Rod Stewart at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand: the concert has been canceled and the program replaced
Rod Stewart was scheduled to perform on September 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM on the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand stage in Falcon Heights, with Richard Marx as the special guest. That concert is no longer on the program. Minnesota State Fair announced on August 11 that Stewart had canceled the remaining dates of the current tour, including the fair performance, following a medical procedure and his doctor's recommendation that he take several weeks to recover. The organizer then announced a replacement concert on August 21: Hairball with Slave Raider will perform at the same venue on September 1 at 7:00 PM, and the concert is included with admission to Minnesota State Fair.
For visitors, the most important thing is to distinguish between two facts: Rod Stewart and Richard Marx will not perform, but the Grandstand will not remain empty that evening. The replacement program also changes the musical character of the evening - instead of Stewart's blend of rock, pop, soul and ballads, the audience will get a concert focused on hard rock and glam-metal repertoire from the 1970s and 1980s.
If you had a ticket for Rod Stewart, check the refund status and the terms that apply to the way the ticket was purchased before planning your trip.
What happened to the Rod Stewart concert
The cancellation is not the result of a change to the fair program or a move to another date. According to the Minnesota State Fair announcement and information reported by Associated Press, after a coronary stent procedure Stewart was advised to take a break from performing so that he could recover. As a result, the remaining dates of that leg of the tour were canceled. The fair organizer suspended ticket sales for his concert and initiated refunds for buyers.
Travelers who included Falcon Heights in their itinerary because of Stewart's concert should not expect a rescheduled performance at a later date or an unannounced appearance on stage. A different program has been confirmed for September 1.
The change is particularly interesting because Stewart's return to the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand was expected to have a strong historical context. The last time he performed on that stage was in 1984, during the period of the album "Camouflage", which produced hits such as "Infatuation" and "Some Guys Have All the Luck". The planned 2026 concert would therefore have marked a return after more than four decades.
Why this performance was important in the current phase of his career
Rod Stewart remains one of the most recognizable voices in British rock and pop. His career spans work with Faces, solo success from the beginning of the 1970s, major rock singles, ballads and a later interest in standards from the American popular song tradition. Recording Academy describes him as a Grammy winner and a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and in May 2026 the television concert "Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live", dedicated to his career, was broadcast.
The planned Minnesota performance was part of the "One Last Time" touring period. Sets from previous performances during 2026 show a combination of major solo hits, songs associated with Faces and covers that reflect his long-standing interest in soul, R&B and classic pop.
Among the songs that appeared frequently during 2026 were "Maggie May", "Forever Young", "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", "The First Cut Is the Deepest", "Have I Told You Lately", "Young Turks", "Hot Legs" and "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)". At some concerts he also performed "Stay With Me", "People Get Ready" and "Proud Mary". This was not a confirmed set list for Falcon Heights - that concert did not take place - but rather an indication of the kind of repertoire arc the audience might have expected based on previous performances during the same year.
- "Maggie May" remains one of the central hallmarks of Stewart's solo career and among the songs most frequently performed at his concerts in 2026.
- "Forever Young" and "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" represent the more emotional part of his concert repertoire.
- "Hot Legs", "Young Turks" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" bring the more energetic pop-rock and disco-rock part of the catalog.
- Covers of soul, R&B and classic rock demonstrate the broader musical range that Stewart has incorporated into his performances for decades.
Latest releases and broader musical context
Stewart's latest studio project is "Swing Fever", a collaboration with Jools Holland released in 2024. The album has 13 songs and returns to big-band, swing and boogie-woogie repertoire, including "Lullaby of Broadway", "Pennies from Heaven", "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Almost Like Being in Love". "Swing Fever" reached number one on the UK albums chart.
A year later, the compilation "Ultimate Hits" was released, a career-spanning collection that connects classics such as "Maggie May", "Sailing", "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)", "Hot Legs", "Forever Young" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" with newer material from the "Swing Fever" period. That range describes Stewart's current concert position well: audiences generally come for songs they have known for decades, but his repertoire continues to connect rock, traditional pop, soul and swing.
Who would have found the concert particularly appealing
The planned Grandstand performance had a broad audience profile. For longtime fans, it would have been a rare opportunity to see the artist return to a stage on which he had not performed for decades, while the broader audience would have heard a series of hits that have long been part of the pop-cultural canon. Stewart's interest in Faces, soul and standards additionally expands the concert beyond a purely rock format.
Richard Marx as the announced guest also oriented the evening toward audiences who enjoy melodic pop-rock and major radio ballads, but after the cancellation that joint program is no longer valid either.
What now awaits the audience at the Grandstand
The replacement program is headlined by Hairball, a group known for a concert approach that recreates the sound and stage aesthetics of major hard-rock acts. In its announcement, Minnesota State Fair highlights tributes to performers such as Van Halen, KISS, Mötley Crüe and Queen, along with production that includes lights, costumes and pyrotechnic elements. This means that the musical experience on September 1 has changed substantially: the evening is now closer to a large tribute-rock show than to a retrospective concert by a single songwriter and singer.
The special guest is Slave Raider, a heavy-metal band founded in 1985 with strong ties to the Twin Cities music scene. Their appearance gives the replacement program a local historical dimension. For an audience already planning to spend the day at the fair, this creates a completely different, but clearly defined, evening program.
If you still plan to visit Minnesota State Fair on September 1, check the current daily schedule and admission conditions before departure, because the replacement concert differs from the previously sold Rod Stewart program.
The Grandstand as a concert venue
Minnesota State Fair Grandstand is not a modern arena built exclusively for concerts. The current structure was erected in 1909 and is part of the historic core of the fairgrounds. Over the decades, the venue has been used for races, shows, speeches and concerts, and in the early 2000s it underwent a major renovation with new access points, elevators, restroom facilities and seating.
The record for the current configuration was set by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in 2013 with 16,529 visitors. This gives a good sense of the scale of the venue: the Grandstand can accommodate an audience the size of a large arena while retaining its open fairground character. It is located on the north side of Dan Patch Avenue, between Chambers and Nelson streets.
The open fairground character also means more movement between food, exhibitions, attractions and stages. It is useful to study the fairgrounds map in advance, especially on a first visit.
Arrival and transportation
Minnesota State Fairgrounds is located at 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, Minnesota. The fairgrounds are in the urban Twin Cities area, so visitors have more options than arriving in their own car.
Parking at the fairgrounds itself is limited. For 2026, 32 free Park & Ride locations have been announced. Buses from those locations regularly begin operating at 8:00 AM, the final departure toward the fair is at 8:00 PM, and the final return from the fair is at 11:30 PM, except on Labor Day, when an earlier schedule applies. The organizer notes that travel time depends on traffic and congestion.
Express bus lines from the wider Twin Cities area are also available. They use the Transit Hub near Gate 16 on the west side of the fairgrounds. For travelers coming from Minneapolis, St. Paul or the surrounding suburbs, public transportation may be a simpler option than searching for a parking space near the fairgrounds.
- Fairgrounds address: 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55108.
- The Grandstand is located on the north side of Dan Patch Avenue, between Chambers and Nelson streets.
- Parking at the fairgrounds is limited.
- For 2026, 32 free Park & Ride locations are available.
- Express buses use the Transit Hub near Gate 16.
How much time to allow before the evening program
Minnesota State Fair is a large-scale daily event, so the time from entering the fairgrounds to reaching a seat at the Grandstand depends on the crowds. The usual fairground operating hours on days other than Labor Day are from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with admission possible until 9:00 PM. For visitors attending an evening concert, however, it is more practical to arrive early enough to allow time for entry, security checks, orientation and the walk to the Grandstand.
If Park & Ride or an express bus is used, traffic and waiting for departure should be taken into account. Grandstand programs often end between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM, which is also why the return bus system operates late into the evening.
Falcon Heights and the Twin Cities as a travel context
The fairgrounds are located in Falcon Heights, immediately adjacent to St. Paul and not far from Minneapolis. For travelers, it is practical to view the area as a single urban whole, with the note that traffic during Minnesota State Fair can extend driving times.
The fair runs from August 27 to September 7, 2026. A concert at the Grandstand is therefore not an isolated evening event: visitors enter a large fairground with agricultural exhibitions, food, rides, retail areas and other stages.
This remains important even after the change of performer. A person who originally planned the trip solely because of Rod Stewart may decide to change their plans, while someone who already intended to spend the day at the fair still has an evening concert included in the day's visit.
What to do if you planned the trip because of Rod Stewart
Do not rely on old announcements, saved advertisements or pages that still display the original announcement. The current Minnesota State Fair program for September 1 no longer lists Rod Stewart and Richard Marx as performers. Hairball and Slave Raider will perform instead.
If you arranged a flight, hotel or transportation because of Stewart's performance, check the terms for changing those reservations separately from the concert ticket refund. Hotel, carrier and other service rules depend on the individual reservations.
For those who keep their travel plans, the Grandstand still offers an evening music program, and the entire Minnesota State Fair remains open according to its regular schedule. For those for whom Rod Stewart was the only reason for coming, the fact that there is no replacement Stewart date at the fair is crucial when making a decision.
Before departure, check the latest information about the program, transportation, parking and admission to Minnesota State Fair to avoid relying on information published before the cancellation.
Sources:
- Minnesota State Fair - updates on the cancellation of the Rod Stewart concert, the replacement performance by Hairball with Slave Raider, the Grandstand program, opening hours, address, venue history and transportation.
- Associated Press - confirmed information on the cancellation of the remaining tour dates following a coronary stent procedure and the recommended break from performing.
- Recording Academy / GRAMMY - information on Stewart's Grammy status, his two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the television program dedicated to his career in 2026.
- Official Charts - information on "Swing Fever", "Ultimate Hits" and the performance of those releases on the UK charts.
- Warner Music - information on the album "Swing Fever", the collaboration with Jools Holland and the 13-song track list.
- Setlist.fm - overview of the repertoire from multiple Rod Stewart performances during 2026, used exclusively to describe the pattern of previous concerts, not as a confirmed set list for the canceled Minnesota performance.