MADONNA’S North American tour is officially postponed.

Two weeks ago, the pop star’s new Celebration Tour – a greatest-hits outing announced to great media fanfare in January, which was set to open this week – was put on an undefined “pause” after the singer’s manager said she had been admitted to a hospital with “a serious bacterial infection”.

Rampant concern and speculation ensued among fans and within the music business about Madonna’s well-being, as well as the fate of her world tour, which had the potential to be one of the year’s biggest events.

On Monday (Jul 10), a message from Madonna on social media clarified that the entire North American leg of her tour – 41 shows, about half the total that had been announced for the full world outing – would be rescheduled, and that the tour would now open in Europe in October. Live Nation, which is producing the tour, asked fans to “hold onto their tickets as they will be valid for the new dates once announced”.

“My focus now is my health and getting stronger, and I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can!” Madonna, 64, wrote in her first statement since her manager’s post on Jun 28. She also posted a photo that appeared to show her in her home in New York City.

“I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life,” she added.

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Ticket sales for Madonna’s tour opened with a splash; according to an announcement in March, more than 40 dates had sold out by then. But a glance at further dates on Ticketmaster’s website shows a number of locations – Sacramento, California; Tulsa, Oklahoma; even Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City – where plenty of seats are available.

Last week, Beyoncé cancelled a date in Pittsburgh, and postponed two others, over what was announced as issues with “production logistics and scheduling”.

Rescheduling a major tour, for any reason, can be a complex and expensive process these days, music executives say. That is because with the return of live music after its shutdown by the Covid-19 pandemic, large venues typically lock in their schedules many months in advance, with little wiggle room for changes.

In its announcement about the Madonna tour, Live Nation said simply: “Rescheduled dates will be announced as soon as possible.” NYTIMES