Former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar has responded to reports about low ticket sales for his upcoming UK tour dates.
Hagar reacted to a headline that read “Sammy Hagar Opens Up About Low Ticket Sales for Upcoming Tour.” He moved to clarify the full picture behind the numbers and the reconfiguration of his UK dates.
“Ha ha ha. This is true but of course a little off the mark for the real story,” Hagar said. “Yes the UK shows didn’t sell out immediately. But we got 19,000 Saturday night, 14,000 Sunday night, Detroit sold out, the American side is killing. Thank you everyone for the support. And the UK is gonna get five amazing concerts.”
Hagar had previously spoken openly about why the July 2026 UK leg of his The Best Of All Worlds tour was restructured. He explained that the shows were moved to smaller, more intimate venues after the originally announced dates failed to sell out.
“Well, [it’s going to be] the best of all worlds. That’s what the whole thing is about,” he said. “I love the fact that we get to do three shows in London. I love the fact that we’ve moved it to a smaller venue so it’ll be full instead of playing some big giant place that holds 12 [thousand] but there’s only 6,000 people there.”
Hagar went on to address the situation candidly, taking responsibility while explaining the reasoning behind the decision.
“The ambiance of that is so much different, and that’s why we changed it. Guilty as charged — we didn’t sell it out,” he continued. “I thought, ‘Oh, we’ll sell that out, no problem.’ I’m an honest guy, so I’m telling you that the idea of doing more of a residency like what we’ve been doing in Las Vegas where I have 400-plus songs I’ve written in my life, and I’m not gonna go out and play 14 songs, have an opening act.”
The UK leg of The Best Of All Worlds tour is scheduled for July 2026. Hagar confirmed that fans can expect five shows across the country.
The UK dates arrive on the back of a strong US run that has demonstrated the tour’s continued drawing power. The American leg has delivered some of the biggest crowd numbers of the summer season.
The Best Of All Worlds tour is now in its third consecutive summer. The 2026 US run wraps its stateside dates in late June before the band crosses the Atlantic for the UK shows in July. Rick Springfield joins as a special guest on the US leg, adding an extra layer of star power to an already stacked bill.
Hagar’s current band is a formidable lineup. The Best Of All Worlds band includes fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff, and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte.
The tour has leaned heavily into Van Halen’s classic catalog. Recent shows have opened with “Why Can’t This Be Love” and featured fan favorites including “5150,” “Right Now,” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” With 400-plus songs in his catalog, Hagar has made clear that the setlist goes well beyond a standard greatest-hits run.
With the US leg drawing to a close and the UK dates on the horizon, Hagar appears determined to prove that the five upcoming British shows will be worth the wait — regardless of how the tickets initially moved.
