RUSH Fifty Something Tour 2026 in San Antonio, Texas: Setlist, Venue, Tickets, Neil Peart Tribute & Everything Fans Need to Know
RUSH Fifty Something Tour 2026 San Antonio, Texas: The Ultimate Fan Guide
There are comeback tours, and then there is RUSH returning to the stage.
For more than a decade, the idea of seeing Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson performing the music of RUSH together again seemed almost impossible. The band's final concert with Neil Peart took place at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015. Peart died in January 2020, bringing an extraordinary chapter of RUSH history to an end.
Then came Fifty Something.
In 2026, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returned to the stage with German drummer Anika Nilles and keyboard player Loren Gold, creating a new touring version of RUSH while honoring the band's history and the legacy of Neil Peart. RUSH describes the tour as a celebration of more than 50 years of the band's music, legacy and Peart's life. (Rush.com)
And San Antonio became one of the most important stops on that journey.
RUSH performed at Frost Bank Center on September 23, 2026, and a second San Antonio concert follows on September 25, 2026. The second date was added because of demand. (Frost Bank Center)
For anyone searching for RUSH San Antonio Texas 2026, this is everything you need to know about the shows, the venue, the new lineup, the unique two-set format, the songs, the Neil Peart tributes and what makes this tour such an extraordinary moment for RUSH fans.
RUSH San Antonio 2026: Quick Event Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Artist | RUSH |
| Tour | Fifty Something Tour |
| September 23 Show | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 |
| September 25 Show | Friday, September 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Frost Bank Center |
| City | San Antonio, Texas |
| Address | 1 Frost Bank Center Drive, San Antonio, TX 78219 |
| Doors | 6:30 PM |
| Scheduled Show Time | 7:30 PM |
| Parking Lots | 4:30 PM |
| Performers | Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Anika Nilles, Loren Gold |
| Format | Two sets |
| Tour | RUSH Fifty Something |
The official Frost Bank Center information lists both September 23 and September 25 at 7:30 PM, with parking opening at 4:30 PM and doors opening at 6:30 PM. (Frost Bank Center)
The September 25 performance is particularly relevant for fans reading this article on September 24: the San Antonio run is not over yet. RUSH's official website confirms the September 25 show at Frost Bank Center. (Rush.com)
Why RUSH Is Touring Again in 2026
To understand the emotional weight behind the San Antonio shows, you have to understand what happened after RUSH's R40 tour.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson spent more than four decades creating music with Neil Peart. The chemistry between the three musicians became one of the defining examples of technical musicianship in rock.
Peart wasn't simply RUSH's drummer.
He was also the band's principal lyricist for much of its career.
His drumming became legendary, but his contribution went much deeper than technical ability. His lyrics helped give RUSH its distinctive intellectual, philosophical and literary identity.
After Peart's death in 2020, Lee and Lifeson were understandably left with an enormous question: could RUSH exist again without him?
The answer they eventually found was not to replace Neil Peart.
Instead, they chose to celebrate RUSH's music with another musician.
That musician is Anika Nilles.
Meet the 2026 RUSH Lineup
Geddy Lee
Geddy remains at the center of the RUSH sound with bass, keyboards and vocals.
His voice is one of the most recognizable sounds in progressive rock, while his bass playing helped redefine what a rock bassist could do.
Songs such as “Tom Sawyer,” “YYZ,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Freewill” and “Limelight” are inseparable from his playing.
But seeing Geddy back onstage in 2026 is about more than hearing those songs again.
It's about hearing one half of the classic RUSH partnership return to the music after more than a decade away from touring.
Alex Lifeson
Then there's Alex Lifeson.
His guitar work has always been one of the essential pieces of the RUSH equation, from the hard-rock attack of the early records to the atmospheric textures and complex arrangements of the progressive era.
The relationship between Lifeson's guitar and Geddy's bass is one of the things that made RUSH so distinctive.
And in 2026, that chemistry is back.
Anika Nilles
The most obvious question surrounding the tour was always:
Who could possibly sit behind the RUSH drum kit?
RUSH chose Anika Nilles.
The German drummer, composer and producer joined Lee and Lifeson for the Fifty Something tour. RUSH's announcement notes that Nilles had performed as Jeff Beck's drummer for more than 60 shows and had released four solo albums. (Rush.com)
Replacing Neil Peart would be an impossible concept.
That's not what this tour is attempting to do.
Instead, Nilles brings her own musicianship to the arrangements while performing music that has some of the most demanding drum parts in rock history.
And fans who have followed the tour have seen her tackle everything from “2112” to “YYZ,” “La Villa Strangiato,” “The Trees” and “Tom Sawyer.”
Loren Gold
For the expanded live arrangement, RUSH also added keyboard player Loren Gold, who joined the touring lineup after the initial announcement. Gold has worked with artists including The Who and Roger Daltrey. (Rush.com)
That additional musician allows Lee and Lifeson more freedom onstage and helps recreate some of the layers present in RUSH's later recordings.
The Fifty Something Tour Is Not a Typical RUSH Concert
One of the most important things for a first-time attendee to understand is that Fifty Something is an “evening with” RUSH show.
There is no ordinary opening-band format.
RUSH plays two full sets, separated by an intermission, with each night built from a large pool of songs.
The band originally described the shows as being constructed from a catalog of approximately 35 songs, with different selections from night to night. As the tour developed, the pool expanded to more than 40 songs. (Rush.com)
This is fantastic news for hardcore RUSH fans.
If you're attending two nights in the same city, there is a genuine possibility of hearing different songs.
And that is exactly what has happened throughout the tour.
RUSH San Antonio September 23, 2026 Setlist
The first San Antonio show took place on Wednesday, September 23.
The currently documented setlist shows a first set built around:
“Xanadu”
“The Spirit of Radio”
“The Analog Kid”
“Freewill”
“Subdivisions”
“Bravado”
“La Villa Strangiato”
“The Trees”
“Distant Early Warning”
“Limelight”
The second set began with the complete “2112” suite, including:
“2112: Overture”
“The Temples of Syrinx”
“Discovery”
“Presentation”
“Oracle: The Dream”
“Soliloquy”
“Grand Finale”
The currently indexed setlist then lists “Animate”. (Setlist.fm)
However, there is an important caveat for anyone publishing this information: the September 23 setlist page was still being updated on September 24 and does not yet show a complete three-hour performance. RUSH's recent shows typically run around three hours, so the available list should not be presented as a confirmed complete setlist yet. (Setlist.fm)
That distinction is important if you're writing an evergreen SEO article.
What Can We Expect From the September 25 San Antonio Show?
This is where things get interesting.
RUSH deliberately designed Fifty Something around changing setlists.
Look at the two Cleveland shows immediately preceding San Antonio.
On September 17, the band played:
“Xanadu”
“Limelight”
“Subdivisions”
“The Pass”
“Freewill”
“Bravado”
“The Trees”
“La Villa Strangiato”
“The Anarchist”
“The Spirit of Radio”
Complete “2112”
“Animate”
“Closer to the Heart”
“A Passage to Bangkok”
“Time Stand Still”
“YYZ”
“Anthem”
“Red Barchetta”
“The Garden”
“Tom Sawyer”
“Finding My Way”
“Working Man” (Setlist.fm)
Two nights later, on September 19, RUSH changed things significantly.
That show included “Dreamline,” “Headlong Flight,” “Red Sector A,” “A Farewell to Kings,” “New World Man,” “Moving Pictures,” “The Camera Eye,” “Witch Hunt,” “Vital Signs,” “Closer to the Heart,” “Time Stand Still,” “By-Tor & the Snow Dog” and “Working Man,” among others. (Setlist.fm)
So if you're attending the September 25 show, don't assume you'll hear exactly what was played on September 23.
That's part of the fun.
Will RUSH Play “2112” in San Antonio Again?
This is one of the big questions.
The September 23 show featured the entire 2112 suite, which is a major event in itself.
Throughout the Fifty Something Tour, RUSH has repeatedly used the complete “2112” sequence or substantial portions of it.
The song has become one of the defining pieces of this reunion era, and the band has shown that it's willing to build a significant portion of the second set around it.
The September 17 Cleveland show also featured the complete “2112” suite. (Setlist.fm)
But because the band rotates songs, fans should not treat any individual song as guaranteed for September 25.
That's actually one of the best reasons to see multiple RUSH shows.
The Songs RUSH Fans Should Know Before the Show
If you're new to RUSH, there is a lot of homework.
And honestly, that's part of the fun.
Before heading to Frost Bank Center, I'd recommend revisiting at least these albums:
A Farewell to Kings — 1977
Listen for:
“Xanadu”
“Closer to the Heart”
Hemispheres — 1978
Listen for:
“La Villa Strangiato”
“The Trees”
Permanent Waves — 1980
Listen for:
“The Spirit of Radio”
“Freewill”
Moving Pictures — 1981
This one is essential.
“Tom Sawyer”
“Red Barchetta”
“YYZ”
“Limelight”
Signals — 1982
“Subdivisions”
“The Analog Kid”
Grace Under Pressure — 1984
“Distant Early Warning”
Hold Your Fire — 1987
“Time Stand Still”
2112 — 1976
Obviously, listen to the entire title suite.
Because if RUSH plays the complete “2112,” you're going to want to know exactly what is happening.
The Neil Peart Tribute Is an Essential Part of the Show
There is an emotional element to Fifty Something that doesn't exist in a normal RUSH concert.
Neil Peart is gone.
The band knows it.
The audience knows it.
And the tour doesn't try to pretend otherwise.
Instead, the production incorporates tribute moments honoring Peart.
Recent setlists have included Neil Peart Tribute Collage 1 and Neil Peart Tribute Collage 2, as well as a closing tribute involving Paul Rudd and Jason Segel in the Cleveland September 19 show. (Setlist.fm)
These moments are important because they allow the show to acknowledge Peart's presence without turning the entire concert into a memorial.
The overall mood remains celebratory.
And that fits the band's own description of Fifty Something.
This is a celebration of RUSH's music, history and the life of Neil Peart. (Rush.com)
RUSH at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio
The San Antonio shows take place at Frost Bank Center, located at 1 Frost Bank Center Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78219.
The official venue schedule lists:
September 23:
Parking — 4:30 PM
Doors — 6:30 PM
Show — 7:30 PM
September 25:
Parking — 4:30 PM
Doors — 6:30 PM
Show — 7:30 PM (Frost Bank Center)
The venue also states that parking can be purchased in advance, while day-of parking accepts tap-to-pay methods including credit/debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Wallet. Cash is not accepted. (Frost Bank Center)
The bag limit is:
12" × 12" × 6" or smaller. (Frost Bank Center)
That's worth checking before you leave home.
How Early Should You Arrive?
For a RUSH show, I'd recommend arriving earlier than you would for an ordinary concert.
The official schedule gives fans a three-hour window between parking opening and the scheduled show time.
That's useful because this isn't a one-hour concert.
It's an approximately three-hour RUSH experience.
Recent shows have typically run about three hours and five minutes. The September 19 Cleveland show, for example, ran from approximately 7:45 PM until 10:50 PM. (Setlist.fm)
If you're driving, give yourself time for:
Traffic
Parking
Security
Merchandise
Finding your seat
Getting food or drinks
Meeting other fans
And remember: the concert itself is split into two sets.
Don't arrive thinking you'll watch one 90-minute set and go home.
RUSH Merchandise: What Fans Should Look For
A tour like Fifty Something deserves its own piece of memorabilia.
This isn't just another RUSH tour.
It is the band's return to the road after 11 years.
It is the first major RUSH tour following Neil Peart's death.
And it introduces Anika Nilles and Loren Gold into the live RUSH story.
That makes RUSH Fifty Something merchandise particularly meaningful for collectors.
Fans can look for:
RUSH Fifty Something T-shirts
RUSH 2026 tour shirts
San Antonio RUSH T-shirts
Tour-date shirts
RUSH posters
Neil Peart tribute merchandise
Classic RUSH artwork
Two-sided tour shirts
Hoodies and other fan apparel
A tour-date shirt featuring San Antonio, TX — September 23 or September 25, 2026 can be especially meaningful because it identifies a specific moment in the band's return to the stage.
For fans who couldn't attend, a Fifty Something shirt or poster can also serve as a way of marking the reunion era.
Why San Antonio Got Two RUSH Shows
This is an important part of the story.
San Antonio originally had a September 23 RUSH performance.
But the demand led to a second show being added for September 25.
The Frost Bank Center itself describes the second date as an additional show added due to “incredible demand.” (Frost Bank Center)
That makes San Antonio particularly interesting in the context of the tour.
The city is not simply receiving one night of RUSH.
It gets two chances to hear a band deliberately changing its setlist from show to show.
For hardcore fans, that creates an entirely different opportunity.
If you attended September 23, September 25 becomes a chance to hear another version of the Fifty Something show.
If you're attending September 25 only, there is another advantage:
You can look at the September 23 setlist, see what was already played and wonder what RUSH might pull out next.
But don't assume the songs that disappeared from September 23 are guaranteed to return.
RUSH's rotation system is designed to keep things unpredictable.
The Real Magic of the Fifty Something Tour
The biggest mistake would be to view this simply as a nostalgia tour.
Yes, you're going to hear classic RUSH.
Yes, there are songs from 2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals and later records.
But the real story is what happens when those songs are performed again by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson after all these years.
There is history in every note.
“Tom Sawyer” is not just “Tom Sawyer.”
“YYZ” isn't just a famous instrumental.
“Limelight” isn't just another classic-rock song.
And “2112” isn't simply a progressive-rock epic.
These songs helped establish a musical language that countless bands would later try to imitate.
Seeing them performed again in 2026 gives fans a chance to reconnect with that history.
A RUSH Fan's Guide to Making the Most of San Antonio
If you're attending the September 25 show, here's how I'd approach the day.
1. Listen to the albums, not just the singles
Don't only put on “Tom Sawyer.”
Play Moving Pictures from beginning to end.
Then play Permanent Waves.
Then 2112.
Then A Farewell to Kings.
You'll appreciate the show much more.
2. Don't obsess over the setlist
RUSH has specifically built Fifty Something around variation.
If you spend the entire afternoon worrying about whether “The Garden” or “The Trees” will appear, you're missing the point.
Go in ready to be surprised.
3. Arrive early
Parking opens at 4:30 PM and doors at 6:30 PM. (Frost Bank Center)
Take advantage of it.
4. Check the bag rules
The venue's published limit is 12" × 12" × 6". (Frost Bank Center)
5. Bring your memories
This is one of those concerts where you're going to see people wearing RUSH shirts from every decade.
Someone will be wearing 2112.
Someone will have Moving Pictures.
Someone will have an old R40 shirt.
Someone will probably have a Neil Peart drum kit tattoo.
And that's part of the experience.
RUSH San Antonio 2026: A Moment Fans Will Remember
There is something almost surreal about seeing RUSH listed on a concert calendar again.
For years, the R40 Tour felt like the ending.
Then life changed.
Neil Peart died.
Geddy and Alex continued with their own projects.
And the idea of another RUSH tour became increasingly difficult to imagine.
But Fifty Something happened.
RUSH returned.
Not as a recreation of the past.
Not by pretending Neil Peart could simply be replaced.
Instead, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson built a new version of the live band around Anika Nilles and Loren Gold and created a show that celebrates what RUSH was, what it remains and what its music means to the people who grew up with it. (Rush.com)
San Antonio is now part of that story.
Final Thoughts: RUSH Fifty Something in San Antonio, Texas
The RUSH Fifty Something Tour 2026 San Antonio shows are much more than two dates on a tour schedule.
They represent a remarkable return.
On September 23, RUSH brought the Fifty Something production to Frost Bank Center for the first of two San Antonio nights. The currently documented performance included “Xanadu,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “The Analog Kid,” “Freewill,” “Subdivisions,” “Bravado,” “La Villa Strangiato,” “The Trees,” “Distant Early Warning,” “Limelight” and a complete performance of “2112,” followed by “Animate” as the currently indexed portion of the second set. (Setlist.fm)
And on September 25, 2026, RUSH returns to the same arena.
The band will once again perform two sets.
Geddy Lee will be behind the bass and keyboards.
Alex Lifeson will be back with the guitar.
Anika Nilles will take the drum throne.
Loren Gold will help expand the live arrangements.
And somewhere inside the music, Neil Peart's enormous legacy will continue to be felt.
That's what makes this tour so powerful.
It's not about pretending nothing changed.
Everything changed.
RUSH simply found a way to keep the music moving.
For anyone lucky enough to be inside Frost Bank Center on September 25, the best advice is probably the simplest:
Put the phone away for a while.
Look at the stage.
Listen to that bass.
Listen to the guitar.
Listen to those drums.
And when the opening notes of “2112,” “Xanadu,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Tom Sawyer” or whatever RUSH chooses that night fill the arena, remember what you're watching.
This is a band whose music has survived generations.
And in 2026, in San Antonio, RUSH is still playing it.
See you in the Limelight.
https://blaxteeco.com/product/radiohead-thief-character-stripes-2026-knitted-ugly-sweater/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/mariah-careys-christmastime-2026-uk-tour-schedule-dates-poster-canvas/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/mariah-careys-christmastime-2026-uk-tour-schedule-dates-t-shirt/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/wwe-penta-x-rey-fenix-duo-lucha-brothers-two-sided-t-shirt/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/tuborg-beer-christmas-ugly-sweater/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/carlsberg-beer-christmas-ugly-sweater/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/jagermeister-christmas-ugly-sweater/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/los-angeles-queens-2026-wpbl-champions-home-decor-poster-canvas/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/los-angeles-queens-2026-wpbl-champions-t-shirt/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/los-angeles-queens-2026-wpbl-champions-for-the-first-time-t-shirt/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/los-angeles-queens-2026-wpbl-champions-hat/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/melanie-martinez-new-single-possession-cover-home-decor-poster-canvas/
https://blaxteeco.com/product/fontaines-d-c-x-bohemian-fc-football-jersey/
Comments
Post a Comment