Billy Joel performs onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Billy Joel has announced a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. The news arrived today (May 23, 2025) and noted that he has cancelled all scheduled concerts. The statement, revealed at 12N ET indicated that the condition was exacerbated by recent concert performances. “Under his doctor’s instructions,” it reads, “Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
It went on to say that he “is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint out audience, and thank you for understanding,” wrote Joel, who turned 76 on May 9.
The news followed a statement he issued on March 11 when he postponed eight concerts due to recent surgery. Though he did not divulge the specifics at that time, he noted that he was expected to make a full recovery. His return to the stage was scheduled for July 5 with one or two shows per month through summer 2026. Those have all been cancelled. “While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,” wrote Joel. “I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans.”
Though his historic residency at Madison Square Garden ended on July 25, 2024, Joel continued to perform concerts roughly twice per month. He had played one show per month at The Garden since January 2014, not counting the 2020 and 2021 pandemic postponements, an unprecedented run. And though he no longer tours, the Piano Man had announced a slew of concerts in 2025, many of which were to be stadium dates with Sting, Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart (separately). He had planned a rare trifecta: a date with Rod Stewart at Yankee Stadium on July 18, a July 5 show in East Rutherford, NJ, at Metlife Stadium on August 8 with Stevie Nicks, and a concert at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets on August 21, with Sting, thus performing at all three of the New York metropolitan area’s major outdoor facilities over the same summer.
Joel’s iconic concerts at the original Yankee Stadium on June 22-23, 1990, are remembered in the concert film, “Billy Joel Live from Yankee Stadium.” He would have made music history as the first musical act to perform at both the original and the new Yankee Stadium. Sting was to make his first appearance at the Mets’ home as a solo act; he performed at Shea Stadium with the Police in 1983.
“I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did,” said Joel of his historic MSG residency. “My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years, 150 shows – all right already! I do remember the first time we played Madison Square Garden, it was the pinnacle of my career,” he says of that Dec. 14, 1978 performance. “I thought, ‘My God, I’m headlining Madison Square Garden.’ Everybody in the world knows when you play The Garden, it’s not just New York.”
“Madison Square Garden is more than just our office,” he says. “It’s home.”
10 years of Billy Joel!
The greatest arena run of all time is coming to an end. The historic sold-out monthly residency at The World’s Most Famous Arena will conclude in July 2024 with his 150th lifetime performance. pic.twitter.com/41nSt4Hf3g
— Billy Joel (@billyjoel) June 1, 2023
Related: Our recap of Joel’s final concert of his Madison Square Garden residency
In addition to his historic residency run, Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden’s most extraordinary benefit concerts – “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes.
On March 9, 2019, Joel visited Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., and treated the audience to a surprise version of the Eagles’ “Take it Easy.”
Watch Joel perform “New York State of Mind” with his daughter, Alexa Rae Joel, at the Garden in February 2019
Related: Our review of Joel’s March 2015 show with surprise guest Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals
The MSG shows were often marked with surprise guest appearances by fellow classic rock legends. On Jan. 11, 2018, Joel was joined by Foreigner’s Mick Jones and Lou Gramm. In December 2017, Steve Miller sang “The Joker” with him. On Sept. 26, 2017, Joel reversed the trend when he joined Paul McCartney onstage at the Garden.
Watch Joel perform “Uptown Girl” on Aug. 24, 2022, with pop star Olivia Rodrigo
Related: Looking back at Joel’s historic MSG residency and surprise guests
Joel did many stadium dates with Nicks in 2023 and 2024, and with Sting in 2024.
Joel released his first new song in 17 years, “Turn the Lights Back On,” on Feb. 1, 2024. He performed it at the Grammy Awards three days later on Feb. 4.
When Joel and Stewart shared the bill on September 13, 2024, in Cleveland, Rod the Mod joined the Piano Man to perform a Faces classic.
The beloved musician, singer and songwriter has sold a reported 150 million records worldwide. In 2013, Joel received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States’ top cultural awards. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards including a Tony for Movin’ Out, a Broadway musical based on his music.
CANCELLED – Billy Joel 2025-2026 Concert Dates (If he returns to performing, tickets will be available here and here)
Jul 05 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
Jul 18 – Bronx, NY – Yankee Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
Aug 08 – East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (with Stevie Nicks)
Aug 21 – Flushing, NY – Citi Field (with Sting)
Sep 05 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park (with Sting)
Sep 20 – Cincinnati, OH – Paycor Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
Oct 04 – Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium (with Stevie Nicks)
Oct 18 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars Superdome (with Stevie Nicks)
Nov 01 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (previously moved from Jan 17)
Nov 15 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field (with Stevie Nicks) (was Mar 29)
TBD – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field (with Sting) (was April 26, 2025)
2026
Mar 14 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre (was Mar 15, 2025)
Apr 10 – Syracuse, NY – JMA Wireless Dome (with Sting) (was Apr 11, 2025)
May 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium (with Sting) (was May 23, 2025)
Jun 06 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield (was Jun 7, 2025)
Jun 20 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield (was Jun 21, 2025)
Jul 03 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium (with Sting) (was May 10, 2025)
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
Recent vinyl box sets of Joel’s catalog are available here and here.
12 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationWhy did you abandon Philly? You had a residency at Citizens Bank Park for the last six years.
Can you please tell me any information about the rescheduled show for Billy Joel that was on March 19th rescheduled for September 26th is going to be canceled or rescheduled. I would hope the decision Of it being on, rescheduled, or canceled would be soon, because I need to make plans around the date. If there is any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kim
As you know, as of Aug. 12 that Sept. 26 date is still listed as on. But it’s really hard to imagine that it will take place on that date. Best to follow his Twitter account as he’s been postponing all his monthly shows since March.
I’d love to know an answer also I have these same tickets and still no info from stub hub
I am not able to get my money back because he has rescheduled his show rather than cancelling. I ordered tickets from Box-Office tickets and they refuse to refund my money. I am sick over this. I wish he would just cancel the show since the new date is over a year from now in December 2021. Anyone else have this problem??
Look I just wanna say PLEASE COME TO AUSTRALIA! Specifically QLD please please please! Just let me know first so I can buy my tickets before they sell out it would be an amazing unforgettable life experience to see you play live.
Will the concert at Notre Dame take place in June?
When will a decision be made about the charlotte concert
yes this is a bunch of BS, i can use the money out of work and all that can be credit back on my credit card to help my family in this uncertain, very frustrating , us normal folks don’t have a big nest egg like bill joel and other artists.
A “Best of” live Album of the MSG shows would be great!
There is one already; it came out a while ago, it’s called “12 Gardens”, taken from twelve different shows at MSG. It’s really good.
Ever since I read about how Joel treated his band, ie Liberty DeVito, I have no respect for him.
He could play next store and I’d be busy.