
