Billy Joel to perform at Florida university, first show since brain disorder

The singer, who cancelled his 2025 tour after his condition affected his hearing, vision and balance, will appear at Florida Atlantic University in December.

Billy Joel last performed a full concert in February 2025. He later underwent surgery and has been undergoing physical therapy.

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Mumbai: Billy Joel has announced his first scheduled show since he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a disease where excess fluid builds up inside the brain’s ventricles. The 77-year-old singer will perform at Florida Atlantic University on 14 December 2026.

The event is called Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions & Answers… And a Little Music. Only students enrolled at the university can buy tickets, which go on sale Thursday, 12 November.

Joel hasn’t performed a full concert since 22 February 2025, when he fell on stage at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. He saw a neurologist after the fall and was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

In May, Joel cancelled all his upcoming concerts. His team said performing had made his condition worse, affecting his hearing, vision and balance.

Joel had surgery to drain the excess fluid from his brain. By September, he said his memory and balance had improved, although he was still going for physical therapy. He added that still didn’t know when he would be able to perform again. In October, Joel told The Hollywood Reporter that his doctors hadn’t cleared him to tour.

“I don’t know. I have to take a series of tests before I know,” he said.

No concerts, no driving

Joel wasn’t allowed to drive either. His neurologist had compared the effects of performing to getting a concussion. The loud music, lights and physical demands of a concert were all concerns.

“Rock ‘n’ roll is loud, man,” he said.

Joel did make a surprise appearance on stage in January 2026. He joined Turnstiles, a Billy Joel tribute band, during a concert in Wellington, Florida. He sang We Didn’t Start the Fire and Big Shot with the band.

“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” he joked before sitting down at the piano.

That appearance hadn’t been announced beforehand. The university event will be Joel’s first scheduled show since his diagnosis, although he hasn’t announced any new tour dates.

(Edited by Janaki Pande)