Neil Young Cancels European Tour with Chrome Hearts
In a shocking move, 81-year-old singer-songwriter Neil Young has canceled all his 2026 concert dates with his backing band Chrome Hearts. The news was announced on Young's website, the Neil Young Archives, in which he expressed his gratitude to fans who purchased tickets and explained that "this is not the time" for a tour.
The European leg of the tour, scheduled to begin June 19 in Manchester, England, and conclude July 26 in Udine, Italy, was touted as one of the most anticipated tours of the year. Elvis Costello and the Imposters were set to open on select dates.
Young's decision to cancel comes days after he vowed to remove his music from Amazon and gifted it to the people of Greenland in response to President Donald Trump's threats against the nation. The move was seen as a gesture of peace and love, with Young stating that "all the music I made during the last 62 years is yours to hear" and offering fans free access to his music for as long as they reside in Greenland.
The Chrome Hearts backing band, assembled by Young in September 2024 at Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs, New York, had been touring extensively with Young since last year. Their most recent show was the Painted Turtle benefit concert in October, where they delivered dazzling sets of fan favorites like "Ambulance Blues" and "Cowgirl in the Sand."
In an interview last fall, guitarist Micah Nelson praised the band's ability to adapt and deliver unique performances, citing the backing band as a key factor in keeping Young energized. With the tour cancellation, fans are left wondering what's next for Neil Young and Chrome Hearts.
In a shocking move, 81-year-old singer-songwriter Neil Young has canceled all his 2026 concert dates with his backing band Chrome Hearts. The news was announced on Young's website, the Neil Young Archives, in which he expressed his gratitude to fans who purchased tickets and explained that "this is not the time" for a tour.
The European leg of the tour, scheduled to begin June 19 in Manchester, England, and conclude July 26 in Udine, Italy, was touted as one of the most anticipated tours of the year. Elvis Costello and the Imposters were set to open on select dates.
Young's decision to cancel comes days after he vowed to remove his music from Amazon and gifted it to the people of Greenland in response to President Donald Trump's threats against the nation. The move was seen as a gesture of peace and love, with Young stating that "all the music I made during the last 62 years is yours to hear" and offering fans free access to his music for as long as they reside in Greenland.
The Chrome Hearts backing band, assembled by Young in September 2024 at Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs, New York, had been touring extensively with Young since last year. Their most recent show was the Painted Turtle benefit concert in October, where they delivered dazzling sets of fan favorites like "Ambulance Blues" and "Cowgirl in the Sand."
In an interview last fall, guitarist Micah Nelson praised the band's ability to adapt and deliver unique performances, citing the backing band as a key factor in keeping Young energized. With the tour cancellation, fans are left wondering what's next for Neil Young and Chrome Hearts.
i'm so sad 2 hear n young cancelled his european tour with chrome hearts 
i mean i know he said it wasnt the time but u gotta wonder wut changed their minds 
anyway i loved seein them perform live last year @ the painted turtle it was epic 
micah nelson is an amazing guitarist btw 
. I mean, I get it, he wants to take care of himself and all, but a guy can dream, right? 
Anyway, thanks to Neil for sharing his music with us - it's a gift that keeps on giving 
.
It's like, one day you're promoting the tour like crazy, next day you're pulling out. I'm not saying I agree with his decision to take down his music from Amazon and all that, but a little more notice would've been nice, you know? 
and now what were we supposed to expect from this tour? more of the same old songs or somethin new 
like niel young just canceled his whole european tour like whats going on here? i get it, maybe he needs a break or whatever but a 2026 tour was already booked and now its just a huge mess 
and what even is chrome hearts anyway?? sounds like some fancy band name 
Not sure why this has to happen but I guess some things just aren't meant to be... 