Rod Stewart coming ‘one last time’ to Minnesota State Fair

The U.K. rock legend is hinting at retirement ahead of his Sept. 1 show at the grandstand.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
December 9, 2025 at 2:00PM
Rod Stewart performed in November during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance honoring military service members at the Royal Albert Hall in London. (Jack Taylor)

Tuesday night’s the night you’ll be able to see Rod Stewart during the Minnesota State Fair in 2026.

The “Tonight’s the Night” and “Maggie May” hitmaker has confirmed a Sept. 1 gig at the fair grandstand. It will be his first time playing the Great Minnesota Get-Together in 42 years — and possibly his last Minnesota performance ever.

Stewart, 80, is calling his current concert trek the One Last Time Tour. He says he’s not planning to fully retire from the stage, but he plans to hold off on large-scale tours. That’s usually code for, “Come see me in Las Vegas.”

Tickets for the twice-inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s grandstand return go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. via eTix.com or by phone at 800-514-3849.

Stewart is the second concert so far confirmed for the Minnesota State Fair’s 2026 grandstand series, following last month’s announcement that Weird Al Yankovic will be there again Aug. 28.

Last seen in town at Xcel Energy Center in 2022, Stewart has been eschewing his old band the Faces and rockier material from early in his career on recent tours in favor of lighter, ‘80s-‘90s hits and pop standards. But he does usually find the time and ego to still squeeze in “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”

about the writer

about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough to earn a shoutout from Prince during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

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Jack Taylor

The U.K. rock legend is hinting at retirement ahead of his Sept. 1, 2026, show at the grandstand, where he last played in 1984.

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