Morrissey Cancels Fifth Live Show of 2026 Amid Tour Disruptions
Morrissey has cancelled his fifth live performance of 2026, with the latest disruption affecting his scheduled show in St. Petersburg, Florida. The former Smiths frontman, renowned for his unpredictable tour schedule, was due to perform tonight, Tuesday 20 January, at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts’ Mahaffey Theatre.
This cancellation marks yet another setback for fans, as the St. Petersburg date had already been a rescheduled performance after Morrissey initially scrapped his visit to the same venue last May. According to reports on Reddit, the venue confirmed the cancellation via email, citing “artist illness” as the reason. Ticketmaster has issued a statement for affected patrons:
“Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event. You do not need to take any action. Refunds will be issued to the original method of payment once funds are received from the Event Organizer, and should appear within 14–21 days.”
Morrissey’s US headline tour, which began on 10 January in San Antonio, Texas, follows the recent announcement of his new album, Make-Up Is A Lie, and the release of its title track. However, the tour has faced multiple cancellations, affecting key cities including San Diego, St. Louis, Atlanta, and one Californian date due to an “adverse reaction to a prescription medication.”
| Date | City | Venue | Reason for Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 2026 | San Diego, CA | Spreckels Theatre | Artist illness |
| 17 Jan 2026 | St. Louis, MO | Stifel Theatre | Artist illness |
| 18 Jan 2026 | Atlanta, GA | Tabernacle | Artist illness |
| 19 Jan 2026 | California | Unspecified | Prescription medication reaction |
| 20 Jan 2026 | St. Petersburg, FL | Mahaffey Theatre | Artist illness |
The US leg of the tour is set to conclude in Hollywood on Thursday, 22 January. Morrissey is slated to return to the UK for his sole 2026 performance at The O2 in London on 28 February as part of his European tour.
Fans at his first 2026 show witnessed a rare live rendition of The Smiths’ Paint A Vulgar Picture, performed for the first time in almost three decades. Make-Up Is A Lie reunites Morrissey with acclaimed producer Joe Chiccarelli, known for his work with The Strokes, The White Stripes, Weezer, and My Morning Jacket. The album was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in southern France and features a band comprising Jesse Tobias, Camila Grey, Carmen Vandenberg, Juan Galeano, Alain Whyte, Gustavo Manzur, and Brendan Buckley.
“I insist on being myself in spite of much discouragement, and this new music is a valid portrait of much more to come in 2026,” Morrissey wrote. “Born, then born, and born again. I am your lover-to-be.”
Make-Up Is A Lie is scheduled for release on 6 March via Sire/Warner, marking Morrissey’s first solo album in six years since 2020’s I Am Not A Dog On A Chain. Meanwhile, his long-delayed Bonfire of Teenagers album remains unreleased, despite Morrissey reacquiring the rights in 2024.
