Dermot Kennedy Reschedules Remaining US Tour Dates After Laryngitis

Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy has postponed the remaining five dates of his US tour after a persistent laryngitis infection left his vocal cords severely swollen. The 34-year-old announced the decision on October 10, 2026, following a specialist consultation in Atlanta, Georgia, explaining that continuing to perform before recovering could cause lasting damage to his voice.

According to statements published by RTE, Extra.ie, and FM104, the affected dates include concerts in Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Irving, and Bellevue. Kennedy had been scheduled to perform in Atlanta before deciding that his condition made it impossible to complete the remaining shows safely.

The announcement followed an earlier interruption in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Kennedy stopped a concert after performing only a few songs. Extra.ie reported that the singer said he had never previously been forced to stop a show in this way.

In his Instagram statement, Kennedy explained that the infection had not cleared despite a week of vocal rest. A further examination in Atlanta confirmed that his vocal cords remained significantly inflamed.

"Hey guys, I went to see another specialist in Atlanta today, and turns out the laryngitis still isn't gone, and because of the infection my vocal cords are still very swollen." Kennedy wrote.

The singer said his efforts to recover had not produced the improvement he expected, leaving him unable to perform.

"It's frustrating, because I've been on vocal rest all week, which I thought would do enough, but apparently it hasn't." Kennedy said.

He emphasized that attempting to sing in his current condition would put his long-term vocal health at risk. His decision to postpone the concerts followed that assessment.

"I can't sing right now, and I wouldn't be able to make it through a show, and if I did force myself to carry on without healing fully, I'd just end up doing real long-lasting damage." Kennedy said.

He said rescheduling the remaining performances would give him time to recover and return to the stage when he could deliver a full show.

"At this point the best option is to reschedule the remaining dates of this tour so I can come back and give you the show you deserve when the time is right." Kennedy said.

Kennedy also expressed appreciation for the audiences who attended the completed dates. He described the tour as his favorite so far and said the response from concertgoers had exceeded his expectations.

"For the shows we did get to, I truly loved them, and this tour has been my favourite ever. I saw a lot of comments saying they had never seen me smile so much on stage, and it was honestly just 'cause I was enjoying these shows a LOT." Kennedy wrote.

He said he had worried that attendance might be lower than expected but was surprised by the crowds at each performance.

"For some reason with this tour, more than others, I was terrified we wouldn't have big crowds, and so I was blown away every night when I walked out to so many people. I thank you for that feeling." Kennedy said.

The postponement was particularly disappointing for Kennedy because he had felt well throughout much of the touring year. He also acknowledged the disruption to fans who had arranged transportation and accommodation for the affected concerts.

"I feel very grateful and lucky to have supporters who are in this with me for the long run, so it's important I heal up so I can deliver my best when I'm right again. I hope you understand. I believe you will, and that's why I'm lucky.

I don't do this lightly." Kennedy wrote.

He apologized to fans whose travel plans and hotel bookings would be affected and asked them to retain their tickets. He said the postponed performances would take place at a later time, although the reports did not provide replacement dates.

"Please hold on to your tickets, I take great pride in keeping my word, and these shows will happen, just not right now." Kennedy said.

Kennedy also reached a career milestone in April 2026, becoming the first Irish solo artist to achieve number one with his first three studio albums, Without Fear, Sonder, and The Weight Of The Woods, according to RTE.