Canadian rock icons Rush have announced a long-anticipated reunion tour, marking their first shows in over a decade and their first performances since the passing of legendary drummer Neil Peart. The new run, titled the Fifty Something Tour, will kick off in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026, and wrap up in Cleveland on September 17, traversing the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
In a move that has sent waves through the music community, German fusion drummer Anika Nilles has been confirmed to take on drumming duties for the tour. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson said they spent years reflecting on whether Rush could ever return to the stage, finally deciding, as Lee put it, that they “missed it too much not to play again.” While both made it clear that Peart is irreplaceable, they see this as a continuation of Rush’s story rather than a replacement of their late bandmate.
Nilles’ appointment is both bold and inspired. Known for her sophisticated approach and melodic phrasing on the drums, she has built an international reputation for creativity and technical mastery. Anika’s music approach has been outlined as, “playing with sophistication, style and a musical finesse that is rarely witnessed behind the drums,” describing her ability to create “melodies through rhythmic complexities that normally sit within other sections of the band.”
Before joining Rush on tour, Nilles will embark on her first-ever Australian tour this November and December with her six-piece band Nevell, celebrating the release of her fourth album False Truth on September 12. Her shows will take place at Max Watts in Melbourne on November 30, Manning Bar in Sydney on December 2, and The Brightside Outdoors in Brisbane on December 4.
Germany’s Anika Nilles may have come to professional drumming relatively late, she didn’t begin her career until age 26 but she has since toured the world with Jeff Beck, released a series of acclaimed solo albums, and amassed over 20 million online views for her inventive performances. Her sound blends jazz, funk, rock, and pop influences, and her vibrant stage presence has made her one of the most talked-about drummers of her generation.
For Rush, this tour represents both a tribute to Peart’s towering legacy and a new creative chapter. Fans will see how Nilles interprets the band’s intricate catalogue, an evolution that promises to honour the past while adding a fresh, dynamic voice to one of rock’s most revered line ups. With Nilles’ solo tour already generating buzz, her arrival in Rush brings together two powerful musical worlds and signals that the spirit of exploration at the heart of Rush’s music continues to thrive.
ANIKA NILLES AND NEVELL AUSTRALIAN TOUR – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
Sunday, 30 November – Max Watts, Melbourne
Tuesday, 2 December – Manning Bar, Sydney
Thursday, 4 December – The Brightside Outdoors, Brisbane
details and tickets from birdsrobe.com
RUSH TOUR DATES
Sun Jun 07 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum
Tue Jun 09 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum
Thu Jun 18 Mexico City, MX. Palacio de los Deportes
Wed Jun 24 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
Fri Jun 26 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
Thu Jul 16 Chicago, IL United Center
Sat Jul 18 Chicago, IL United Center
Tue Jul 28 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Thu Jul 30 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Fri Aug 07 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Sun Aug 09 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Thu Sep 17 Cleveland, OH Rocket Arena
Additionally, RUSH just revealed the 50-track super deluxe anthology, RUSH 50, that Rolling Stone called “an epic saga, that functions equally well as an introduction for the uninitiated or a companion piece for the super fan.”
RUSH 50 is available in five distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) RUSH Store Exclusive Super Deluxe Edition, (3) 7-LP Deluxe Edition, (4) 4-CD Deluxe Edition, and (5) Digital Edition. It represents breadth of their discography, beginning with the first-ever reissue of their 1973 debut single and concluding with a live recording the final song Lee, Lifeson, and Peart played together during the R40 Tour closer at The Forum. Purchase HERE.