Deep Purple halts remaining 2026 European tour after Ian Gillan hospitalization
The 81-year-old singer cited serious health risks that forced the cancellation of over a dozen dates in Europe and the U.K.
By Harper Laurent ·
Deep Purple has canceled all remaining concert dates for their 2026 European tour following a medical emergency involving lead vocalist Ian Gillan.
Gillan, who turned 81 this summer, disclosed the details on the band's social media platform on Monday. He explained that he required urgent hospital attention while in Leipzig, Germany. Although he initially hoped to complete the tour, his medical team advised against proceeding due to serious risks. The band's management agreed to postpone the shows until further notice.
This decision expands on a preliminary announcement made earlier in the week. That first notice covered only two German shows and cited an unspecified medical issue. The full cancellation now affects more than a dozen performances originally planned for Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom. The band stated that all tickets purchased remain valid for future rescheduled dates.
"I was hoping that I would get the all-clear to hang on until the end of the tour, but there are very serious risks involved in me doing so," Gillan wrote in the statement. He expressed gratitude for fan support and apologized for the inconvenience, noting that the pause was in the best interest of everyone involved.
The band has additional dates scheduled for December in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Management has not yet confirmed whether those South American and Latin American performances will proceed as planned.
