Rod Stewart Just Added Six More Vegas Dates, and We Love What It Says About Encore Runs

At 81, Rod Stewart keeps tacking fresh dates onto his Encore Shows at the Colosseum, proof that a Strip legend can wrap one historic residency and simply start a new chapter instead of calling it a career.

Six More Nights, Just Because Fans Asked

Caesars Entertainment made it official this year: Sir Rod Stewart is adding six more performances of his Encore Shows at the Colosseum, stacking August dates on top of the May and June run he had already booked. That brings his 2026 slate to a dozen nights in one building, which is a lot of mileage for a man who could easily be resting on five decades of hits instead.

What stands out to us is the why behind it. This isn't a farewell lap being stretched out for one more payday. It's a genuinely new booking cycle, added because the earlier dates moved and Caesars wanted more room on the calendar. That kind of demand doesn't happen for a show that's coasting, and it tells us the Colosseum crowd still wants a seat at his table.

From The Hits to the Encore

Context matters here, so let's back up. Stewart's original Colosseum residency, billed as The Hits, launched in 2011 and ran for thirteen straight years before wrapping in 2024. Over that stretch he logged more than 200 shows in that one room, making the Colosseum the venue he's played more than any other stage in his entire touring life.

Most artists would call that a finish line. Stewart treated it as a launchpad. Barely a year after the closing night, he was back under a new banner, Encore Shows, playing the same room with a refreshed production and no apparent interest in slowing the pace. It's the kind of second act we root for, because it proves a Vegas residency doesn't have to be a one-and-done story.

A Different Set Every Night, at 81

A Las Vegas entertainment writer who caught the Encore Shows this spring described Stewart strolling onstage in full sartorial flair, backed by a twelve-piece band and a run of backup singers, and clearly enjoying himself rather than punching a clock. Coverage of the show notes he tends to shuffle the setlist night to night, mixing familiar radio staples with deeper catalog cuts and the occasional cover, so two audiences a week apart can walk away with genuinely different shows.

He's also said, in his own words as reported by that outlet, that Caesars has simply treated him well over the years and that the Colosseum has become his favorite place to play. Coming from someone who has toured the world since the late 1960s, that's a meaningful vote of confidence in this particular stage, and in this particular town.

Why We're Cheering From the Piano Bench

We spend most of our nights in rooms a lot smaller than the Colosseum, but a story like this one still matters to every piano bar and cabaret stage in this town. It's a reminder that longevity in Vegas entertainment isn't about never leaving, it's about knowing when to come back. Stewart closed one chapter cleanly in 2024 and reopened a new one on his own terms, rather than dragging out a tired final tour.

That's the same spirit we try to bring every night at the piano. A song doesn't have to be brand new to land, and neither does a residency. If you're planning a Strip weekend around one of his August dates, save room for an encore of your own afterward. Grab a stool, name your favorite Rod Stewart deep cut, and let's see if the room can sing along.

• Encore Shows dates run through late August 2026 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
• Original residency, The Hits, spanned 2011 to 2024 across more than 200 performances
• New production features a 12-piece band and a rotating, night-specific setlist

What to Know Before You Catch the Encore Shows

Thinking about grabbing a seat for one of the new August dates? Here's the quick rundown before you book.

1. Venue: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the same room that hosted his original 13-year residency.
2. New dates: Six additional August 2026 performances, stacked on top of previously booked May and June shows.
3. Show time: Performances kick off at 7:30 p.m., a comfortable pre-nightcap window for a piano bar chaser.
4. Starting price: Tickets begin around $91.20 before tax and fees, according to Caesars' own listing.
5. The band: A 12-piece band and backup vocalists anchor the refreshed Encore Shows production.
6. The setlist: Reporting on the show describes a set that shifts night to night rather than staying fixed.
7. The history: Follows The Hits, a 2011-2024 residency that topped 200 shows in the same venue.
8. Our pairing: Catch the early show, then wander to a piano bar for the deep cuts he didn't play.

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