Roxette say Live Nation cancelled their 40th anniversary North American tour
Roxette have told fans that Live Nation cancelled the North American leg of their 40th anniversary tour, blaming "logistics and hugely increased touring costs." The Swedish pop-rockers join a growing list of acts scrapping tours this year amid what the industry has dubbed "blue dot fever" — a reference to charts of poorly-selling shows dotted with unsold-ticket markers, highlighting wider financial pressures facing live music.
All US and Canada dates were axed on 25 July, with ticketholders refunded, cutting short a triple bill that was also to feature Nick Lowe and Taylor Dayne. Co-frontman Per Gessle said the band was disappointed, noting the US is their biggest streaming market, and stressed the decision was made solely by Live Nation. The tour had been due to run from 10 September at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Michigan to 9 October at White River Amphitheatre in Washington; other artists cancelling dates this year include David Lee Roth, Lily Allen, Zayn Malik, and the joint Post Malone/Jelly Roll stadium tour.
- Live Nation cancelled Roxette's North American 40th anniversary tour dates
- Cause cited: rising touring costs and logistics; ticketholders refunded
- Part of a wider 2026 trend of tour cancellations, dubbed "blue dot fever"
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Roxette are a Swedish pop-rock duo best known for hits such as “The Look” and “It Must Have Been Love”. Per Gessle is one of the group’s co-frontmen; their original singer, Marie Fredriksson, died in 2019, and Gessle has continued performing under the Roxette name with singer Lena Philipsson.
Live Nation is a major concert promoter, organising tours and arranging venues and ticket sales. A tour can be cancelled when its expected costs and ticket income do not make the planned dates workable; touring costs have risen across the live music business, while some artists have also called off shows.
The planned North American concerts were part of a wider anniversary tour and included Nick Lowe and Taylor Dayne. The cancellations matter to fans and performers, and reflect the financial pressures involved in staging large live shows.