The legendary rockabilly trio Stray Cats have officially announced a 2026 summer tour, marking their long-awaited return to the stage after canceling a planned 2025 tour due to frontman Brian Setzer’s health struggles.
The tour will bring the band’s signature rockabilly energy back across the United States for more than two weeks of performances, running from July 24 through August 16, 2026.
Fans will see all three original members — Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom — reunited onstage for the run.
The announcement arrives after the band was forced to cancel their entire 2025 fall tour because of a serious illness affecting Setzer.
Earlier in 2025, the guitarist revealed that he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that caused severe cramping and numbness in his hands, making it difficult for him to play guitar.
In a statement announcing the new tour, Setzer expressed excitement about returning to the stage:
“It’s good to be healthy and strong again… come on out and have some fun with us this summer.”
Bassist Lee Rocker also shared his enthusiasm for the reunion:
“The Stray Cats are back and ready to blast off… nobody comes close.”
Meanwhile drummer Slim Jim Phantom added that summer shows with the band have a special energy, calling them “the greatest rockabilly show on earth.”
What Fans Can Expect From the Shows
The tour will feature the band’s classic hits that helped define the rockabilly revival of the early 1980s. Fans can expect songs such as:
- “Stray Cat Strut”
- “Rock This Town”
- “Runaway Boys”
- “(She’s) Sexy + 17”
The group recently also released two new tracks — “Stampede” and a cover of “Teenage Heaven” — their first new music since 2019.
Stray Cats 2026 Summer Tour Dates
Here are the confirmed tour dates announced so far:
July 2026
- July 24 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
- July 25 — Phoenix, AZ — Celebrity Theatre
- July 26 — Del Mar, CA — The Sound
- July 28 — Highland, CA — Yaamava’ Theater
- July 29 — Highland, CA — Yaamava’ Theater
- July 31 — Santa Rosa, CA — Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
August 2026
- Aug 1 — Saratoga, CA — The Mountain Winery
- Aug 2 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
- Aug 4 — Sandy, UT — Sandy Amphitheater
- Aug 5 — Colorado Springs, CO — Pikes Peak Center
- Aug 7 — TBA
- Aug 8 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater
- Aug 10 — Huber Heights, OH — Rose Music Center at The Heights
- Aug 11 — TBA
- Aug 12 — Northfield, OH — MGM Northfield Park
- Aug 14 — Westbury, NY — Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
- Aug 15 — Atlantic City, NJ — Ocean Casino Resort
- Aug 16 — Morristown, NJ — Mayo Performing Arts Center
Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time, with a fan club presale beginning earlier in the week.
A Rockabilly Legacy Continues
Formed in 1979, the Stray Cats helped revive rockabilly for a new generation, blending 1950s rock ’n’ roll with punk-era attitude. With hits like “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut,” the trio became one of the defining acts of the early MTV era.
Now, after health setbacks and tour cancellations, the band is preparing to hit the road again — proving that the Stray Cats’ rockabilly fire is far from fading.
