# The Weeknd stage name retirement reversal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/the-weeknd-stage-name-retirement-reversal
> Updated: 2026-08-11T04:50:38.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 2.

Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, has reversed his previous intention to retire his stage persona. During a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, Tesfaye informed fans that he would not be phasing out the moniker.

Addressing the audience, he stated, “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 sentiments expressed in 2025, when Tesfaye suggested he might move away from The Weeknd identity to avoid the industry “rat race” and potentially release music under his birth name. The decision comes as his global tour continues to see significant commercial success.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-11: The Weeknd reverses decision to retire stage name

Singer Abel Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, has abandoned plans to retire his stage name after telling fans in Stockholm that he tested the idea of retirement and did not like the feeling.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/the-weeknd-reverses-decision-to-retire-stage-name

### 2026-08-09: The Weeknd reverses decision to retire stage name

The Weeknd has reversed his plans to retire his stage name, telling fans in Stockholm that he will “never disappear” after reconsidering the idea of stepping away from the persona.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/the-weeknd-announces-he-has-no-interest-in-retiring

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Cite as: The Weeknd stage name retirement reversal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/the-weeknd-stage-name-retirement-reversal