You’ve probably seen the headlines. Dave Grohl is back, the band has a new drummer, and the stadium circuit is already calling. Honestly, trying to keep track of foo fighters gig dates feels like a full-time job lately. Between surprise club sets and massive festival announcements, it's easy to get lost.
They just wrapped up a benefit show at the Kia Forum on January 14, and honestly? The energy was high. If you weren't there, you missed a 19-song marathon that proved they aren't slowing down. But the real meat of the 2026 schedule is just starting to take shape.
The band is currently in a transition phase. After the "Everything or Nothing at All" run, they've shifted gears into the "Take Cover Tour." This isn't just a rehash of old hits. With Ilan Rubin now officially behind the kit—confirmed via their latest single "Asking For a Friend"—the dynamic has shifted. It’s tighter. Maybe a bit more aggressive.
The 2026 Roadmap: Where the Foos are Headed
If you’re looking for foo fighters gig dates in North America, you have to wait until the sweltering heat of August. Before that, they are basically camping out in Europe and hitting a few choice US festivals.
The festival circuit is actually where most fans are getting tripped up. Everyone knows about Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach (May 8), but the recent BottleRock Napa Valley announcement (May 22-24) caught people off guard. It's their third time headlining Napa. People still talk about the 2017 incident where the power was cut during "Everlong" because they blew past the curfew.
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Confirmed Summer Stadium Run
When August hits, the band moves into the North American stadium leg. This is the big one. Most of these shows feature Queens of the Stone Age as the direct support, which is a massive pairing.
- Toronto, ON: August 4 at Rogers Stadium.
- Detroit, MI: August 6 at Ford Field.
- Chicago, IL: August 8 at Soldier Field.
- Cleveland, OH: August 10 at Huntington Bank Field.
- Philadelphia, PA: August 13 at Lincoln Financial Field.
- Nashville, TN: August 15 at Nissan Stadium.
- Washington, DC: August 17 at Nationals Park.
Then they head north. Fargo gets a show on September 12 at the Fargodome, but notably, Queens of the Stone Age isn't on that specific bill. Instead, you'll see Mannequin Pussy taking the support slot there.
Canada gets a solid week in September too. Regina (Sept 15), Edmonton (Sept 17), and Vancouver (Sept 20) are all locked in. They’ll wrap up this specific leg on September 26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The European Leg and Why It Matters
Before they hit the US stadiums, the band is spending June and July across the pond. This is where they often "road-test" the deeper cuts from But Here We Are and whatever new material they've been cooking up.
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June 10 starts the run in Oslo, Norway. From there, it's a whirlwind: Stockholm, Warsaw, and a double-header at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool on June 25 and 27. Liverpool is already showing as "Waitlist Only" on most ticket platforms.
If you're planning a trip, keep an eye on the July 5 date in Milan at the I-Days festival. The lineup there—featuring Idles and Fat Dog—suggests a much "punkier" set than the standard stadium show.
What’s Different This Time?
Basically, the lineup. It’s the elephant in the room. Following the passing of Taylor Hawkins, the band spent a lot of time soul-searching. Josh Freese did an incredible job stepping in, but the permanent addition of Ilan Rubin (formerly of Nine Inch Nails) has changed the texture of the live sound.
Rubin is a multi-instrumentalist. He brings a certain precision that Dave Grohl seems to be leaning into. If you listen to "Asking For a Friend," you can hear it. It’s not just straight-ahead rock; there’s a hypnotic, almost industrial layer to the rhythm.
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The "Bizarre" Pat Smear Situation
You might have heard whispers about Pat Smear. Sadly, he's expected to miss a handful of shows in early 2026. The official word is a "bizarre gardening accident" that resulted in a broken foot. It’s very Pat Smear to have a gardening injury sidelining a rock tour, but the band is moving forward. They’ve done the "Dave in a throne" thing before, but this time they'll likely just adjust the stage arrangements.
How to Actually Get Tickets
Don't buy from scalpers. Seriously.
The "Take Cover Tour" has been using a strict fan-first ticketing model. Most foo fighters gig dates have already had their initial on-sales, but they’ve been releasing small batches of tickets sporadically.
- Check the Newsletter: If you aren't on the official mailing list at foofighters.com, you’re doing it wrong. That’s where the "last minute" floor tickets are announced.
- The Fan-to-Fan Exchange: For the UK dates and certain US states with pro-consumer laws, use the official face-value exchange. Don't touch StubHub unless you want to pay a 300% markup.
- The Box Office Walk-up: Believe it or not, for the stadium shows, the venue box office often releases "production holds" (tickets held for camera gear or guest lists) around 2:00 PM on the day of the show.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're serious about catching them in 2026, here is what you need to do right now.
- Verify your Ticketmaster account: Ensure your payment info is updated. These tickets move in seconds when "platinum" seats drop back to standard pricing.
- Set alerts for the "Take Cover" single releases: The band is dropping new tracks throughout the year. These drops often coincide with "extra" date announcements in cities like New York or LA that aren't currently on the list.
- Book refundable travel: For festivals like Pinkpop (June 21) or Mad Cool (July 8), accommodations fill up months in advance. Get something you can cancel if the schedule shifts.
The Foo Fighters are in a "renaissance" period. It’s raw, it’s loud, and honestly, it’s a bit unpredictable. Whether you're catching them in a muddy field in Germany or a massive stadium in Chicago, the 2026 tour is shaping up to be a defining moment in their 30-year history.
Keep an eye on the official tour page. Dates are being added for late 2026 as we speak.