It has been a voyage. A trip of a lifetime to Toronto. For me, a lifelong Rush fan, this was something that I had never expected. In October 2025, the announcement that Alex and Geddy were intending to go back on the road with their 50-Something tour set the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons.
Rush – Toronto 2026
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto – 11/13 August 2026
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
Like many European fans, 2015’s R40 North American tour was observed with the expectation of a UK/Euro tour to follow. It was the blueprint for the band for many years. And then it ended. Abruptly. Unedifying. Bereft? Absolutely.
Scroll forward five years, and we lost Neil Peart. Heartache for so many, yet an understanding that the great man, the lyrical engine of the band, had so little time with his family before his untimely passing. We could feel nothing but guilt that our expectation ate into his precious final years with his family. That R40 Euro tour that never was? The annoyance had faded.
The Time Stand Still DVD release made it clear that those final dates were the last. My only regret? That I had not headed across the pond to catch one of those last shows.
But back to October 2025. A few dates. Seven cities of Gold. The scramble for tickets. Golden tickets indeed. I bagged a brace for the two hometown shows in Toronto. Possibly the best shows to be at, apart from the opening duo in LA.
And then more dates added. Should I have added to my haul? Too late.
Flights and hotels booked. Mrs H, a willing companion. We go big. Business class flights, phenomenal hotel in the centre of the city. A true trip of a lifetime.
There are add-ons. RushFest Canada. Rush Day at Henderson Brewery Co. The inevitable haul of merchandise, which is extensive. Not to mention food and the odd beverage.
We land at YYZ a couple of days ahead of the first show. Time to explore a city that holds double the population of my country. The sheer size is incredible. Skyscrapers everywhere, towering above us. 30-50 stories high. The city is amazing. The folks are friendly. Service brilliant. Food fantastic.
We spend our first full evening above the city, dinner at the revolving dining room at the CN Tower. What an experience, and great food too. Thursday sees us head to the El Mocambo. Home of live albums by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elvis Costello and Blondie. The venue is steeped in history.
Rush fans assemble. Three smashing live sets, a glorious acoustic show from Jacob Moon and Q&A with Hugh Symes, Terry Brown and Neil’s sisters, Judy and Nancy. A raffle, beers, merchandise. And fans from across the globe. Watching my wife spend half an hour chatting with Judy without any clue who she was will live with me forever.
Friday. Show one. We meet up with Gerry and Steve from the fantastic Something For Nothing podcast. A couple of other fans join us before we head to Scotiabank Arena. It is time. 14,000 souls packed into what are very small seats. But the excitement is rich. You could cut it with a knife.
The intro video plays. Where’s Rush featuring our friends from the interview back in June. And then Toronto erupts. Xanadu is imperious. Alex and Geddy are shrouded in mist as they wield their double necks. It is hairs on the back of the neck time. Introductions amidst an ovation that rolls throughout the evening.
Rush fans are loud tonight as Limelight follows. We sing along, air drumming by virtually every other person, much to Mrs H’s amusement. It is sublime, even if the sound in the upper level is a bit muddy.
By the time we get to Headlong Flight, the arena is ready to explode. The first set ends with a rip-roaring The Spirit Of Radio. Geddy sounds brilliant. His vocals on Freewill amazing. The first Neil tribute works fantastically well. Are those tears or something in the eye? You must be there to experience it.
The second set begins with a dystopian countdown clock that races to 2112. The arena goes nuts as the band smash through three parts of their legendary song. The sound has improved, and the experience gets even better. The band sound powerful, the smiles on stage heart-warming.
Anika is just superb, and each roll or fill gets a rich roar from the audience. Her performance on YYZ and Tom Sawyer sees the adulation escalate further. With Loren Gold adding layers to backing vocals and keys, this is Rush unleashed. Geddy is bouncing around the stage, Alex’s playing magnificent.
The second Neil tribute comes. Another beautifully curated montage of pictures, video and narration. It leads into Time Stand Still, and we get another treat. Aimee Mann joins the band on stage to add those iconic vocals. Wow!
Red Barchetta sees Rush hitting the harder edge of their sound, Alex throws in a screaming lead burst. Suddenly we are at the encores. Tom Sawyer, complete with the Lil Rush intro, is followed by By-Tor. The whole arena is on its feet as we are transported to 1975 and Fly By Night once more.
Then the finale. A massive Working Man, which sees the band expend every ounce. Breathlessly, we leave the arena. Overjoyed at this night, the sheer intensity, the spectacle of the screens and lighting, and above all, the performance of the band.
There is no let-up, though. The following day we are off to Henderson’s Brewery for Rush Day. The fourth one to be held. It is scorchingly hot. Just the weather to spend five hours in a car park. But the Rush beer is cold, the fans from across the world engaging and interesting, and the guests also catch the ear.
Stories from Bruce ‘Frenchie’ French, the band’s chef, and Tony ‘Jack Secret’ Gernaios, long-term keyboard tech, are among those who tell compelling anecdotes. It is a real treat to attend, and we leave contentedly, albeit many Canadian dollars lighter.
It is showtime again, and the second night at Scotiabank Arena not only exceeds Friday night, it blows it out of the water. An early dinner in the Scotia Club overlooking the arena makes for a leisurely and highly recommended start. No queuing in the heat this time around. We take our seats in good time, slightly more central this time. No issues with the sound, the show is spectacular and the set list even better in many respects.
The band are on even better form, relaxed and smiling from the start. But the difference tonight is the crowd. It is electric, with roars of approval from the opening Xanadu to the final notes of Working Man, which sees the latest in the Anika comedy moments.
The Spirit Of Radio comes early. It is THE song to get the crowd bouncing, and bounce they do. We get a superb The Analog Kid, The Trees and Caravan, the latter with ample pyro. The tributes to Neil are the same but no less heartfelt, and the audience is beautifully respectful.
Leave That Thing Alone kicks out the jams, Geddy in sparkling form. And then Set two. The clock hits 2112, and the band roll into the entire song. All 20+ minutes of it. It is magnificent, with Alex hitting peak guitar god status.
Closer To The Heart and Anthem roll back the years. It is loud, it is defiant, just amazing. The inclusion of Witch Hunt makes my evening. Tom Sawyer closes the main set before the encore. It’s on-your-feet time as we race into the John Rutsey tribute.
Finding My Way and Working Man take us back to the debut, and I spend moments just absorbing something I never thought I would ever see. Rush in their backyard. It is the lyrics to Time Stand Still that are most relevant. Freeze this moment a little bit longer, indeed.
It has been an incredible trip. We top it with Niagara Falls by helicopter and boat. That might not be on the cards at Glasgow in March, but the excitement that I felt will surely be even more heightened then.
And after these two shows, time cannot pass quickly enough.
