Pete Townshend has withdrawn from his scheduled appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in Austin. He shared the news in a statement posted on The Who’s Instagram account.
The statement addressed the reason behind his withdrawal, touching on a foot injury, his ongoing recovery, and a donation he is making to the festival in his absence.
“I’m so sorry to say that due to damage to my left foot, and subsequent issues with my balance, I cannot commit to travel to appear at the upcoming Crossroads Festival in Austin,” Townshend said. “I so desperately wanted to appear, and have battled to get in shape, and I am improving, but the long flights from London, and the jetlag on my return, would cause backtracking I really can’t afford.”
He went on to detail his ongoing recovery and a financial contribution to the festival.
“I am making a $50,000 donation to the Festival cause from my charity Double O, and one day I hope I can accept Eric’s invitation to appear with him,” Townshend continued. “He has now asked me several times. There has always been some issue, in this case it is my recovery from my knee replacement in February of 2025, and some complications.”
Townshend closed his statement by thanking two fellow musicians for their support and looking ahead to future work with his Who bandmate.
“I want to especially thank Derek Trucks and Susie Tedeschi for their offer to support me as my backing band,” he said. “Wow! That is something I can only dream about, and maybe one day it will happen. Meanwhile I will keep working on getting well so I can work with Roger and The Who in future.”
Townshend’s absence leaves a notable gap in this year’s lineup. It comes as the festival prepares for another high-profile run in Texas.
The 2026 edition of Crossroads Guitar Festival is set to take place September 26-27 in Austin. The event will bring together an all-star roster of guitarists for Clapton’s biennial showcase.
The event has become one of the most anticipated gatherings on the rock calendar, drawing top-tier talent for a shared cause.
That cause remains central to the festival’s identity. Crossroads Guitar Festival exists as a benefit event supporting the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the addiction recovery facility Clapton founded. Proceeds from ticket sales and related merchandise go toward its treatment programs.
Merchandise tied to the festival has also become part of the tradition. The 2026 Crossroads Guitar Collection went on sale August 26 at Guitar Center locations nationwide and online. Additional units were made available for purchase at the Guitar Center Experience during the festival itself.
Townshend’s $50,000 donation to the festival, despite his inability to attend, underscores the cause’s significance to the artists involved. Many of them continue to support the Crossroads Centre’s mission even when scheduling or health issues keep them off the stage.
