Barry Manilow has postponed a scheduled concert in Kentucky after cancelling the performance shortly before he was due to take to the stage on Tuesday 4 August 2026.
The 83-year-old singer was set to perform at Rupp Arena in Lexington, but organisers confirmed the show had been postponed because of “unexpected and unforeseen circumstances”. No further reason has been given.
Barry Manilow confirms Lexington concert postponement
Manilow shared the news with fans on social media shortly before the concert.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight’s show in Lexington has been rescheduled.”
Rupp Arena also issued a statement confirming the decision.
“Due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances, the Barry Manilow concert scheduled for tonight, August 4 at Rupp Arena is postponed. All previously purchased tickets will be honored at the new date once it is announced.”
Fans who purchased tickets will be able to use them for the rescheduled date, which has yet to be announced.
Cincinnati concert still scheduled
At the time of writing, Manilow is still expected to perform at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, 5 August, with no changes announced to the remainder of his tour schedule.
A difficult year for the music legend
The latest postponement follows a challenging period for the singer, who was forced to cancel several performances earlier this year while recovering from surgery.
Manilow revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in December 2025 after doctors discovered the disease during an MRI following recurring bronchitis. He underwent a lobectomy to remove a cancerous tumour from his left lung and confirmed three months later that he was cancer-free.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, the Copacabana star reflected on the experience.
“I never thought cancer would get me, it wasn’t in the cards.”
He explained that doctors wanted to operate quickly after the diagnosis.
“They wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible, so we made a deal: I’d finish the couple of weeks of shows that I had, then I’d go to the hospital, and they’d remove it.”
Although the surgery was successful, his recovery became more complicated.
“It was supposed to be a no-brainer, it hadn’t spread yet, thank goodness. But then my AFib kicked in, and acid reflux kicked in, and pneumonia kicked in. They rushed me to the ICU for seven days.”
Manilow also admitted the experience changed his perspective.
“I realised that I’ve always been the leader, leader of the band, leader of an audience, but I wasn’t the leader of this one.”
“That was a big lesson for me. I had to rely on everybody else. Nurses, doctors, friends, you should see some of the notes people have sent.”
Fans await new Lexington date
No replacement date has been confirmed for the postponed Lexington concert. Fans are advised to keep hold of their tickets while organisers announce the rescheduled performance.
