38 Special has announced a dozen initial concert dates for 2026 in support of their recently released album Milestone. They will perform multiple shows in Illinois, Georgia, and South Dakota, with additional concerts scheduled in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, among others.
Frontman Don Barnes is the only remaining classic-era member of 38 Special, which he co-founded with fellow singer Donnie Van Zant. The band’s final scheduled appearance for 2026 is in June at the Rock Ribs and Ridges Festival in Augusta, New Jersey, where they will share the stage with Blackberry Smoke and the Artimus Pyle Band. Van Zant’s late brother Ronnie was Pyle’s bandmate in Lynyrd Skynyrd during the ’70s.
Tickets are available on 38 Special’s official website. Below is a complete list of scheduled dates, cities, and venues, along with a continuously updated list of 2026 rock tours.
When Was 38 Special’s Last Album Released?
Milestone ended a quiet period for 38 Special that had lasted over 20 years since the release of Drivetrain in 2004. Guest performers and co-writers on the new album include Randy Bachman, Train’s Pat Monahan, and Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik, who produced Milestone after previously collaborating on several 38 Special songs over the years, including their breakthrough single “Rockin’ Into the Night” from 1980.
READ MORE: How 38 Special Broke Through With ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys’
38 Special reached its commercial peak in 1982 when both Special Forces and the Peterik co-written single “Caught Up in You” entered the Top 10. They continued to release charting hits for nearly a decade, peaking at No. 6 with “Second Chance” in 1989. Peterik also co-wrote eight of the twelve songs on Drivetrain.
More recently, 38 Special toured as part of a joint tour with Kansas and Jefferson Starship in 2025. Van Zant also released an album last year titled Always Look Up, collaborating with his brother Johnny Van Zant, who is currently the frontman for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes at 38 Special’s induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. (Rick Diamond, Getty Images)
38 Special 2026 U.S. Tour
2/6 – Peoria, IL @ Prairie Home Alliance Theater
2/7 – Rockford, IL @ Coronado Performing Arts Center
2/11 – Greeneville, TN @ Niswonger Performing Arts Center
2/12 – Evans, GA @ Columbia County Performing Arts Center
2/13 – Fayetteville, GA @ Trilith Live
2/14 – Sarasota, FL @ Thunder By the Bay Music and Motors Festival
2/25 – New Braunfels, TX @ Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre
2/27 – Lake Charles, LA @ Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
3/20 – Newkirk, OK @ 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel
4/16 – Brookings, SD @ Swiftel Center
4/19 – Deadwood, SD @ Deadwood Mountain Grand
6/26-27 – Augusta, NJ @ Rock Ribs and Ridges 2025
2026’s Biggest Rock Tours
Rock reunions are generating significant headlines for 2026 – but there are many other major shows on the horizon.
Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
