Bruce Springsteen Kicks Off
Bruce Springsteen Land of Hope and Dreams tour Minneapolis 2026
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band officially launched their highly anticipated “Land of Hope & Dreams” American tour on Tuesday night, February 17, 2026, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The tour, named after his iconic 1999 anthem, marks the Boss’s first full-scale U.S. trek since 2023. Performing to a sold-out crowd of over 19,000 fans, the 76-year-old rock legend delivered a marathon 28-song set that spanned three hours and two minutes. The opening night was characterized by a potent mix of political urgency and communal celebration, reflecting the tour’s title and Springsteen’s enduring role as a chronicler of the American experience.
The show opened with a high-octane performance of “No Surrender,” immediately followed by the tour’s namesake track, “Land of Hope & Dreams.” This thematic choice set a soulful and resilient tone for the evening, particularly as the nation navigates the ongoing DHS government shutdown. Springsteen briefly addressed the audience early in the set, dedicating a stirring acoustic rendition of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” to “those struggling through the current political gridlock.” The setlist featured a significant focus on the band’s deep catalog, including rarities like “Long Walk Home” and “Working on a Dream,” alongside staples like “Born to Run” and “Dancing in the Dark.”
The E Street Band, featuring stalwarts like Stevie Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and Max Weinberg, showed no signs of slowing down. A particularly emotional moment occurred mid-set when Springsteen paused to pay tribute to the late Robert Duvall, who passed away earlier this week. Springsteen recounted his long-standing friendship with the actor and played a somber, piano-led version of “Tougher Than the Rest” in his honor. The Minneapolis crowd, which had braved the biting cold of a Minnesota winter, responded with multiple standing ovations throughout the night.
The “Land of Hope & Dreams” tour is scheduled to hit 42 cities across North America, including major stops at the United Center in Chicago and three nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Industry insiders suggest this could be one of the highest-grossing tours of 2026, with secondary market ticket prices already reaching record highs. As the tour moves toward Milwaukee for a Thursday night show, fans are eagerly watching to see how the setlist evolves. With the Winter Olympics and various national crises dominating the headlines, Springsteen’s return to the road offers a sense of continuity and a “hopeful” soundtrack for a divided country.
