Childish Gambino cancels NA/Euro tour amid health issues

American rapper Childish Gambino has cancelled the remaining North American and European dates of his The New World Tour due to reported health complications.

The AEG Presents-promoted tour was set to span three continents across 56 shows, bringing the star to arenas in North America, Europe, and Oceania until February 2025. After 18 shows, Gambino (real name Donald Glover) postponed the remaining North American dates in August before scrapping the NA and European legs on Friday (4 October).

“After my show in New Orleans, I went to the hospital in Houston to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent. After being assessed, it became clear I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the US tour in the time asked. As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal.

“My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously. With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the North American tour and the UK and European dates. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. I want nothing more than to bring this show to the fans and perform. Until then, thanks for love, privacy, and support,” Gambino said online.

His third headlining tour, The New World Tour was set to be a farewell tour to the Childish Gambino pseudonym

It is unclear whether the performer’s Oceania leg, which is set to kick off on 28 January 2025 at New Zealand’s Spark Arena (cap. 12,000), will go ahead. Following the first round of postponements, tour promoters Frontier Touring confirmed to The Music that the leg would still go on as planned, but have not issued a statement following the latest round of cancellations.

Gambino launched the outing in August at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center (cap. 16,591) and played the first 18 shows before postponing his 8 September show at Houston’s Toyota Center due to the undisclosed ailment. The following day, the This is America singer shelved the remaining 15 shows on the North American leg to prioritise his physical health.

“Unfortunately I have to postpone the rest of the North American tour to focus on my physical health for a few weeks,” he said at the time. “Hold onto your tickets. ALL tickets will be honoured for the upcoming dates in North America when they are rescheduled.”

Less than a month before he was due out for the European leg, the 41-year-old has called off the next 33 shows of the tour, with the final five still up in the air.

His third headlining tour, The New World Tour was set to be a farewell tour to the Childish Gambino pseudonym. Glover rereleased his fourth studio album 3.15.20 as Atavista this May, followed by his final record, the film soundtrack album Bando Stone & the New World, in July.

Childish Gambino is represented by Brent Smith at Wasserman Music worldwide.

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