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The “cougar” has been unleashed.
John Mellencamp just announced he’s striking out on his nationwide ‘Dancing Words Tour’ that will send him to fairgrounds, amphitheaters and pavilions from July through August 2026.
That includes a pair of stops in New York and New Jersey.
First, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is slated to hit Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center on Saturday, July 25.
Then, on Sunday, July 26, NY-based Mellencampers can find him at Long Island’s Jones Beach Theater.
According to a press release, the 74-year-old Indiana native “will be performing all his most beloved songs in a single night [at all shows], some of which haven’t been played live in many years.”
We expect that to mean he’ll bust out biggies like “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Hurts So Good,” “Small Town,” “Cherry Bomb” and more.
At past concerts on his 2024 ‘Live and In Person Tour,’ the heartland rocker typically performed 19 tracks per gig, according to Set List FM.
“Now 72 [editor’s note: at the time of this 2024 show; the rocker will turn 75 in October], Mellencamp remains engaging and charismatic, moving around with the energy of someone 20 years younger,” Americana Highways wrote about an April ’24 performance in Washington, D.C.
“A longtime chain smoker, his singing voice is raspy and gravel-soaked, but he knows how to work around it, using the deficit of age to give his best-known hits the combination of joy and melancholy.”
If this sounds like the show for you, John Mellecamp tickets become available first for select dates through a pre-sale that starts Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 10 am local time.
Tickets officially go on sale to the general public on Friday, Jan. 23 at 10 am local time through Ticketmaster but are available now on trusted secondary market sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and GameTime.
We only recommend sites with a 100% buyer guarantee, so you know your transaction is safe and your tickets will arrive on time.
John Mellencamp tickets
Inventory to see John Mellencamp live is available on all verified ticketing sites.
We recommend checking out StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats and GameTime to find the seats that makes the most sense for you.
John Mellencamp tour schedule 2026
A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
John Mellencamp set list
At that April 18, 2024 ‘Live and In Person’ Washington, D.C. concert, Mellencamp whipped out a 19-song show. According to Set List FM, here are the tracks he took to the stage.
01.) “John Cockers”
02.) “Paper in Fire”
03.) “Minutes to Memories”
04.) “Small Town”
05.) “Human Wheels”
06.) “Jackie Brown”
07.) “Troubled Land”
08.) “Check It Out”
09.) “The Eyes of Portland”
10.) “Longest Days”
11.) “Jack & Diane”
12.) “The Real Life”
13.) “Rain on the Scarecrow”
14.) “Lonely Ol’ Night”
15.) “What If I Came Knocking”
16.) “Crumblin’ Down”
17.) “Pink Houses”
18.) “Cherry Bomb”
19.) “Hurts So Good”
Indiana football
On top of the tour, Mellencamp has been in the public consciousness these past few months because the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers are using “Hurts So Good” at their games for full-on crowd singalongs.
You can find a clip of fans crooning with the Cougar at the Rose Bowl here.
John Mellencamp new music
“Orpheus Descending,” released in June 2023, is Mellencamp’s 25th studio album.
The soulful 11-track record showcases the gruff, gravelly voice that the Farm Aid founder has grown into over the years.
In fact, at this point, one might argue he sounds more like Tom Waits than the John Mellencamp you know and love.
However, that’s not a complaint on our end; we fell in love with the bluesy “Amen,” “One More Trick’s” twang and the plaintive “Perfect World.”
For our money though, the standout songs are the fiery opening track “Hey God” and the jaunty, message-heavy “The Eyes Of Portland” which evoke a Springsteen-like spirit.
Want to hear the record for yourself?
You can find the impassioned “Orpheus Descending” in its entirety here.
Huge classic rockers on tour in 2026
Many of our favorites from way back when will be touring the U.S. of A this year.
Don’t believe us?
Here are just five, non-negotiable, can’t-miss icons you’ll want need to carve out time for these next few months.
• Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band
Who else is on the road again? Take a look at our list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2026 to find the show for you.
Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
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