The Weeknd reverses decision to retire stage name

The Weeknd, the stage name of Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye, has reversed his previous intentions to retire the persona. During a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 8, Tesfaye informed fans that he had briefly tested the idea of retirement and decided he did not like how it felt.

“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. Imma be here forever with you,” Tesfaye told the audience during his After Hours Til Dawn Tour.

This decision marks a shift from statements made throughout 2025, when Tesfaye expressed concerns that the The Weeknd persona had become a “rat race” for accolades and success. While he had previously suggested he was brainstorming a way to phase out the moniker, he has now indicated that the identity will remain part of his musical career for the foreseeable future.