Bob Dylan has extended his ongoing Rough and Rowdy Ways tour with a new set of 2026 U.S. dates, focusing on smaller venues across the Midwest and South. The 27-show run begins March 21 in Omaha, Nebraska, and concludes May 1 in Abilene, Texas, bypassing major metropolitan areas. Fans can expect performances heavy on tracks from the 2020 album, alongside select classics and potential covers.
Tour Overview
Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, which debuted in 2021 to support his critically acclaimed 2020 album of the same name, is set for another extension in 2026. The announcement comes after a month-old tease on Dylan's X account, confirming a 27-date itinerary that prioritizes mid-sized theaters, arenas, and auditoriums in less-visited towns. This approach aligns with the tour's history of delivering intimate, evolving performances rather than stadium spectacles.
Key Dates and Venues
The tour kicks off on March 21 at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by stops in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (March 22, Mary W. Sommervold Hall); Rochester, Minnesota (March 24, Mayo Civic Center Arena); and Iowa City, Iowa (March 25, Hancher Auditorium). It continues through the Midwest with shows in La Crosse, Wisconsin (March 27); Rockford, Illinois (March 28); and others, before heading south to cities like Knoxville, Tennessee (April 14); Asheville, North Carolina (April 19); and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (April 27). The final performance is scheduled for May 1 at the Abilene Auditorium in Abilene, Texas.
Notable venues include the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois (March 30), and the Cowan Center in Tyler, Texas (April 29), emphasizing Dylan's preference for historic and community-focused spaces.
Performance Expectations
Drawing from recent tours, the setlist will likely feature the bulk of Rough and Rowdy Ways material, which Dylan has performed over 275 times per song in some cases, excluding the epic 'Murder Most Foul.' Superfan Ray Padgett, author of the Flagging Down the Double E’s newsletter, highlighted the tour's variability: “One night a song has drums and is a fast, up-tempo song. The next night it’s basically a solo piano ballad, the same song.” Expect rearrangements of classics like 'When I Paint My Masterpiece' and occasional covers, such as Van Morrison's 'Going Down to Bangor' from recent European shows.
The tour has seen lineup changes, including drummers like Jim Keltner and Anton Fig, and Dylan has taken summer breaks for collaborations, such as the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson. No details yet on 2026 festival involvement or additional fall dates in larger cities.