Billy Joel cancels all scheduled shows through 2026 due to health concerns

Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming concerts through July 2026, the singer announced Friday.

Joel, 76, has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, according to a statement posted to his social media accounts. "This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance," the statement said.

Joel's representative, Claire Mercuri, said the singer would not be talking further to the media right now.

Fans had grown concerned about the Hicksville-raised rock icon since February, when he appeared to lose his balance and fell to the floor during a concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. In March, Joel, whose birthday was May 9, canceled eight concerts to recover from surgery, but hoped to be back to performing in four months. His next live date was to be July 5 with Rod Stewart at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium. Joel also had planned three New York City-area concerts in July at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and in August at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Citi Field in Queens. Joel was sharing those bills with Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks and Sting, respectively. That trifecta would have made Joel the first entertainer to play all three stadiums in one season.

NPH is caused by excessive fluid in the ventricles of the brain, according to the websites of the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine. It tends to affect older adults. Other celebrities who have been diagnosed with NPH include former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce, Alice Cooper band member Dick Wagner and longtime "General Hospital" actor Leslie Charleson.

"Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing," according to the announcement. "He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."

Ticket holders are being advised that no action is necessary to obtain refunds, which will be automatically processed and returned to the original form of payment.

"I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience," Joel said in a statement, "and thank you for understanding."

The singer won’t be entirely out of the spotlight over the coming months. He’s the subject of "And So It Goes," a documentary from the acclaimed filmmaker Susan Lacy, best known as the creator of PBS’ "American Masters" series. The documentary will open the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4, then air on HBO sometime this summer.

Joel maintains homes in Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Centre Island, but now spends much of his time at his estate in Boca Raton, Florida.

Long Island fans expressed their concern, admiration and love for The Piano Man.

"My first reaction to the cancellations is that I am concerned for Billy’s health, well-being and recovery," says Dr. Geoff Epstein, 57, of Manhasset, who had tickets to all three stadium shows. "I feel honored that I have had the opportunity to see him in concert over 140 times going back to 1980 at MSG and all across the country. His lyrics and music have impacted me, my family and friends in so many positive ways. We all hope that he is able to sing us a song once again."

"Billy is resilient," says Jon Slomka, 36, Woodbury, who had fifth row seats for the MetLife Stadium show. "Once he gets the rest and recovery he deserves, I hope he’ll be able to come back stronger than ever."

"I know I speak on behalf of many when I say I’m heartbroken to hear of his current health, but am praying for him and his family," says Samantha Schroder, 39, Centereach, who was planning to attend the Citi Field show. "I’m looking forward to seeing him at the keys on stage again soon!"

"Billy has been doing this for a long time and works very hard. At age 76, it’s hard to do what he was doing for anyone’s body," says Patricia DeRosa Padden of Montauk, who was planning to attend the Yankee Stadium show. "He has given us over 50 years of music so I can’t complain if he needs to slow down now to take care of himself and his family."

Philip Heide, 40, of Merrick attended Joel’s last show at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Feb. 22, which was his 66th Joel concert since 2006. But he raised an eyebrow during a few moments.

"Billy went over to his band and said something to them then he walked off the stage. The band broke out into a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love,’ which Michael DelGuidice sang," recalls Heide. "I have never seen him do something like that. But I thought maybe he needed to use the bathroom."

As the show went on, Heide witnessed Joel take a fall during the performance of his number one hit from 1980, "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me."

"At the end of that song, Billy usually takes the microphone stand, throws it to his road tech and goes back to the piano. He threw the microphone stand and shortly afterward, it looked like he flipped and fell backwards," describes Heide. "I thought he was fooling around. But he literally bounced right back up. That’s why I thought it was a joke. Usually, if somebody falls like that, they lay there, stunned. However, Billy shook it off and went right back to the piano playing ‘Big Shot’ and ‘You May Be Right.’ At the time, there seemed to be no problem because he sounded just as good as he always does."

Joel’s bandmates, guitarist Tommy Byrnes, formerly of Oceanside and guitarist/background vocalist Michael DelGuidice of Smithtown have shown support for their leader.

"My thoughts are with Billy as I know what a difficult decision this must have been for him," says Byrnes, 57. "That being said, knowing him as I do, I have a suspicious feeling that we’ve not heard the last from him."

DelGuidice, 54, adds, "I am saddened to hear about the news of Billy canceling shows for the rest of the year, but my prayer is that Billy gets better. The main concern as always, is for his health and well-being. It has been an amazing run. Playing with him the last 13 years has given me a lifetime of amazing memories. He is not just an iconic musician, he is an amazing human and the world is a better place with him in it. Get well, boss. We will all be here if and when you’re ready."