Rush Launches 2026 Reunion Tour With New Drummer Anika Nilles

WHAT WENT DOWN

Rush opened their Fifty Something tour June 7 at the Forum in Los Angeles with German drummer Anika Nilles behind the kit and Loren Gold on keys — the first time Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson played a full Rush show in 11 years ^*†. Aimee Mann joined them for Time Stand Still, her first time performing the song live with the band ^†‡.

THE DETAILS

• Four-night stand at the Forum — the same venue where Neil Peart played his final Rush show in August 2015 ^***.
• Nilles, who toured with Jeff Beck in 2022, auditioned alongside only one other drummer before Lee and Lifeson chose her ^*¶.
• The 24-song setlist opened with Xanadu — the first time Rush used that track as a show opener — and included multiple songs unplayed since 2004 to 2013, plus a tribute segment with archival Peart footage ^*†‡.
• Paul Rudd and Jason Segel appeared in an intro film reprising their I Love You, Man characters ^‡‡‡.
• The tour expanded from 22 dates to 58 North American shows after immediate sellouts, with over half a million tickets sold; South America and Europe dates follow in early 2027 ^*¶.

THE TAKE

Lee and Lifeson had four months of prep instead of the usual six to eight weeks, and it shows in the depth of the setlist ^*. Nilles fumbled a stick during Xanadu but recovered instantly — the crowd applauded, and the rest of the night rolled without incident ^‡‡.

Source Articles:
^* Watch: RUSH Kicks Off 2026 'Fifty Something' Tour In Los Angeles, Plays First Show With Drummer ANIKA NILLES — Blabbermouth, Blabbermouth, 2026-06-08T01:59:51+00:00 — https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-rush-kicks-off-2026-fifty-something-tour-in-los-angeles-plays-first-show-with-drummer-anika-nilles
^† Rush Play First Reunion Show With New Lineup – Setlist + Video — Corey Irwin, Loudwire, 2026-06-08T07:34:33+00:00 — https://loudwire.com/rush-reunion-tour-2026-setlist/
^‡ How Rush Honored Neil Peart at Their First Reunion Concert — Corey Irwin, Loudwire, 2026-06-08T12:30:08+00:00 — https://loudwire.com/rush-honor-neil-peart-reunion-concert/
^§ Rush Kick Off Reunion Tour With Live Rarities And Aimee Mann — Margaret Farrell, Stereogum, 2026-06-08T14:23:21+00:00 — https://stereogum.com/2501675/rush-kick-off-reunion-tour-with-live-rarities-and-aimee-mann/news/
^¶ See Drum-Cam Video Of RUSH's Entire First Concert With Drummer ANIKA NILLES — Blabbermouth, Blabbermouth, 2026-06-08T10:53:10+00:00 — https://blabbermouth.net/news/see-drum-cam-video-of-rushs-entire-first-concert-with-drummer-anika-nilles
^** Rush Plays First 2026 Reunion Tour Show – See Photos — Matthew Wilkening, Loudwire, 2026-06-08T14:14:29+00:00 — https://loudwire.com/rush-2026-reunion-tour-photos/
^†† Full-Concert Footage of RUSH Tour Kickoff Shows Anika Nilles Crushing the Drums: Watch — Langdon Hickman, Consequence, 2026-06-08T17:28:07+00:00 — https://consequence.net/2026/06/anika-nilles-drum-footage-captured-rush-fifty-something-tour-kickoff/
^‡‡ Watch Anika Nilles' Full Drum Performance From Rush Tour Kickoff — Bryan Rolli, Loudwire, 2026-06-08T19:30:16+00:00 — https://loudwire.com/rush-reunion-tour-anika-nilles-drum-footage/
^§§ MIKE PORTNOY Says ANIKA NILLES 'Absolutely Killed It In The Best Way Imaginable' At RUSH's First 2026 Concert — Blabbermouth, Blabbermouth, 2026-06-08T16:02:37+00:00 — https://blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-says-anika-nilles-absolutely-killed-it-in-the-best-way-imaginable-at-rushs-first-2026-concert
^¶¶ There's Drum-Cam Footage Of Drummer ANIKA NILLES' First RUSH Concert – Watch Here — Cervanté Pope, Metal Injection, 2026-06-08T21:40:00+00:00 — https://metalinjection.net/news/theres-drum-cam-footage-of-drummer-anika-nilles-first-rush-concert-watch-here