What happens to Billy Joel concert tickets? What we know about refunds
Billy Joel announced on social media May 23 that all upcoming performances are cancelled following a diagnosis for normal pressure hydrocephalus.
"This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance," a statement posted to Joel's Instagram said. "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period."
The brain condition, which is more likely to affect people over 65, causes fluid buildup and affects memory and concentration and movement and bladder control, according to Cleveland Clinic. The condition is often treatable and sometimes even reversible, the clinic said, adding treatment involves surgery to drain excess fluid from inside the skull.
The singer had previously postponed eight tour dates to focus on his recovery from recent surgery. A statement posted to his Instagram page at the time had said he was set to “undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors" and had not provided additional details. Those eight tour dates have also been cancelled.
What will happen to my Billy Joel concert tickets?
The singer, 76, in the announcement post, said all those who purchased tickets for his upcoming shows would automatically receive a refund.
"You don't need to take any action to receive your refund," the post said. "It will be automatically processed back to the original payment used for the purchase."
The post noted in case of ticket transfer, the refund will go to the original purchaser.
Shows impacted by the recent announcement were scheduled to be held in cities across the U.S. and the United Kingdom between April 26 and July 3, 2026, according to the singer's post.
"I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding," Joel said his statement.
How do SeatGeek, StubHub and Ticketmaster handle cancellations?
- SeatGeek: In cases when an event is officially canceled by the venue or event promoter, SeatGeek says buyers are protected by their "Buyer Guarantee" and that the ticket platform will reach out itself with refund options once official sources confirm the cancellation.
- StubHub: For cancelled events, purchasers will either receive credit worth 120% of the total amount paid, which is valid for one year from the issue date for purchases in the same currency, or they can opt for a cash refund via their StubHub Wallet. Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 10 business days. If you bought physical tickets, StubHub recommends keeping the tickets for 30 days, in case the seller requires them for a refund from their ticket provider.
- Ticketmaster: If an event is canceled, no action is required to obtain a refund for purchases made through Ticketmaster, the platform says, adding it will be processed to the original method of payment used at time of purchase as soon as funds are received from the event organizer. However, Ticketmaster notes that different rules apply to transfered and resold tickets and recommends buyers to refer to email notifications for available options.
Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Paste BN
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.