Comebacks and Reunions: Nostalgia Takes the Stage in 2026
The Guess Who is finally reuniting for an all-Canadian tour in 2026, but that’s not the only big ticket get-together involving some of our more familiar acts…
The Guess Who’s 2026 Reunion Suggests a Surge of Nostalgia on the Live Stage
After years of uncertainty and legal wrangling over the band’s name, The Guess Who is officially heading back on the road in 2026 — this time with the classic pairing of Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman reunited at the helm. The news marks the first time in more than two decades that the duo will tour together under the banner of the band that defined their early careers and left a deep imprint on Canadian rock history.
Their return comes with a renewed sense of ownership and legacy: for longtime fans, it restores a chapter many thought had quietly closed.
For the live music community at large, this tour announcement arrives at a moment when nostalgia is becoming one of the live industry’s biggest drivers. After a decade dominated by mega-tours from contemporary stars, 2026 might just be the year legacy acts reclaim the spotlight.
Another Canadian rock staple, Rush, is reuniting for their “Fifty Something” run; Bon Jovi is returning after a long stretch away from the stage; and Twisted Sister is plotting anniversary comebacks. Several other heritage rock groups are lining up similarly symbolic returns. Perhaps it’s less a trend and rather a collective cultural exhale — a reminder that for all the noise around new formats, AI-generated music, and streaming disruption in the industry, live performance is still where generational and collective memories get renewed.
For The Guess Who, that resonance hits especially hard. Their reunion isn’t just a victory lap; it’s a homecoming for fans who’ve waited decades to see Cummings and Bachman share a stage again. And since nostalgia continues to surge across festival lineups and arena calendars, here are a few of the others we’re spotting on the horizon, courtesy of Bandsintown:
The Guess Who? — Takin’ It Back Tour
Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman will finally reunite as The Guess Who for their countrywide Canadian tour in 2026, after successfully reclaiming their band’s name and legacy.
Rush — Fifty Something Tour
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are reuniting for a 2026 tour, their first since 2015. They’ll be honoring their legacy (and late drummer Neil Peart) with Anika Nilles on drums.
Bon Jovi — Forever Tour
Bon Jovi is returning in 2026 after Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal cord surgery recovery. The tour kicks off in July 2026, and includes a nine-night residency at Madison Square Garden.
Foreigner — Celebrating 50 Years Farewell Tour
Although they initially announced their “farewell tour” in 2023, Foreigner has decided to extend their immensely popular tour into 2026, which now marks the 50th anniversary of their band founded in 1976.
Twisted Sister — 50th Anniversary Reunion
The band is reuniting for a 50th anniversary run, which includes major European festivals and arenas across the continent and the UK.
Take That — The Circus Live
Take That are reviving their “Circus” concept tour. Though not a “reunion” from a breakup, it’s a revival of a classic stadium show from their earlier years.
Def Leppard
Def Leppard is prepping to follow up highly successful recent tours with a 12-night residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and a global tour later in 2026.
An amazing brief note to add: During Def Leppard’s first Las Vegas residency in 2013 — in which the band played their 1987 album Hysteria from cover to cover — they actually opened for themselves as a fictional band called Ded Flatbird and performed obscure, deep cut tracks from way back.
