Marc Hause
Audio By Carbonatix
John Mellencamp’s 2026 Dancing World Tour — The Greatest Hits kicks off on July 10, with a Phoenix show on August 9, his first in a decade.
The singer and guitarist and his band will roll up to the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre to indulge fans in a night of roots-rock, fan-favorites. Kind of a big deal, as some of the songs haven’t been played live in many years.
Among those will be “Hurts So Good,” “Authority Song,” “I Need a Lover” and “Ain’t Even Done With the Night.”
The Indiana-born performer’s songs started hitting charts in 1979, and it didn’t take long before he was blasting from mainstream radio throughout the next decade. His videos were also on heavy rotation on MTV.
In addition to using his folk-rock to tackle social issues, he took action in endeavors like creating Farm Aid alongside Willie Nelson and Neil Young. The nonprofit organization supports American family farmers through monetary resources and advocacy. He’s also an exhibiting painter; his first show opened in 2024.
Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame ten years later.
How to get tickets
Citi is the official card of the tour, so Citi cardmembers can get the jump on purchases with the Citi presale that starts at 10 a.m. local time on January 20 and runs until 10 p.m. local time on Thursday, January 22.
Additional presales will run throughout the week of the general onsale, which starts at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, January 23. Sign up on the Mellencamp site to get presale access and information.
If you’re looking for a VIP experience, the tour offers several options. Packages include premium tickets, an invitation to the pre-show Scarecrow VIP Lounge, and autographed tour posters.
Cinematic tour trailer
Here are the current dates for the Dancing Words Tour – The Greatest Hits:
- July 10, Grand Rapids, Mich., Acrisure Amphitheater
- July 11, Tinley Park, Ill., Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- July 13, Kansas City, Miss., Morton Amphitheater
- July 14, Shakopee, Minn., Mystic Lake Amphitheater
- July 16, Clarkston, Mich., Pine Knob Music Theatre
- July 18, Noblesville, Ind., Ruoff Music Center
- July 19, Cincinnati, Ohio, Riverbend Music Center
- July 21, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Blossom Music Center
- July 24, Mansfield, Mass., Xfinity Center
- July 25, Holmdel, N.J., PNC Bank Arts Center
- July 26, Wantagh, N.Y., Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
- July 29, Bristow, Va., Jiffy Lube Live
- July 30, Charlotte, N.C., Truliant Amphitheater
- August 1, Alpharetta, Ga., Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- August 3, Tampa, Fla., MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- August 6, Houston, Texas, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- August 9, Phoenix, Ariz., Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- August 10, Hollywood, Calif., Hollywood Bowl
- August 12, Mountain View, Calif., Shoreline Amphitheatre
