**An Open Letter: Ozzy Osbourne Announces 2026 Farewell Tour: ‘One Last Ride’ Marks the End of a Rock Legend’s Era – Dates and Cities Revealed**
By *Lena Hartman, Rock Revival Magazine – June 30, 2025*
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To the generations of fans who have howled at the moon, thrown devil horns into the air, and sung every lyric like scripture — the end of an era has arrived.
Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal and eternal Prince of Darkness, has officially announced his final tour: **“One Last Ride”** — a global farewell set for 2026 that will cap off more than five decades of musical mayhem. In a heartfelt statement released earlier today, Osbourne called this final run “a celebration, not a goodbye,” and promised a send-off “worthy of every scar, scream, and stage dive.”
### The Farewell We All Knew Would Come (But Weren’t Ready For)
“I’ve cheated death more times than I can count,” Ozzy begins in his open letter to fans, posted on his official website. “But Father Time, he’s one stubborn bastard.”
Now 77, Osbourne’s health has been the subject of speculation and concern over the last few years, with postponed tours due to surgery, spinal issues, and complications from Parkinson’s. But if the past has proven anything, it’s that Ozzy Osbourne doesn’t go quietly.
“I owe it to you all — the fans who’ve stuck by me when I was biting heads off bats, stumbling through rehab, or just being a lunatic on stage — to do this one last time. Not for the money. Not for the press. Just for the love of rock.”
### One Last Ride: The Tour
“One Last Ride” kicks off in **Birmingham, England**, on **March 1, 2026**, a poetic return to the city where Black Sabbath was born in the late ‘60s. From there, the tour will span **40 dates** across **five continents**, culminating in a massive two-night finale at **Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium** in **October 2026** — just miles from where Osbourne launched his solo career after parting ways with Sabbath.
Here are some of the key tour stops revealed so far:
* **March 1, 2026 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena**
* **March 5, 2026 – London, UK – The O2 Arena**
* **March 12, 2026 – Paris, France – Accor Arena**
* **March 18, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena**
* **April 3, 2026 – Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome**
* **April 10, 2026 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena**
* **May 2, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque**
* **May 20, 2026 – Toronto, Canada – Scotiabank Arena**
* **June 1, 2026 – New York City, USA – Madison Square Garden**
* **October 24 & 25, 2026 – Los Angeles, USA – SoFi Stadium**
More cities are expected to be added, including possible surprise “pop-up” shows at smaller, more intimate venues. “I miss the sweat, the beer, the noise of a small club,” Ozzy joked in a recent interview. “So don’t be shocked if I show up unannounced somewhere.”
### Who’s Coming Along?
Though no opening acts have been officially announced, there’s heavy speculation about high-profile guests joining the tour. Longtime collaborator **Zakk Wylde** is confirmed to be returning on guitar, and insiders say the surviving members of **Black Sabbath** — **Tony Iommi** and **Geezer Butler** — may join Ozzy on stage for select dates. Rumors are swirling about appearances from **Slash**, **Rob Zombie**, and even **Post Malone**, whose unlikely 2019 collaboration with Osbourne helped introduce the icon to a new generation.
“Ozzy’s got more friends than the devil himself,” Wylde joked during a SiriusXM interview. “You never know who might show up for this ride.”
### More Than a Concert – A Cultural Moment
Osbourne’s farewell tour isn’t just another rock event. It’s a cultural milestone.
From the early Sabbath days — with songs like “War Pigs” and “Iron Man” shaping the very DNA of heavy metal — to his genre-bending solo career, Osbourne has been a lightning rod for controversy, creativity, and catharsis. He’s been banned, booed, revered, and resurrected more times than any rock star has a right to be.
And through it all, he never stopped.
“I’ve always said the fans are the reason I made it this far,” he wrote in his letter. “This tour is my way of giving back. Not just for the hits, but for standing by me when I could barely stand myself.”
### Health Concerns, But Fire in His Soul
Osbourne hasn’t hidden the toll that touring has taken on his body. Years of headbanging, injuries, and medical setbacks have made each performance more physically demanding than the last. But he’s committed to finishing this journey on his terms.
“I won’t be stage diving,” he laughed in his post. “Hell, I might be wheeled out in a throne. But I’ll be there. I’ll be singing. And I’ll be with you — heart and soul.”
Production insiders say accommodations are being made for his mobility, including custom-designed stage rigs and backup systems to ensure the tour can continue even if Ozzy needs to rest between songs. “The voice is still there,” said one tour crew member. “And when the lights go down, Ozzy turns on.”
### A Legacy Etched in Fire
Whether it was redefining rock with Sabbath or making families laugh (and cringe) with *The Osbournes*, Ozzy Osbourne’s imprint on the world is indelible.
He’s been knighted by fans, saluted by peers, and worshipped by generations who found freedom in his madness. This final tour doesn’t feel like the end of a career — it feels like the final chapter of a legend written in thunder.
As the open letter closes, Ozzy’s message is simple and raw:
> “Don’t cry for me. Celebrate me. Scream your lungs out. Break the night. Because this old bat’s going out with a bang — and I want to hear you loud and bloody clear.”
We hear you, Ozzy. Always have. Always will.
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**Tickets for “One Last Ride” go on sale starting August 1, 2025. VIP packages, early access, and commemorative merchandise will be available through OzzyOsbourne.com.**
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