Sammy Hagar Says He’s Stepping Back From Van Halen-Focused Shows

Sammy Hagar says he’s pulling back from building his live shows around his Van Halen years. In a conversation with SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk, the singer said he’s ready to broaden his setlists beyond the era that made him famous as the band’s frontman, while also revealing he’d like to finally bring a science fiction rock opera he wrote decades ago to the stage.

• Hagar’s Best of All Worlds tour launched in 2024 with Michael Anthony and Joe Satriani and leaned heavily on the four studio albums Van Halen released with Hagar singing.
• What began as a planned one-off run in 2024 grew into a Las Vegas residency after strong demand.
• The residency has three shows left, wrapping up on September 26.
• Hagar will close his 2026 concert calendar with a three-night Birthday Bash in Cabo San Lucas in October.
• He turns 80 next year and says no tour is currently planned for 2027.

What Sammy Hagar Said About Leaving Van Halen Nostalgia Behind

Hagar told Trunk plainly, “I’m kinda done with being the Van Halen guy.” He clarified that he won’t cut Van Halen songs from his shows entirely, but wants them to take up less room going forward.

He pointed to the roots of the current run, explaining that the Best of All Worlds shows with Satriani were originally supposed to be a single outing in 2024 before their popularity turned them into the now-concluding Las Vegas residency, the format he says he wanted all along.

Why Hagar Wants More Montrose and Solo Songs in His Sets

Hagar told Trunk he has a deep well of Montrose material he wants to bring back for longtime fans, along with songs from his so-called “red rocker” period, the pre-Van Halen solo years he spent on Geffen Records. He said he doesn’t want future shows built solely around his Van Halen catalog.

He acknowledged a pull in the other direction, though, saying he and bandmate Michael Anthony feel “kind of obligated” to keep playing that material together. Still, he framed the shift as something he owes his earliest supporters, saying, “I feel like I owe my old fans more than that.”

Sammy Hagar’s Long-Planned Science Fiction Rock Opera

Hagar also used the interview to revisit a project he’s held onto since leaving Montrose in 1975: a science-fiction-themed rock opera drawing on songs he’s written across his career. He named tracks including “Silver Lights,” “Someone Out There,” “Space Station #5,” “Space Age Sacrifice,” “Crack in the World,” and the Van Halen song “Love Walks In” as part of the space-and-sci-fi thread running through his songwriting for roughly 50 years.

He said he envisions performing the work in small venues as a full production, running from opening track “Hot Rock” through closer “Silver Lights,” rather than staging it as a scripted theatrical piece. Reflecting on his own mortality and career timeline, he said, “I don’t know how many shows I’ve got left in my life.”

Sammy Hagar’s Remaining 2026 Shows and Plans for a Break

Before any of that comes together, Hagar is finishing out a busy stretch. His Best of All Worlds residency in Las Vegas has three dates left before it concludes on September 26, and he’ll then host a three-night Birthday Bash celebration in Cabo San Lucas in October to close out his 2026 live schedule.

After that, Hagar told Trunk he intends to step away from performing for an extended stretch. “I’m taking a break, and a long one,” he said, adding that there is no tour currently planned for next year. He noted he will turn 80 in 2027, saying, “I never even thought that was possible,” and explained he wants to pace himself rather than risk burning out from too much touring.

More Info

• Sammy Hagar is done with being the Van Halen guy | Far Out Magazine
• Sammy Hagar Says He’s Done With Van Halen-Focused Concerts | Ultimate Classic Rock