Kansas 2026 Tour: Dates, Lineup, Tickets & What to Expect
The Kansas 2026 tour is now one of the most expansive itineraries the legendary progressive rock band has mapped out in years, spanning theaters, amphitheaters, casinos, and festivals from January through September.
With a rebuilt and road-tested lineup, a dramatic comeback story involving founding members and health battles, and a brand-new round of dates just announced with 38 Special, there has never been a better time to see this band live.
Kansas has always delivered on stage, but the 2026 run carries extra weight: it marks the band’s full stride forward after a tumultuous period of lineup changes, health scares, and an emotional homecoming reunion in their home state.
If you have been waiting for the right moment, this is it.
Photo credit: Jason Kempin, Getty Images
Quick Navigation
- Complete Kansas 2026 Tour Date Schedule
- New Kansas and 38 Special 2026 Dates
- The 2026 Kansas Lineup
- Scott Bernard Joins the Band
- Ronnie Platt’s Comeback Story
- Phil Ehart and Eric Holmquist
- What to Expect at a Kansas 2026 Show
- How to Get Tickets and VIP Packages
- Essential Kansas Albums
- The 2025 Bonner Springs Reunion
- Why Kansas Remains an Essential Live Act
Kansas 2026 Tour: Complete Date Schedule
The Kansas 2026 tour kicked off in January and runs all the way through September, making it one of the band’s most ambitious annual schedules in recent memory.
The winter leg swept through Florida before moving west to Washington state and then southeast through Alabama and Mississippi.
February brought an international stop in Mexico City, followed by Midwest and East Coast theater dates.
New spring and summer dates have since been added, pushing the total number of confirmed shows well past 30 for the calendar year.
Below is the full confirmed schedule, including dates already played and all upcoming shows.
January 2026 (Completed)
January 9, 2026 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
January 10, 2026 – Naples, FL – Artis-Naples
January 16, 2026 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
January 18, 2026 – Daytona Beach, FL – Peabody Auditorium
January 23, 2026 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live
January 29, 2026 – Oxford, AL – Oxford Performing Arts Center
January 30, 2026 – Meridian, MS – MSU Riley Center
January 31, 2026 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort and Casino
February 2026 (Completed)
February 7, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Agustin Melgar Olympic Velodrome
February 12, 2026 – Carterville, IL – Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort
February 13, 2026 – Terre Haute, IN – Hatfield Hall
February 14, 2026 – Anderson, IN – The Paramount Theatre Centre and Ballroom
February 19, 2026 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
February 20, 2026 – Wilmington, DE – Grand Opera House
February 21, 2026 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
February 27, 2026 – Harris, MI – Island Resort and Casino
February 28, 2026 – Harris, MI – Island Resort and Casino
March 2026
March 13, 2026 – Chandler, AZ – Ostrich Festival 2026
March 21, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 70’s Rock and Romance Cruise 2026
March 29, 2026 – Tampa, FL – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
April 2026
April 9, 2026 – Cleveland, MS – Bologna Performing Arts Center
May 2026
May 15, 2026 – Mahnomen, MN – Shooting Star Casino Hotel and Event Center
May 16, 2026 – Carlton, MN – Black Bear Casino Resort
May 21, 2026 – Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Casino and Resort
May 23, 2026 – Mount Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
May 29, 2026 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
June 2026 (with 38 Special unless noted)
June 5, 2026 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena (Kansas closes)
June 6, 2026 – Lampe, MO – Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater (38 Special closes)
June 12, 2026 – Macon, GA – Macon Amphitheater (Kansas closes)
June 13, 2026 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater (38 Special closes)
June 19, 2026 – Park City, KS – Park City Arena (Kansas solo)
June 20, 2026 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater (38 Special closes)
July 2026
July 10, 2026 – Fort Wayne, IN – Foellinger Theatre (with 38 Special, Kansas closes)
July 17, 2026 – Beaver Dam, KY – Beaver Dam Amphitheater (with 38 Special, Kansas closes)
July 24, 2026 – Caldwell, ID – Canyon County Fair
September 2026
September 30, 2026 – Bloomsburg, PA – Bloomsburg Fair Grandstand
Tickets and VIP packages for upcoming shows are available at the official Kansas website.
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Shop Kansas Albums on Amazon Before the Tour
Kansas 2026 Tour: New Dates Announced with 38 Special
On March 10, 2026, Kansas announced a brand-new eight-city run with 38 Special, pushing the Kansas 2026 tour into a major summer amphitheater run.
The two bands will swap closing slots on most nights, with Kansas headlining some shows and 38 Special closing others.
This co-headlining arrangement is a nod to the successful pairing the bands did throughout 2025, which drew strong crowds and positive reviews.
The new run kicks off June 5 in North Little Rock, Arkansas at Simmons Bank Arena and wraps July 17 in Beaver Dam, Kentucky.
Kansas will also play a solo hometown show on June 19 in Park City, Kansas, giving local fans a dedicated headlining night without splitting billing.
Presales began the week of March 10, and tickets are moving quickly at the larger amphitheater venues.
If you are on the fence about attending, the summer amphitheater circuit offers the best combination of sound quality, outdoor atmosphere, and accessibility for this type of classic rock double bill.
The Rebuilt Kansas 2026 Lineup
The Kansas 2026 touring lineup blends founding members with talented newcomers who have spent years earning their stripes at the highest levels of the music industry.
Lead vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt has been fronting the band since 2014 and remains the emotional center of every live performance.
Keyboardist and vocalist Tom Brislin contributes deeply to the band’s layered symphonic sound.
The guitar section now features three players: longtime member Zak Rizvi, new full-time guitarist Scott Bernard, and founding member Rich Williams when his health permits.
Violinist and guitarist Joe Deninzon, known for his prog rock work with Stratospheerius, provides the signature string element that has always separated Kansas from every other American rock band of its era.
Bassist and vocalist Dan McGowan officially replaced longtime member Billy Greer after subbing for him throughout 2024, rounding out the rhythm section with solid foundational playing.
Eric Holmquist handles drums while founding drummer Phil Ehart continues his recovery from a major heart attack suffered in early 2024.
Scott Bernard Joins the Kansas 2026 Tour
The most significant personnel development heading into the Kansas 2026 tour is the official full-time addition of guitarist Scott Bernard alongside founding guitarist Rich Williams.
Bernard was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, and officially joined Kansas in August 2025 after filling in for multiple shows over the prior year.
He spent 17 years performing with Kenny Loggins, serving as musical director for seven of those years, and his resume includes collaborative work with Michael McDonald, Joe Bonamassa, Alan Parsons, Richard Marx, and Al Stewart.
What makes his fit so natural is that Bernard is a lifelong Kansas fan who attended his first Kansas concert as a teenager and followed the band for decades.
Rich Williams, who has been with Kansas since 1973, personally selected Bernard as his choice to carry on the band’s guitar legacy.
Williams cited macular degeneration in his remaining eye as the reason for scaling back on touring, having already lost his right eye in a childhood fireworks accident.
“Scott Bernard is a fantastic guitar player, a great guy, and is my hand-picked choice to help carry on the legacy of the band Kansas,” Williams said.
Williams has made clear he is not retiring, and when all three guitarists are present at a show, they all perform together, giving some lucky audiences a rare three-guitar lineup.
Ronnie Platt’s Cancer Battle and Return for the Kansas 2026 Tour
One of the most important stories heading into the Kansas 2026 tour is lead singer Ronnie Platt’s recovery from thyroid cancer, diagnosed in early 2025.
Platt had to step back briefly from touring during the early part of 2025 to undergo treatment, but his prognosis was strong and his recovery was relatively quick compared to what many cancer patients face.
“It really feels like it was just a bump in the road,” Platt told Ultimate Classic Rock.
He credited the people around him and the timing of the diagnosis for the positive outcome, expressing gratitude that his treatment did not involve chemotherapy.
By mid-2025, Platt was back on the road and performing at full strength, his powerful voice intact for the shows that followed.
His return added an emotional dimension to the band’s 2025 touring cycle and makes his performances on the 2026 run feel all the more meaningful to fans who followed the story.
Phil Ehart, Eric Holmquist, and the Drum Seat
Founding drummer Phil Ehart, who has been with Kansas since their formation in Topeka in the early 1970s, suffered a major heart attack in early 2024 and stepped back from performing.
Ehart has not stopped working for the band, however, continuing in his longtime role as band manager, a position he has held for more than 40 years.
His drum tech and protege Eric Holmquist, who has worked alongside Ehart for over 20 years, stepped into the drummer’s seat for live performances.
Holmquist is not a stranger to the role: he filled in for Ehart during an illness in 2016 and again during an arm rehabilitation period from 2022 to 2023.
He also performed the first half of shows during the 50th Anniversary Tour before eventually taking over full-time duties.
Like so many people in the current Kansas orbit, Holmquist grew up as a devoted fan of the band, attending 40 to 50 Kansas shows per year in his youth before becoming part of the crew.
His intimate knowledge of the material and years of friendship with every band member make him one of the most credible emergency-turned-permanent fill-ins in classic rock history.
What to Expect at a Kansas 2026 Tour Show
The Kansas 2026 tour delivers the same core progressive rock experience the band has refined over five decades, anchored by a setlist that balances iconic hits with album cuts that reward longtime fans.
Regulars in the setlist include “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind,” “Point of Know Return,” “The Wall,” and “Hold On,” songs that have defined the band’s legacy since the mid-1970s.
For a deep look at the history of one of those signature tracks, check out our piece on Carry On Wayward Son.
Kansas also makes room for deeper album cuts that showcase the technical virtuosity the band built its reputation on, including extended instrumental passages that highlight each player’s individual skill.
Joe Deninzon’s violin work is the sonic element that still separates Kansas from every other American classic rock band performing in 2026.
Ronnie Platt handles both the soaring anthems and the quiet ballads with the kind of command that has earned him genuine respect from fans who remember original vocalist Steve Walsh.
Scott Bernard’s addition brings a fresh technical fluency to the guitar section that makes complex Leftoverture-era arrangements feel as alive as they did when those records first came out.
Recent Ticketmaster reviewers have praised the band’s 2025 and early 2026 performances as tight, dynamic, and professionally produced, with multiple attendees noting that the sound quality and setlist pacing were exceptional.
Theater shows tend to offer the most intimate experience, while the new summer amphitheater dates with 38 Special bring the energy of a full outdoor festival atmosphere.
How to Get Kansas 2026 Tour Tickets and VIP Packages
Tickets for the Kansas 2026 tour are available directly through the official Kansas website at kansasband.com, which lists every confirmed date and links to each venue’s ticketing platform.
VIP packages are available for select dates and typically include premium seating, exclusive merchandise, and meet-and-greet opportunities with band members.
The Black Bear Casino Resort and Soaring Eagle Casino Resort dates have VIP packages listed directly on the band’s site alongside standard tickets.
For the summer amphitheater dates with 38 Special, presales launched the week of March 10, 2026, with general on-sale following shortly after.
Popular markets and outdoor venues in this run are likely to sell through quickly, particularly in the Midwest where the band has some of its most loyal regional followings.
The 70’s Rock and Romance Cruise on March 21 out of Fort Lauderdale represents a completely unique way to see Kansas, sharing a bill with artists including Lou Gramm, America, Don Felder, and Ambrosia, among others.
For resale options on sold-out shows, StubHub offers a Fan Protect guarantee that covers purchases of Kansas 2026 dates.
Essential Kansas Albums to Own Before the Tour
If the 2026 tour is your first serious encounter with the band’s catalog, a few records are essential listening before you walk through the venue doors.
Leftoverture from 1976 is the obvious starting point, featuring “Carry On Wayward Son” and representing the peak of the band’s commercial and creative powers.
Point of Know Return from 1977 followed immediately and gave the world “Dust in the Wind,” a certified 4x Platinum record that remains one of classic rock radio’s most-played tracks.
The band’s 1974 self-titled debut documents where it all began, and Masque from 1975 is the hidden gem that serious fans revisit constantly for its complex arrangements.
Below are the best places to pick up the essential Kansas catalog before the tour hits your city.
The 2025 Bonner Springs Reunion That Set the Stage
Before the Kansas 2026 tour could become what it is today, the band needed a reset, and that reset came in September 2025 at a homecoming concert in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
Founding members Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope rejoined the band for encore performances of “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Hold On,” the first time either had performed with Kansas in decades.
Phil Ehart and Rich Williams were also present for the historic evening, making it one of the most emotionally significant Kansas concerts since the band’s peak commercial period.
Livgren wrote many of the band’s biggest songs, including both tracks performed at the reunion, and his presence on stage reminded every fan in attendance why Kansas occupies such a unique place in the American rock canon.
The momentum from that night carried directly into the booking of the 2026 tour schedule, and the positive reception from the 2025 shows with 38 Special confirmed there was strong demand for a bigger co-headlining summer run.
Why Kansas Remains One of Classic Rock’s Essential Live Acts
Kansas songs have appeared in television shows including “Supernatural,” “The Office,” “Reacher,” and “South Park,” and in films ranging from “Happy Gilmore” to “The Suicide Squad,” proving that their catalog resonates across multiple generations of popular culture.
The band has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, earned induction into both the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and released their 2020 studio album The Absence of Presence to strong critical acclaim, proving creative longevity far beyond nostalgia touring.
The progressive rock complexity that defined records like Leftoverture and Point of Know Return was always difficult to execute live, but Kansas has always been a band that matches or exceeds the studio versions on stage.
That reputation, built over five decades, is exactly what makes the Kansas 2026 tour worth attending regardless of which specific date you choose.
Whether you catch them at a casino theater in May or an outdoor amphitheater alongside 38 Special in June and July, the band consistently delivers the kind of performance that rewards the effort of getting there.
The Kansas 2026 tour is not just another nostalgia run: it is proof that one of American classic rock’s most enduring bands still has every reason to fill rooms, move tickets, and leave audiences wanting more.
Sources: Ultimate Classic Rock – Kansas and 38 Special 2026 Tour Announcement | Ultimate Classic Rock – Kansas Sets 2026 North American Tour Dates | Kansas Official Website – Tour Dates | Consequence – Kansas Announce 2026 US Tour