Rush 2026 reunion
After years of silence following Neil Peart’s passing, Rush is officially returning to the stage. Surviving members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have announced a 2026 reunion tour, revealing that German drummer Anika Nilles will step in behind the kit, and there will also be another new live member.
The news was revealed during a private event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where Lee and Lifeson reflected on the decision to perform together again. Lee explained that the idea for a reunion grew organically during jam sessions in his Toronto home studio. “Slowly, this guy got into the idea,” he said, pointing to Lifeson.
Lifeson admitted that at first he wasn’t sure he wanted to revisit Rush’s demanding catalog, but his excitement grew the more they played. “The more we started playing our songs, the more I got excited. Now I can’t wait,” he said.
Rush’s new live members
Anika Nilles was chosen for her incredible technical skill and ability to capture Peart’s feel while bringing her own dynamic energy. Lee learned about her through his bass tech, who had seen her perform with Jeff Beck. She was invited to Toronto for trial sessions and impressed the band immediately. Nilles will not be billed as a permanent member, but as a touring drummer honoring Peart’s legacy. Geddy Lee also stated in a YouTube video that Rush will also add another live member, a keyboardist to give him the freedom to move around the stage more and interact with Lifeson, though Lee said he will still play iconic Rush keyboard parts live.
The Fifty Something tour will begin on June 7 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles before heading through Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto, and concluding on September 17 in Cleveland. For Lee and Lifeson, this tour represents both a reunion and a tribute, balancing a desire to move forward with respect for the irreplaceable role Peart played in Rush’s history.
