Billy Joel is canceling all of his tour dates, including a Syracuse concert, after being diagnosed with a brain disorder.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician postponed shows in March due to health issues, including a scheduled April performance at the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University. On Friday, he revealed that he’s suffering from a medical condition known as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,” Joel said.
Joel, 76, said his NPH has been made worse by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. He’s undergoing physical therapy and has been advised by his doctors “to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, NPH is a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles. It’s called “normal pressure” because, despite the excess fluid, CSF pressure as measured during a spinal tap is often normal. As brain ventricles enlarge with the excess CSF, they can disrupt and damage nearby brain tissue, leading to difficulty walking, thinking and other problems.
Joel first sparked concerns about his health when he reportedly lost his balance and fell at a Feb. 22 concert in Connecticut. A video showed him landing on his side before rolling onto his back; fans said he looked hurt but Joel still performed one more song that night.
“Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage,” a statement said.
The Syracuse concert, originally scheduled for April 11 at the JMA Wireless Dome, was rescheduled for April 10, 2026. Fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sting was scheduled to open the show.
It would have been Joel’s eighth time performing at the former Carrier Dome, breaking his own record.
All purchased tickets will be automatically refunded to the original payment used for the purchase. If tickets were transferred by a third party reseller, the refund will go to the original purchaser.
Joel is a Grammy-winning music legend known for some of the biggest hits of the 1970s and ‘80s, including “Piano Man,” “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” “Uptown Girl,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “The Longest Time,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Last year, he released “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new pop song in three decades, and wrapped up a historic Madison Square Garden residency.
Canceled Billy Joel tour dates include:
April 26: Billy Joel / Sting at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc.
July 5: Billy Joel / Rod Stewart at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
July 18: Billy Joel / Rod Stewart in Bronx, N.Y.
Aug. 8: Billy Joel / Stevie Nicks at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Aug. 21: Billy Joel / Sting at Citi Field, Queens, N.Y.
Sept. 5: Billy Joel / Sting at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Sept. 20: Billy Joel / Rod Stewart at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Oct. 4: Billy Joel / Stevie Nicks at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Oct. 18: Billy Joel / Stevie Nicks at Superdome, New Orleans, La.
Nov. 1: Billy Joel at Seminole Hard Rock, Hollywood, Fla. (rescheduled from 1/17/25)
Nov. 15: Billy Joel / Stevie Nicks at Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. (rescheduled from 3/29/25)
March 14, 2026: Billy Joel at Rogers Center, Toronto, Ontario (rescheduled from 3/15/25)
April 10, 2026: Billy Joel / Sting at JMA Dome, Syracuse, N.Y. (rescheduled from 4/11/25)
May 22, 2026: Billy Joel / Sting at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah (rescheduled from 5/23/25)
June 6, 2026: Billy Joel at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, UK (rescheduled from 6/7/25)
June 20, 2026: Billy Joel at Anfield, Liverpool, UK (rescheduled from 6/21/25)
July 3, 2026: Billy Joel / Sting at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. (rescheduled from 5/10/25)
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