The Weeknd reverses decision to retire stage name

Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, has reversed his previous decision to retire his stage persona. During a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the singer told fans, “I’ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels.”

This announcement contradicts statements made in 2025, where Tesfaye suggested he might phase out The Weeknd moniker following the release of his album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. At that time, he expressed a desire to move past the competitive “rat race” of the industry and potentially release music under his birth name to seek new creative challenges.

The reversal comes amid the continued success of his global tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist, surpassing $1 billion in gross revenue. The tour also supports the XO Humanitarian Fund, which has raised over $8.5 million for food relief and education.