British singer Rod Stewart has officially announced his retirement from major world touring following a musical career spanning more than six decades.
The 81-year-old artist confirmed that his upcoming farewell series, titled The Final Encore, will mark the end of his large-scale international live performances.
The extensive international tour is scheduled to conclude with a final performance on July 24, 2027, in the German city of Hannover.
Stewart is one of the most successful rock and pop musicians of all time, known for his distinctive raspy voice and hit singles including Maggie May and Sailing. A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he first rose to prominence in the 1960s with bands such as The Jeff Beck Group and Faces before establishing a long solo career.
Tour schedule and performance details
The farewell production has been designed as an exhaustive retrospective of the musician's vast repertoire built since the 1960s. The shows will celebrate more than 60 years of continuous performance across major arenas and stadiums worldwide.
The announcement follows brief schedule re-adjustments made during the summer, when the singer experienced vocal complications. Stewart's production team has since confirmed the definitive tour structure and dates.
Addressing the decision to conclude his touring career, Stewart stated that he has been singing the music he loves since he was 19 years old and that the time has come to say goodbye to the stage to ensure a closure worthy of his legacy.
The final host city of Hannover is the capital of Lower Saxony in northern Germany, a major European destination for large concert tours and international events.
Future performance plans and health
Management representatives clarified that the conclusion of The Final Encore does not signal Stewart's total retirement from music. The announcement specifically limits large-scale touring, while leaving open the possibility for select one-off concerts or limited venue residencies.
Concert residencies allow artists to perform series of shows at a single venue without the physical strain of constant travel between cities and countries.
According to Stewart's management, stepping away from massive global tours will help preserve the vocalist's health and voice. The decision will allow him to remain active in the music industry through less logistically demanding creative projects while avoiding the exhaustion of major international travel.
