{"id":2086055,"date":"2026-08-10T09:39:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T06:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086055"},"modified":"2026-08-10T09:39:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T06:39:56","slug":"the-weeknd-says-hes-no-longer-retiring-moniker-ill-never-disappear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086055","title":{"rendered":"The Weeknd says he\u2019s no longer retiring moniker: \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the-weeknd@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The Weeknd says he\u2019s no longer retiring moniker: \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear\u201d<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The comments come after he said in January 2025 that \u201cThe Weeknd, whatever that is, has been mastered\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Liberty Dunworth<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T10:39:56+01:00\">10th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the-weeknd@2000x1270-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"The Weeknd performs live in August 2026\" title=\"the-weeknd@2000x1270\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">The Weeknd performs live in August 2026. CREDIT: Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Weeknd has seemingly gone back on his plans to retire the moniker, telling fans at a recent show that he will \u201cnever disappear\u201d.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <b>The Weeknd \u2013 \u2018Hurry Up Tomorrow\u2019 review: stadium-filling superstar prepares to move on<\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The artist, real name Abel Tesfaye, has been releasing music as The Weeknd since 2011, and dropped his sixth album under the name, \u2018Hurry Up Tomorrow\u2019, in January 2025.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>That record was the final instalment in his \u2018Blinding Lights\u2019 album trilogy \u2013 following 2020\u2019s \u2018After Hours\u2018 and \u2018Dawn FM\u2018 \u2013 and planned to be his last LP under the moniker.<\/p>\n<p>Discussing his plans to retire his stage name, the singer and actor previously explained why he was ready to move on from that chapter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a headspace I\u2019ve gotta get into that I just don\u2019t have any more desire for,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cI feel like it comes with so much. You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race\u2026 It never ends until you end it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He went on to reference his 2022 performance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles \u2013 where he abruptly cancelled the show halfway through, having lost his voice in the middle of a performance of \u2018Can\u2019t Feel My Face\u2019 \u2013 saying that he wanted to end things while it felt like he was at his peak.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Db0LiqVKy2n\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t overstay at the party \u2013 you can end it now and live a happy life,\u201d he added, clarifying that he wasn\u2019t quitting music altogether. \u201cEverything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it\u2019s been mastered. No one\u2019s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I\u2019m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, while on his latest tour, Tesfaye has seemingly changed his stance on \u201cretiring\u201d, and said that he won\u2019t be mixing things up anytime soon regarding the name and live performances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you,\u201d The Weeknd said in Stockholm.<\/p>\n<p>The Weeknd kicked off the European leg of his\u00a0\u2018After Hours Til Dawn\u2019 tour in Copenhagen last month, shortly after playing two dates at Manchester\u2019s Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEVER! The Weeknd said he took a break but didn&#8217;t like the feeling. And that it will never disappear again. \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea pic.twitter.com\/qsqqvWm9ul<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 QG The Weeknd (@QGTheWeeknd) August 8, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The run has become the highest-grossing tour ever by a male solo artist since its launch in 2022, surpassing $1billion (\u00a3740million) in gross revenue and selling more than 7.5million tickets.<\/p>\n<p>Production at the show includes a 40-foot gold sculpture created by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, the largest fine-art commission ever created for a live concert production, and the staging also features sprawling golden ruins, immersive visuals, lasers and flames.<\/p>\n<p>The Weeknd will return to the UK later this month for five nights at Wembley Stadium on August 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19, before heading to Ireland for two shows at Dublin\u2019s Croke Park on August 22 and 23. Find any remaining tickets here.<\/p>\n<p>After the European run, the tour will continue into Asia, with the final dates scheduled in Tokyo, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n<p>The dates continue The Weeknd\u2019s partnership with Global Citizen, with a portion of every ticket sold going towards education access for underprivileged children and food relief. To date, he has donated more than $8.5million to the XO Humanitarian Fund and Global Citizen through the tour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Pop<\/li>\n<li>R&amp;B<\/li>\n<li>The Weeknd<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div 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data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ariana-Grande-and-Bill-Maher.-CREDIT_-Kevin-Mazur_Getty-Images-and-Taylor-Hill_FilmMagic-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ariana-Grande-and-Bill-Maher.-CREDIT_-Kevin-Mazur_Getty-Images-and-Taylor-Hill_FilmMagic-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Bill Maher\u2019s joke about Ariana Grande\u2019s weight receives mixed reactions from \u2018Real Time\u2019 audience<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Joseph_Okpako_Kayla_Bartkowski-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Joseph_Okpako_Kayla_Bartkowski-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Charli XCX join The Strokes for \u2018Take It Or Leave It\u2019 at Outside Lands 2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Weeknd has seemingly gone back on his plans to retire the moniker, telling fans at a recent show that he will \u201cnever disappear\u201d.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <b>The Weeknd \u2013 \u2018Hurry Up Tomorrow\u2019 review: stadium-filling superstar prepares to move on<\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The artist, real name Abel Tesfaye, has been releasing music as The Weeknd since 2011, and dropped his sixth album under the name, \u2018Hurry Up Tomorrow\u2019, in January 2025.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>That record was the final instalment in his \u2018Blinding Lights\u2019 album trilogy \u2013 following 2020\u2019s \u2018After Hours\u2018 and \u2018Dawn FM\u2018 \u2013 and planned to be his last LP under the moniker.<\/p>\n<p>Discussing his plans to retire his stage name, the singer and actor previously explained why he was ready to move on from that chapter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a headspace I\u2019ve gotta get into that I just don\u2019t have any more desire for,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cI feel like it comes with so much. You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race\u2026 It never ends until you end it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He went on to reference his 2022 performance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles \u2013 where he abruptly cancelled the show halfway through, having lost his voice in the middle of a performance of \u2018Can\u2019t Feel My Face\u2019 \u2013 saying that he wanted to end things while it felt like he was at his peak.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Db0LiqVKy2n\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t overstay at the party \u2013 you can end it now and live a happy life,\u201d he added, clarifying that he wasn\u2019t quitting music altogether. \u201cEverything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it\u2019s been mastered. No one\u2019s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I\u2019m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, while on his latest tour, Tesfaye has seemingly changed his stance on \u201cretiring\u201d, and said that he won\u2019t be mixing things up anytime soon regarding the name and live performances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you,\u201d The Weeknd said in Stockholm.<\/p>\n<p>The Weeknd kicked off the European leg of his\u00a0\u2018After Hours Til Dawn\u2019 tour in Copenhagen last month, shortly after playing two dates at Manchester\u2019s Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEVER! The Weeknd said he took a break but didn&#8217;t like the feeling. And that it will never disappear again. \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea pic.twitter.com\/qsqqvWm9ul<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 QG The Weeknd (@QGTheWeeknd) August 8, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The run has become the highest-grossing tour ever by a male solo artist since its launch in 2022, surpassing $1billion (\u00a3740million) in gross revenue and selling more than 7.5million tickets.<\/p>\n<p>Production at the show includes a 40-foot gold sculpture created by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, the largest fine-art commission ever created for a live concert production, and the staging also features sprawling golden ruins, immersive visuals, lasers and flames.<\/p>\n<p>The Weeknd will return to the UK later this month for five nights at Wembley Stadium on August 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19, before heading to Ireland for two shows at Dublin\u2019s Croke Park on August 22 and 23. Find any remaining tickets here.<\/p>\n<p>After the European run, the tour will continue into Asia, with the final dates scheduled in Tokyo, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n<p>The dates continue The Weeknd\u2019s partnership with Global Citizen, with a portion of every ticket sold going towards education access for underprivileged children and food relief. To date, he has donated more than $8.5million to the XO Humanitarian Fund and Global Citizen through the tour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/the-weeknd-says-hes-no-longer-retiring-moniker-ill-never-disappear-3961699&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the-weeknd@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News The Weeknd says he\u2019s no longer retiring moniker: \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear\u201d The comments come after he said in January 2025 that \u201cThe Weeknd, whatever that is, has been mastered\u201d By Liberty Dunworth 10th August 2026 The Weeknd performs live in August 2026. CREDIT: Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images The Weeknd has seemingly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2086055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2086055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086055\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2086055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2086055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2086055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}