Deep Purple have cancelled two concerts in Germany after frontman Ian Gillan was hospitalised following a medical emergency.
The band were due to perform at the QI Arena in Leipzig on Saturday 31 October 2026 and the Sporthalle in Hamburg on Sunday 1 November 2026, but announced that both shows would no longer go ahead as planned.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Deep Purple confirmed the reason for the cancellations:
“With great disappointment, Deep Purple must announce that they are unable to perform as scheduled tonight at the QI Arena (Leipzig) and tomorrow evening at the Sporthalle (Hamburg). This comes as a result of a medical emergency involving Ian Gillan, which has resulted in his current hospitalisation.”
The band also apologised to fans who had been planning to attend the concerts and said they were working to rearrange both dates.
“We understand that this announcement comes at short notice and share the disappointment of all our wonderful fans that we are unable to perform in Leipzig and Hamburg. Deep Purple and their team are focused on finding a suitable time to reschedule both these shows.”
No further details about Gillan’s medical emergency have been disclosed, and the band have not announced replacement dates.
Ian Gillan previously discussed his eyesight problems
The hospitalisation comes after Gillan spoke publicly about his health in a November 2025 interview with Uncut magazine.
The 81-year-old singer revealed that he had been experiencing significant problems with his eyesight.
“It’s one of those things,” he said. “I’ve only got 30 per cent vision. That won’t get better.”
Gillan later addressed speculation that his eyesight difficulties might force him to retire from performing.
In an interview with Uncut in June, he made clear that he had no immediate plans to leave the stage, saying he would stop when he no longer felt physically capable of performing.
“I will retire or stop when I haven’t got the strength to do it, or when it becomes embarrassing,” he shared in June. “I won’t just keep going for the sake of it. But we’re getting by so far, and I’m still standing when I walk off at the end of a show, just about.”
Deep Purple tour dates remain under scrutiny
Deep Purple’s Splat! World Tour is scheduled to continue through the remainder of 2026, with further European dates planned into 2027.
The tour is currently due to conclude with a concert in Poland in June 2027.
The band have not indicated whether Gillan’s hospitalisation will affect any other performances. For now, their immediate focus is on his recovery and finding new dates for the cancelled Leipzig and Hamburg concerts.
