Roxette Cancels North American Tour Amid Rising Costs and Low Ticket Sales
Reason for Cancellation
Roxette announced that its upcoming North American tour is being cancelled, citing “logistics and huge increases in tour costs” in a post on the band’s Instagram page.
Decision Drivers
Founder and co‑frontman Per Gessle indicated that Live Nation USA made the call, likely based on their own calculations about low ticket sales and the financial burden of staging large‑venue shows.
Planned Dates and Anniversary
The tour was intended to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Roxette’s 1986 debut “Pearls of Passion” and was slated to begin on September 10 at the Pine Knob Music Theater outside Detroit, with a follow‑up date in Toronto the next evening.
Line‑up and Ongoing European Dates
After the death of original singer Marie Fredriksson in 2019, Gessle revived Roxette with Swedish vocalist Lena Philipsson, who joined the band for recent performances. While the North American leg is cancelled, the group says its European appearances in Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland will proceed as planned.
Fan Reaction and Industry Context
Fans have criticized the decision, noting that the band’s strongest markets have traditionally been Europe and South America, while interest in new Roxette in the United States appears limited. The cancellation fits a broader pattern known as “Blue Dot Fever,” where tours suffer from weak ticket sales and many unsold seats, a trend also affecting artists such as Kiefer Sutherland, the Pussycat Dolls, Zayn Malik, Meghan Trainor and Lily Allen.
