Styx and Chicago will hit the road together in summer 2026, performing 25 shows across the United States.It’s a first for these iconic bands, who’ve toured for decades but never as co-headliners. And it’s good news for fans who want a double dose of classic rock.
“The Windy Cities Tour - All The Hits … Your Kind of Tour” kicks off on July 13 at the iThink Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla., and ends on Sept. 6 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. (See the full list of tour dates here.) No Alabama shows are on the agenda, but the tour will stop in Southern cities such as Alpharetta, Ga. (July 17, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre); Charlotte, N.C. (July 18, PNC Music Pavilion); and Austin, Texas (Aug. 19, Moody Center).
If you’re wondering about the tour name, it refers to Chicago as the city where both bands were founded — not a concert schedule that sticks to the Midwest. Alabama’s Tommy Shaw, a guitarist and longtime member of Styx, will be on stage with the band in 2026, along with two founding members: Guitarist James “J.Y.” Young and bassist Chuck Panozzo. The lineup also features singer and keyboard player Lawrence Gowan, drummer Todd Sucherman, guitarist Will Evankovich and bassist Terry Gowan.
Styx, formed in 1972, is famed for ‘70s and ‘80s hits such as “Come Sail Away,” “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights),” “Lady,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “The Grand Illusion” and more.
Shaw, 72, a Montgomery native, joined Styx in 1975 and soon became a strong force in the band, giving Styx a rowdier stance and tougher edge than it had initially. “In my early days of live performing I had several mentors who were kind enough to let me join in and play with them despite not being able to read charts,” Shaw said via a news release. “Rod Henley, Ricky Parsons, Bobby and Larry Moore, Eddie Wohlford, Wimpy Jones, Country Boy Eddie and others gave me a shot. And I am thankful for that. “By the time Chicago released their first album, I had enough experience to begin learning their amazing music on my own. Now, the idea of Styx touring with Chicago is a major thrill all on its own. We can’t wait to spend the summer with them.”
Chicago, formed in 1967, made its fame in the late ‘60s through the ‘80s, with hits such as “25 or 6 to 4,″ “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” “Old Days,” “If You Leave Me Now” and more. Three original members remain in the band: keyboard player Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and trombonist James Pankow. The lineup also includes singer Neil Donell, saxophone and flute player Ray Herrmann, drummer Wally Reyes Jr., percussionist Ramon “Ray” Yslas, guitarist Tony Obrohta and bassist Eric Baines. Chicago is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 2016 by Rob Thomas. The band earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2020, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.