Concert News

Rock icons Rush add Houston to extended 50th anniversary tour

Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee are bringing their Fifty Something tour to Houston.

Photo by Richard Sibbald

The legendary rock band Rush has added Houston to its ongoing Fifty Something 50th anniversary celebration tour with a stop at Toyota Center on October 1, 2026. Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Cincinnati are three other most recent additions to the tour, which began in June 2025.

It's the first time that the band has toured since their 2015 R40 Live Tour, and also the first time that co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have gone on the road since the death of drummer Neil Peart in 2020.

Initially, the band announced a small, seven-city tour with Fort Worth as its only Texas stop. Since then, it has grown to dates across America, Canada, South America, and Europe.

“When we initially booked this tour we didn’t know how well we would hold up to the rigours of the road — so we played it safe with lots of days off to recover — but life is nothing if not surprising and we’re doing fine and having a blast — so why not try to hit a few more of the cities that have always treated us so well,” Lee and Lifeson said in a statement.

The band will play two sets each night, with each show featuring a distinct selection of songs. Rush will build each night’s setlist from a catalogue of 35 songs, including their greatest hits and fan favorites.

The band is fudging their 50th anniversary slightly, as it released its debut album in 1974. But the tour gives Rush an excuse to celebrate its long history with its fans, as well as honoring the life of Peart.

“It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of Rush alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil," Lee said when the band announced the first tour dates in 2025. "Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f---ing miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of Rush music."

For the tour, Lee and Lifeson will be accompanied by German drummer, composer, and producer Anika Nilles, who has performed as Jeff Beck’s drummer for over 60 shows and has released four solo albums.

There will also be a presale for Citi cardmembers from Tuesday, September 1 at 10 am until Thursday, September 3 at 10 pm.

The general onsale begins on Friday, September 4 at 10 am at rush.com.

Rush Tour Dates

September 2, 2026 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
September 4, 2026 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
September 12, 2026 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
September 14, 2026 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
September 17, 2026 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Arena
September 19, 2026 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Arena
September 23, 2026 - San Antonio, TX - Frost Bank Center
September 25, 2026 - San Antonio, TX - Frost Bank Center
October 1, 2026 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
October 5, 2026 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
October 7, 2026 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
October 10, 2026 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
October 12, 2026 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
October 15, 2026 - San Jose, CA - SAP Center
October 17, 2026 - San Jose, CA - SAP Center
October 21, 2026 - St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
October 23, 2026 - Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank Center
October 25, 2026 - Washington D.C. - Capital One Arena
October 27, 2026 - Washington D.C. - Capital One Arena
October 30, 2026 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
November 1, 2026 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
November 5, 2026 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
November 7, 2026 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
November 9, 2026 - Tampa, FL - Benchmark International Arena
November 11, 2026 - Tampa, FL - Benchmark International Arena
November 15, 2026 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
November 20, 2026 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
November 22, 2026 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
November 25, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
November 27, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
December 1, 2026 - Glendale, AZ - Desert Diamond Arena
December 3, 2026 - Glendale, AZ - Desert Diamond Arena
December 10, 2026 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
December 12, 2026 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
December 15, 2026 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
December 17, 2026 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
January 15, 2027 - Buenos Aires, AR - Movistar Arena
January 17, 2027 - Santiago, CL - Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
January 19, 2027 - Santiago, CL - Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
January 22, 2027 - Curitiba, BR - Arena da Baixada
January 24, 2027 - São Paulo, BR - Allianz Parque
January 26, 2027 - São Paulo, BR - Allianz Parque
January 30, 2027 - Rio de Janeiro, BR - Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (Engenhão)
February 1, 2027 - Belo Horizonte, BR - Estádio Mineirão
February 4, 2027 - Brasília, BR - Arena BRB Mané Garrincha
February 19, 2027 - Paris, FR - Plenitude Arena
February 21, 2027 - Berlin, DE - Uber Arena
February 23, 2027 - Amsterdam, NL - Ziggo Dome
February 25, 2027 - Munich, DE - Olympiahalle
February 28, 2027 - Cologne, DE - LANXESS Arena
March 2, 2027 - Hamburg, DE - Barclays Arena
March 4, 2027 - Stuttgart, DE - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
March 8, 2027 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
March 10, 2027 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
March 12, 2027 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
March 14, 2027 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
March 16, 2027 - London, UK - O2 Arena
March 18, 2027 - London, UK - O2 Arena
March 21, 2027 - London, UK - O2 Arena
March 27, 2027 - Kraków, PL - TAURON Arena Kraków
March 30, 2027 - Milan, IT - Unipol Dome
April 1, 2027 - Basel, CH - St. Jakobshalle Basel
April 4, 2027 - Copenhagen, DK - Royal Arena
April 6, 2027 - Oslo, NO - Unity Arena
April 8, 2027 - Stockholm, SE - Avicii Arena
April 10, 2027 - Helsinki, FI - Veikkaus Arena

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Show business

Federal judge once again strikes down Texas drag show ban

Kristi Waters/ Facebook

San Antonio queen Kristi Waters performs a Selena tribute.

Texas once again cannot enforce its restrictions on some public drag shows after a federal judge declared a 2023 law unconstitutional for the second time.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner initially declared Senate Bill 12 unconstitutional in September 2023 only a few months after it was passed by the Texas Legislature, citing First Amendment violations. More than two years later in November, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unblocked the law and returned the case to Hittner with specific instructions on how to reassess it.

Hittner reaffirmed his ruling Tuesday, August 25, stating in his order that besides removing several plaintiffs and defendants from the lawsuit, the appellate court’s decision “did not disturb” his prior decision declaring SB 12 unconstitutional. The ruling again pauses the law, which had gone into effect in March after the 5th Circuit’s decision.

The ruling described SB 12 as overly broad in its definitions of performance and nudity, stating that provocative cosplay at conventions, swimming athletes, or Dolly Parton and Elvis impersonators could potentially be penalized under the law.

“The vast majority of the law’s numerous applications violate the First Amendment because all the performances that it has an actual impact on are constitutionally protected and are targeted for prohibition based on content and viewpoint,” Hittner wrote.

The suit was originally filed against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, two counties three district attorneys, and one county attorney by two community pride groups, two entertainment groups, and Brigitte Bandit, a drag queen and longtime Texas LGBTQ+ rights activist. After the 5th Circuit’s ruling, the two pride groups were removed as plaintiffs and Paxton was left as the sole defendant, which Hittner said satisfied the higher court’s instructions.

Tiffany Epiphany and Brigitte Bandit Tiffany Epiphany with local celeb and activist Brigitte Bandit at an Austin Pride parade. Photo by Natalie Grigson

“We use our performances to assert liberation, power, and joy with our community,” Bandit said in a statement provided by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which represented the plaintiffs. “As a lifelong Texan, I’m sick of this state trying to censor art and stoke hatred and violence against drag artists and the LGBTQIA+ community.”

SB 12 as adopted in law contains no language explicitly referencing drag performances, however a previous version while in the Legislature specifically included references to drag. Hittner noted in Tuesday's ruling that opponents of drag performances are not obligated to attend them.

“Finally, for those who find such activities as described in this case offensive, the solution is relatively simple … just don’t go,” he wrote.

Hittner also denied a request from Paxton for a supplemental trial and new discovery in the case. Paxton, in a social media post Tuesday, said his office would seek an appeal to the ruling to protect Texas kids.

“This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,” he said.

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This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

drag show texas politics

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Show business

Federal judge once again strikes down Texas drag show ban