Neil Young makes first live appearance of 2026 at Vancouver benefit concert

Neil Young's first live appearance of 2026

Neil Young made his first live appearance of 2026 on May 22, surprising fans with an acoustic set at a benefit concert in Vancouver honouring the 90th birthday of Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki. According to Billboard, the 80-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer took the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and played two songs solo: he strummed "Heart of Gold" on guitar before moving to the piano for a version of "After the Gold Rush" with added harmonica.

His first show since October 2025

The Vancouver appearance marks Young's first performance since a Painted Turtle benefit show on October 25, 2025, and comes after he cancelled all of his 2026 tour dates. In February, he abruptly pulled out of a planned European tour with no specific explanation, writing: "I have decided to take a break and will not be touring Europe this time. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. I'm sorry to let you down, but this is not the time." He later told fans that "all is good" and that he was "listening to my body."

Other attendees at the Suzuki birthday event included Jane Fonda, Al Gore, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Cockburn, and Chantal Kreviazuk. The concert raised funds for the David Suzuki Foundation.

Still active in the studio

Despite stepping back from the road, Neil Young has kept busy creatively. He recently finished a new studio album titled Second Song, recorded with the Chrome Hearts at producer Rick Rubin's Shangri-La studios in Malibu, California. The record reportedly includes two songs from 1964 that have never been released. A live album with the Chrome Hearts, As Time Explodes, is due May 29.

"Heart of Gold," the song he opened with in Vancouver, remains his only solo Billboard Hot 100 number one, having topped the chart on March 18, 1972, from his album Harvest. "After the Gold Rush" is the title track from his 1970 album, which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200.