Aerosmith are officially returning to the stage in 2026, with the legendary rock band announcing two huge Hollywood Bowl shows in Los Angeles alongside an all-star cast of rock icons.
After teasing fans throughout the week, Aerosmith have confirmed their long-awaited live return with two performances of “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends” at the Hollywood Bowl.
The shows will take place on Thursday 29 October and Sunday 1 November 2026, with an impressive collection of musicians joining the band across the two nights.
Aerosmith & Friends tickets
For fans wanting to be there, the important information is simple:
- Tickets go on sale at 10am local time on Saturday 10 October 2026.
- Tickets will be available through the official Aerosmith & Friends website.
- The concerts take place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.
- There will be different artists performing on each night, with the final nightly lineups revealed at or close to showtime.
Who is performing with Aerosmith?
The initial lineup for the concerts is already packed with major names from the rock world.
Joining Aerosmith will be The Black Crowes, Heart, Run-DMC, Andrew Watt, Billy Idol, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Eric Church, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Marcus King, Mike Inez of Alice in Chains, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Pat Monahan of Train, Sammy Hagar, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, Steve Stevens, Sully Erna of Godsmack, Tom Morello, Adam Wakeman, Audley Freed and Kenny Aronoff.
Don Was will serve as musical director for the concerts.
And this isn’t necessarily the final list.
More artists, special guests and surprise appearances are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead, meaning fans could see some unexpected collaborations when Aerosmith take over the Hollywood Bowl.
The lineup will also vary between the two nights, with the final artists for each show expected to be confirmed at or near showtime. Organisers have warned that the lineups are subject to change.
Joey Kramer set to return?
There is another major talking point surrounding Aerosmith’s live comeback: Joey Kramer.
According to the official Ross Halfin press photograph for the concerts, the band’s lineup features the return of original drummer Joey Kramer.
Kramer has not performed with Aerosmith since the beginning of the band’s Deuces Are Wild residency in Las Vegas in 2020.
John Douglas subsequently played drums for the remainder of the residency in 2022 and performed with Aerosmith during all three concerts of the band’s Peace Out: The Farewell Tour.
Kramer’s potential return would mark a significant reunion for the band.
What happened between Joey Kramer and Aerosmith?
Kramer’s absence from the band became the subject of a legal dispute in early 2020.
The drummer, who had been sidelined by a shoulder injury in 2019, sued Aerosmith after claiming he had been excluded from the band’s appearances at the MusiCares Person of the Year event and the Grammys.
Kramer argued that he had effectively been asked to audition for his own position and said the legal action was about being denied the opportunity to be recognised alongside his bandmates for their collective lifetime contributions to the music industry.
A Massachusetts judge ultimately dismissed the case, citing the fact that Kramer had not performed with Aerosmith for six months and that there was limited rehearsal time before the band’s upcoming appearances.
He subsequently remained absent from the band’s live performances.
When did Aerosmith last perform?
Aerosmith’s last concert took place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on 9 September 2023.
The band had been preparing for its Peace Out farewell tour, but the planned shows were eventually cancelled.
In August 2024, Aerosmith announced that it had made the “heartbreaking decision” to retire from the touring stage after Steven Tyler suffered a fractured larynx.
The news appeared to bring an end to the band’s live career, making the announcement of the Hollywood Bowl shows all the more significant.
Aerosmith are back on stage
More than three years after their last concert, Aerosmith are now set to return to the stage for two very special nights in Los Angeles.
And they won’t be doing it alone.
With Heart, The Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Slash, Tom Morello, Sammy Hagar, Run-DMC and a host of other major artists already announced, California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends is shaping up to be a major celebration of rock music.
With even more guests still to be revealed, fans will want to get their tickets as soon as they go on sale.
Tickets go on sale at 10am local time on Saturday 10 October 2026.