Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp is returning to the amphitheater stage for the first time in fifteen years with the announcement of his ‘Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits’. The 19-city trek, produced by Live Nation, kicks off July 10, 2026, at the Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids and marks a significant shift for the artist, who has spent the last several years performing primarily in intimate theater settings. The tour was announced via a cinematic trailer featuring Academy Award winner Sean Penn, who reportedly helped persuade Mellencamp to embrace his massive catalog of hits for this specific run of summer shows. Mellencamp will be performing his most beloved tracks in a single night, including “Jack and Diane,” “Small Town,” and “Pink Houses,” alongside deeper cuts like “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” and “Wild Nights” that have been absent from his setlists for over a decade.
The tour routing includes some of the most iconic outdoor venues in the United States, such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater, before concluding on August 12, 2026, at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. Mellencamp has noted that the tour is intentionally limited to 19 performances, as he prefers the energy of shorter runs over the grind of extensive global touring. This decision follows a highly active 2025 where he teased new material from an upcoming project titled ‘Orphan Train’, slated for release later in 2026. Fans can expect a performance-driven atmosphere that bridges the gap between his recent theatrical storytelling and the high-energy rock concerts that defined his early career. VIP packages including access to the “Scarecrow VIP Lounge” and autographed memorabilia will be available to provide a premium experience for longtime followers of the Indiana native.
Tickets for the ‘Dancing Words Tour’ are expected to be in high demand given Mellencamp’s long absence from large outdoor venues. The Citi presale begins at 10:00 am local time on January 20, 2026, and runs through January 22, 2026. The general public on-sale follows on January 23, 2026, at 10:00 am local time via Mellencamp.com and Ticketmaster. This tour serves as a definitive celebration of a five-decade career, delivering the “soundtrack of people’s lives” in a massive concert format. Mellencamp continues to be represented by Nat Farnham at CAA, ensuring this landmark return to the summer circuit is one of the season’s premier musical events.
John Mellencamp ‘Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits’ Dates:
- July 10—Grand Rapids, MI—Acrisure Amphitheater
- July 11—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- July 13—Kansas City, MO—Morton Amphitheater
- July 14—Shakopee, MN—Mystic Lake Amphitheater
- July 16—Clarkston, MI—Pine Knob Music Theatre
- July 18—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center
- July 19—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center
- July 21—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center
- July 24—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center
- July 25—Holmdel, NJ—PNC Bank Arts Center
- July 26—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
- July 29—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live
- July 30—Charlotte, NC—Truliant Amphitheater
- August 1—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- August 3—Tampa, FL—MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- August 6—Houston, TX—The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- August 9—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- August 10—Hollywood, CA—Hollywood Bowl
- August 12—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre