Bob Dylan has confirmed one summer date for 2026, with fans wondering whether this means he will carry the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour through to the end of the year.
Last year, Dylan suspended the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour to join Willie Nelson on the road for the Outlaw Music Festival tour. There, Dylan performed the likes of Mr. Tambourine Man, Positively 4th Street, and Love Sick. Those songs did not appear on the Rough and Rowdy Ways leg of the tour last year, which enters its fifth year of touring in 2026. Dylan is set to perform his first date on the tour on March 21 in Omaha, Nebraska. A series of concert dates were confirmed last year, and the tour was initially set to conclude on May 1 at the Abilene Auditorium in Texas.
But a new date has since appeared on Dylan’s official website, with more hopefully to come. A show on July 2 at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma, has since been confirmed. Pledging My Time: Conversations with Bob Dylan Band Members writer Ray Padgett questioned whether this meant Dylan would skip the Outlaw Music Festival tour this year.
He asked: “Does this mean no Outlaw Tour for Bob this year?” One fan replied: “Looks like Willie hasn’t toured in months, just announced a few shows for later spring I think. I wonder if Outlaw is done?” Another added: “We can hope (I’m in the minority, can’t stand open air shows).”
Fans are hoping the sole summer show announcement means further dates in the US, as well as shows in Canada and Europe. One fan wrote: “Fingers crossed he might come up north for a few shows in Canada again!”
Dylan wrapped up his time on the Outlaw Music Festival tour in September last year, performing some of his all-time greatest hits and surprising audiences with first-time covers and returning hits which he had not played for years. A setlist for his final Outlaw Music Festival tour can be found below.
- Masters of War
- I Can Tell (Bo Diddley cover)
- Forgetful Heart
- Axe and the Wind (George Butler cover)
- To Ramona
- Early Roman Kings
- Under the Red Sky
- I’ll Make It All Up To You (Charlie Rich cover)
- All Along the Watchtower
- ‘Til I Fell in Love With You
- Desolation Row
- Love Sick
- Share Your Love With Me (Bobby Bland cover)
- Blind Willie McTell
- Soon After Midnight
- Highway 61 Revisited
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways 2026 tour is set to start on March 21, with a show at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha. A show at the Washignton Pavilion in Sioux Falls is scheduled for the day after.
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I couldn’t care whether he does yet more dates in the US, I’d like to see at least one RARW date in Australia after 9 years since his last tour here.