Barry Manilow has confirmed that he is stepping away from the stage until October after a stretch of cancelled performances in Las Vegas and mounting concerns about the toll that an intense summer touring schedule has taken on his body.
The 83-year-old singer and songwriter shared the news directly with fans on Instagram on August 25, 2026, saying he and his team had been “pushing a little too hard” after completing 29 shows across 68 days during his summer tour. The announcement came after he cancelled three consecutive shows at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino between August 20 and August 22, citing what his team described as “technical and vocal problems.”
The decision carries added significance because of what Manilow has been through over the past nine months. In December 2025, he revealed a stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis. He underwent surgery to remove part of his left lung, spent a week in intensive care, and then fought his way back to the stage by late March 2026. The fact that he managed to perform 29 shows across two countries in the months that followed makes the decision to rest now less surprising and more overdue.
Here is a complete look at what happened, the full timeline of Manilow’s health and touring schedule over the past year, and what fans can expect when he returns.
What Barry Manilow Said About the Break
In his Instagram post, Manilow addressed fans in his characteristic tone, blending warmth with humor.
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“Hi everybody. Barry here. And I want you to be the first to know that we’re going to take a quick break,” he wrote. “We just finished a fantastic summer tour. 29 shows in 68 days. The shows were fantastic. The audiences were fantastic. And I sounded fantastic. But it seems that we were pushing a little too hard.”
He added: “Now we all need to sit down and shut up.”
He indicated that the break will last until he returns to the stage at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino on October 8, 2026. The shows that were cancelled for the remainder of August, including dates on August 28, 29, and 30, will be rescheduled.
The three shows originally scheduled for August 20, 21, and 22 at the Westgate’s International Theater had already been called off before the broader hiatus announcement. Manilow’s team attributed those cancellations to “technical and vocal problems,” though no further details were provided.
The Lung Cancer Diagnosis: How It Was Found
The story of Manilow’s cancer diagnosis began with an unrelated medical complaint. In November 2025, he visited his doctor because of hip pain. The physician ordered an MRI of his pelvis, but after learning that Manilow had recently recovered from two consecutive bouts of bronchitis, the doctor made a decision that would prove pivotal: he also ordered a scan of Manilow’s lungs.
Barry Manilow was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in November.
In a new PEOPLE cover story, he opens up about his diagnosis and the treatment that left him cancer free.
“I thought I might be dying,” Manilow says of learning that he had cancer. R… pic.twitter.com/Q0GqCkm9RC
— People Magazine (@Sobrenatural_Su) August 24, 2026
The scan revealed a spot on his left lung. Further testing confirmed it was stage 1 lung cancer. Manilow had no symptoms. The disease was caught entirely by chance.
“If he hadn’t done that, man… He saved my life, because there’s no symptoms for what I had,” Manilow told People in March 2026. “I could go on, nothing hurt, but they found the dot in my lung. They called me and said, ‘Could be cancer.’ That’s a bad word. ‘Not me. I can’t have cancer.’”
He later reflected on how close the situation had come to being much worse. “They don’t even know how long I had this thing sitting on me. It could have been years. If it had gone any further, then I would be up the creek. It just so happened that it hadn’t spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying.”
Surgery, ICU, and a Difficult Recovery
On December 22, 2025, Manilow publicly announced both his diagnosis and his plan to undergo surgery. He cancelled all shows for the remainder of December and January, including a planned run of Christmas performances at his Las Vegas residency.
Within four weeks of the diagnosis, he was in the operating room for a lobectomy, a surgical procedure to remove one of the two lobes of his left lung. The surgery was successful in removing the cancerous tissue.
What followed was a grueling recovery. Manilow spent seven days in the intensive care unit after the operation. He later described the hospital stay as a “nightmare,” adding that he was grateful he could not remember much of it.
The critical outcome, though, was positive. Manilow did not require chemotherapy or radiation. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” he told People. “I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff.”
The Road Back to the Stage
Manilow’s initial plan was to return to performing by early 2026, but his recovery did not proceed on the timeline he wanted.
February 2026: “A Very Depressing Visit”
After returning home and beginning a rehabilitation routine that included walking on a treadmill three times daily and gradually increasing his singing capacity, Manilow visited his surgeon in February for a progress check. The news was discouraging.
“Just got home from visiting the surgeon. Very depressing visit,” he shared on social media. He said he told the doctor he had been exercising consistently but still could not sing more than three songs in a row without stopping.
The surgeon’s response was direct: “Barry, you won’t be ready to do a 90-minute show. Your lungs aren’t ready yet. You’re in great shape considering what you’ve been through, but your body isn’t ready. You shouldn’t do the first arena shows. You won’t make it through.”
Manilow postponed his planned February, March, and April arena tour dates.
March 2026: “I Am Getting Stronger”
On March 3, 2026, Manilow posted an upbeat video update. “I am getting stronger and I have great doctors and wonderful friends and family, but I am so looking forward to getting back on stage,” he said. He also announced that he was cancer-free.
On March 24, in a detailed People interview, he opened up about the full experience for the first time. He confirmed the cancer-free status, described the ICU stay, and credited his doctor with saving his life.
That same week, he announced What a Time, his 33rd studio album and first collection of mostly new original material since 2011’s 15 Minutes. The album, produced primarily by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd, was released on June 5, 2026.
March 26: The Return
Manilow returned to the stage on March 26, 2026, performing at his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate. The concert marked his first live performance since the cancer diagnosis three months earlier. Reviews and fan accounts described the show as emotional, with Manilow visibly moved by the audience reception.
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The Summer 2026 Tour
After the Vegas return, Manilow embarked on an ambitious summer schedule. He performed 29 shows across 68 days, including a UK arena tour in June that featured a concert at the O2 Arena in London, as well as dates across the United States in cities including stops in Ohio and Florida.
The UK leg was notable for its scale. Performing arena shows in another country, less than six months after lung surgery, demonstrated both Manilow’s determination and the potential risk of pushing too hard too soon.
The shows were, by all accounts, well received. Manilow himself acknowledged in his hiatus announcement that “the shows were fantastic” and that he “sounded fantastic.” The issue was not quality but sustainability. A schedule of 29 performances in just over two months is demanding for any touring artist. For an 83-year-old recovering from a lobectomy, it was evidently too much.
A History of Health Setbacks
The lung cancer diagnosis was the most serious health event of Manilow’s career, but it was not his first brush with medical complications.
In February 2016, Manilow was hospitalized in Los Angeles after experiencing complications from emergency oral surgery. He cancelled multiple tour dates, including shows in Kentucky and Nashville.
In May 2017, he cancelled concerts in Los Angeles and Chicago after being diagnosed with sprained vocal cords. His doctor ordered him to rest his voice.
Over the years, Manilow has also spoken about managing the physical demands of performing at his age. His Las Vegas residency, which has been running in various forms at the Westgate (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton and the International Hotel) since 2018, was designed in part to reduce the wear of traditional touring by keeping him in one location.
Who Is Barry Manilow?
Barry Alan Pincus was born on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in the Williamsburg neighborhood by his mother, Edna Manilow, and his grandparents. His father left the family when Barry was two years old. He later adopted his mother’s maiden name, Manilow, as his professional surname.
He studied at the New York College of Music (now part of NYU) and the Juilliard School. His early career included work as a musical arranger, accompanist, and commercial jingle writer. He composed jingles for brands including State Farm, Band-Aid, and Dr Pepper before transitioning to recording and performing.
Musical Career
Manilow’s breakthrough came in 1974 with the single “Mandy,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It launched a remarkable run of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s that included “I Write the Songs” (1975), “Looks Like We Made It” (1977), “Can’t Smile Without You” (1978), “Copacabana (At the Copa)” (1978), “Ready to Take a Chance Again” (1978), and “Could It Be Magic.”
Over his career, Manilow has sold an estimated 85 million records worldwide. He has recorded 33 studio albums, won a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, and multiple Emmy Awards. Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He holds the record for over 50 top 40 Adult Contemporary chart singles.
Las Vegas Residency
Manilow has been a fixture on the Las Vegas strip for decades. His most recent long-running residency, The Hits Come Home, is at the International Theater inside the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The venue holds special significance: it was originally the International Hotel, where Elvis Presley held his own legendary residency in 1969 and 1970. Manilow has spoken about the personal meaning of performing in the same room.
Personal Life
Manilow was briefly married to his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, from 1964 to 1966. The marriage was annulled, and Manilow later described it as a case of rushing into something too young.
In 1978, Manilow began a relationship with television executive Garry Kief, who also became his manager. The two married in a private ceremony at their Palm Springs estate in April 2014, after same-sex marriage became legal in California. Their marriage became public in 2015.
Manilow officially came out as gay in April 2017 at the age of 73, telling People that he had kept his relationship private for decades partly out of concern that it might disappoint his predominantly female fan base. “I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay,” he said. “So I never did anything.”
He and Kief have been together for more than 47 years.
What Comes Next
Manilow has indicated that his break will last until October 8, 2026, when he is scheduled to return to the Westgate in Las Vegas. His team has said that the cancelled August shows will be rescheduled.
Despite the setback, Manilow’s 2026 has been remarkably productive. He released a new studio album, completed a 29-show summer tour that spanned the UK and the US, and returned from lung cancer surgery in under four months. The hiatus appears to be precautionary rather than indicative of a new health crisis.
His own words suggest he views the break as a practical necessity, not a concession. He described the summer tour as “fantastic” and framed the pause as a case of having done too much too quickly after a major surgery.
At 83 years old, with a cancer-free diagnosis, a new album, and a Las Vegas residency waiting, the question is not whether Manilow will return but whether he will pace himself when he does.
Health and Career Timeline
June 17, 1943: Barry Alan Pincus is born in Brooklyn, New York.
1974: “Mandy” reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100, launching Manilow’s career as a major recording artist.
1978: “Copacabana (At the Copa)” becomes one of the defining pop singles of the decade.
2002: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2014: Marries longtime partner and manager Garry Kief in a private ceremony at their Palm Springs estate.
2016: Hospitalized after complications from emergency oral surgery. Multiple tour dates cancelled.
2017: Cancels concerts due to sprained vocal cords. Comes out publicly as gay in a People interview.
2018: Begins his long-running Las Vegas residency at the Westgate International Theater.
November 2025: Visits doctor for hip pain. MRI of lungs ordered after two bouts of bronchitis reveals a spot on his left lung.
December 22, 2025: Announces stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis and plan for surgery. Cancels December and January shows.
Late December 2025: Undergoes lobectomy to remove one lobe of his left lung. Spends seven days in ICU.
February 2026: Surgeon tells him his lungs are not ready for 90-minute performances. Postpones February, March, and April arena dates.
March 3, 2026: Posts video update confirming he is cancer-free and “getting stronger.”
On March 24, 2026: Gives detailed People interview about the full cancer experience.
March 26, 2026: Returns to the stage at the Westgate Las Vegas for his first live performance since the diagnosis.
June 2026: Completes a UK arena tour, including a show at the O2 Arena in London. Releases 33rd studio album, What a Time.
Summer 2026: Performs 29 shows across 68 days in the UK and US.
August 20-22, 2026: Three consecutive shows at the Westgate Las Vegas cancelled due to “technical and vocal problems.”
August 25, 2026: Announces a touring hiatus until October 8, 2026, saying the summer schedule was “pushing a little too hard.”
FAQ
What happened to Barry Manilow?
Manilow announced on August 25, 2026, that he is taking a break from touring until October after completing an intense summer schedule of 29 shows in 68 days. He said he and his team were “pushing a little too hard.” The announcement followed three cancelled shows at the Westgate Las Vegas on August 20-22.
Does Barry Manilow have cancer?
Manilow was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in November 2025. He underwent a lobectomy in December 2025 and spent seven days in the ICU. By March 2026, he announced he was cancer-free and did not require chemotherapy or radiation.
When will Barry Manilow return to performing?
His scheduled return date is October 8, 2026, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The cancelled August shows will be rescheduled.
How old is Barry Manilow?
Manilow was born on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He is 83 years old.
Who is Barry Manilow married to?
Manilow is married to Garry Kief, a television executive and his longtime manager. They began their relationship in 1978, married in April 2014, and came out publicly in 2017. They live in Palm Springs, California.
What is Barry Manilow’s new album?
What a Time, Manilow’s 33rd studio album, was released on June 5, 2026. It is his first collection of mostly new original material since 2011’s 15 Minutes. The album was produced primarily by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd.
How was Barry Manilow’s lung cancer discovered?
The cancer was found by chance. Manilow visited his doctor in November 2025 for hip pain. The doctor ordered an MRI of his pelvis and, after learning about two recent bouts of bronchitis, also scanned his lungs. The scan revealed a cancerous spot on his left lung that had no symptoms.
What is Barry Manilow’s net worth?
Estimates place his net worth between $25 million and $100 million, depending on the source. His wealth comes from decades of album sales, touring, his Las Vegas residency, royalties from his extensive catalog, and real estate holdings.
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Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
