For the first time in over a decade, the surviving members of Rush — Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson — have announced that they will reunite in 2026 for a powerful tribute concert titled “A Night for Neil: The Spirit Lives On.” The event will take place on June 20, 2026, at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, a venue close to the band’s roots, and will celebrate the enduring legacy of their late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020. Fans around the world are already calling it one of the most anticipated rock events of the decade.
This will mark the first time Geddy and Alex share a stage under the Rush banner since the band’s 2015 R40 Live Tour, which many believed would be their final chapter. In a heartfelt statement, Lee said, “We’re not reforming Rush, but we’re revisiting the spirit of what made Rush special — friendship, creativity, and the love we shared with Neil. This show is about gratitude and celebration.” His words echoed deeply among lifelong fans, many of whom grew up listening to Rush’s complex, poetic soundscapes.
The tribute will feature a lineup of renowned guest musicians paying homage to Neil Peart’s incredible drumming and lyrical brilliance. Rumors suggest appearances from Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Danny Carey (Tool), and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), each interpreting Peart’s intricate rhythms in their unique style. Special appearances by Dave Grohl and Jack Black are also anticipated, both longtime Rush admirers who have openly credited the band as a major influence.
After the Toronto concert, Geddy and Alex will embark on a limited five-city tribute tour to extend the celebration to international fans. The tentative schedule includes New York (June 28), London (July 10), Berlin (July 16), Los Angeles (July 25), and a final emotional performance in Vancouver (August 2). Each stop will feature a slightly different setlist, designed to highlight various eras of Rush’s extraordinary 40-year journey.
The shows will showcase a career-spanning selection of songs — from the raw power of Working Man and 2112 to the atmospheric textures of Subdivisions and Time Stand Still. A special segment will focus entirely on Moving Pictures, their most beloved album, featuring classics like Tom Sawyer, Limelight, and YYZ. The performance will be accompanied by stunning visuals, archival footage, and never-before-seen clips of Neil Peart in studio sessions and on tour.
The production team behind the event promises a concert experience unlike anything Rush has done before. The stage design will include a rotating “Gear of Time” centerpiece, engraved with Peart’s handwritten lyrics and sketches, illuminated by soft golden light — a nod to both his precision and his poetry. Each show will close with The Spirit of Radio, followed by a brief silence and a spotlight on Neil’s empty drum kit, allowing fans a collective moment of reflection.
In the weeks leading up to the tour, Toronto will host a special Rush exhibit at the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, displaying Neil’s iconic drum sets, handwritten lyrics, and personal memorabilia. Fans can also attend panels hosted by Geddy and Alex, where they’ll share stories from their decades on the road, studio sessions, and their lifelong friendship with Neil. The entire event series aims to preserve Rush’s influence for generations to come.
Both Geddy and Alex have expressed how deeply personal this tribute feels. “We didn’t want to just play songs — we wanted to play memories,” Lifeson said. “Neil taught us to chase excellence, to never settle. This night is about honoring that drive, and the fans who have been with us from day one.” Geddy added that rehearsals have been “emotional but healing,” describing the experience as “a chance to say thank you properly.”
Industry insiders are already calling “A Night for Neil” a landmark in music history — not only because it reunites two of rock’s most respected musicians, but because it embodies everything that made Rush unique: intellect, emotion, and authenticity. The tribute promises to bridge generations of fans, from those who witnessed Rush’s early days to younger listeners discovering their magic for the first time.
As the countdown to June 2026 begins, anticipation continues to build worldwide. From Toronto to Berlin, millions are preparing to relive the sound of Rush one more time — not just as a band, but as a legacy. When Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson take that stage together again under the summer sky, it won’t simply be a concert. It will be a heartfelt goodbye, a reunion of souls, and a timeless reminder that the spirit of Neil Peart — and of Rush itself — will indeed live on forever.
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