Los Angeles, Feb 22 (.) Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has postponed the opening leg of his 2026 ‘Arena tour’ as he recovers from lung surgery following a cancer diagnosis, People reports.
The 82-year-old Grammy winner shared the news with fans on Instagram, explaining that all performances scheduled between February 27 and March 17 have been rescheduled based on his doctor’s advice. Manilow described a recent appointment with his surgeon as “very depressing,” revealing that he was advised not to attempt full-length shows while still healing.
According to Manilow, his doctor determined he is not yet capable of completing a 90-minute arena concert because his lungs “are not ready.” Despite committing to an intense rehabilitation routine, including walking on a treadmill three times daily, he said he can currently sing only three songs in a row.
“Deep down, I wanted to go back, but my body knew what my heart didn’t want to admit: I wasn’t ready,” he wrote, expressing disappointment over delaying the tour, according to People.
The postponement follows surgery in December to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung. Manilow previously shared that the cancer was caught at stage one and credited early detection through proactive medical testing.
While the first 13 arena dates have been pushed back, Manilow said his doctor believes he could likely return in time for his Las Vegas performances scheduled for March 26, 27, 28 and April 2, 3, 4.
This is the second time this month the veteran performer has adjusted his schedule. Earlier, he postponed his February 12 to February 21 residency at Westgate Las Vegas to focus on recovery.
In earlier updates, Manilow said he felt “great” and experienced no symptoms, emphasizing that he still has his voice and energy. He reassured fans that he plans to return to the stage once he has fully healed, as per People.
“The doctor said that my body had been through hell and that it needed time to heal. So, I’m going back to healing,” he wrote, thanking supporters for their continued encouragement.
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