Paul Simon to kick off 2026 European tour with three Prague concerts

Paul Simon, the iconic singer-songwriter from the duo Simon & Garfunkel, will launch his 2026 European tour with three concerts at Prague Congress Centre on April 9, 10, and 12. The performances are part of his A Quiet Celebration Tour, which continues a series of intimate shows first staged across the United States.

The tour brings Simon’s latest work, Seven Psalms, to European audiences. The 33-minute composition, nominated for a Grammy, has been praised by publications such as The Guardian and The Times as a “masterful suite” and “remarkable album.” The Prague concerts will begin with this piece before moving into a mix of classics and rare tracks newly arranged for live performance.

Tickets for the Prague shows go on sale Dec. 17 via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at CZK 2,500 plus ticketing fees. Early access for Live Nation Club members begins Dec. 15. The venues are designed to highlight the acoustic qualities of Simon’s work, offering a more intimate concert experience than typical arena tours.

Simon’s 2026 tour follows his return to performing after a seven-year hiatus. Over the summer, he had to postpone several U.S. shows due to severe back pain, later undergoing a minor surgical procedure. He also addressed hearing loss challenges during the recording of Seven Psalms, which made the process “incredibly frustrating.”

After Prague, Simon will perform in Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Liverpool, Glasgow, London, and Dublin. Each show follows a similar format: a complete rendition of Seven Psalms followed by a curated selection of his best-known songs and rarities, some performed live for the first time.

Simon has emphasized the immersive nature of Seven Psalms, which was recorded entirely on acoustic instruments. “I often say that the listener completes the piece,” he told NME, highlighting how the live performances are tailored for spaces with optimal acoustics to replicate the album’s layered sound.

The Prague concerts mark Simon’s first major European shows since 2018, when he performed what was then billed as his final concert in New York’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park. His return reflects a broader trend of veteran artists staging carefully curated, smaller-scale tours rather than large arena dates.

For music venues and local organizers, the tour also signals increased demand for premium seating and acoustically suitable halls, as audiences seek high-quality, intimate experiences. Prague’s Congress Centre, with its 4,000-seat auditorium, is positioned to accommodate this trend while providing fans a closer connection to the performer.

Fans attending the shows can expect a personal experience across the three nights in Prague, in line with the U.S. leg of the tour earlier this year. The concerts also include rare tracks not widely performed in previous tours, offering a unique opportunity for long-time admirers of Simon’s catalog.

Simon’s European tour underscores the enduring appeal of artists from the 1960s and 1970s who continue to create new work while revisiting their classic hits.