Just over a year after suggesting that he might be ready to move on from his famous alter ego, The Weeknd is no longer considering retiring the stage name that helped turn him into one of the biggest artists in the world. During a recent stop on his “After Hours Til Dawn Tour” in Stockholm, the singer told fans that stepping away from the persona no longer feels like the right decision.
The announcement marks a major shift for the Grammy-winning performer, born Abel Tesfaye, who spent much of the past few years discussing the possibility of ending his run as The Weeknd. While he had previously spoken about retiring the persona after completing a trilogy of projects, his latest comments suggest that chapter is far from over.
The Weeknd Tells Fans He Will “Never Disappear”
The Weeknd Seemingly Walks Back Plans to Retire His Stage Name: ‘I’ll Never Disappear’ Details: https://t.co/R2zjyNQSww pic.twitter.com/npsfipsvHZ
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) August 10, 2026
During his Aug. 8 concert in Stockholm, Sweden, Tesfaye addressed the crowd and revealed that he had rethought his plans.
“I’ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear,” he said, according to fan-recorded videos shared online. “I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.”
The statement immediately caught the attention of fans because it directly contradicted comments he made in 2025 about potentially retiring the name The Weeknd once he fulfilled his existing commitments.
For years, the singer had hinted that “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” the third installment in his “After Hours” trilogy, could serve as the closing chapter for the character that launched his career in 2011.
Why He Considered Leaving The Weeknd Behind
In a 2025 interview with Variety, Tesfaye explained that he was feeling increasingly disconnected from the mindset required to continue operating as The Weeknd.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for,” he said at the time. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”
At the time, The Weeknd was openly discussing retiring the persona, though he emphasized that he was not planning to quit music altogether. Instead, he suggested that future projects could be released under his real name or a different creative identity.
The move would also allow him to explore other forms of entertainment more freely as he continued expanding into acting and producing.
A Career Beyond Music
Over the last several years, Tesfaye has steadily broadened his creative portfolio. In addition to releasing chart-topping albums and selling out stadium tours, he has taken on acting roles in projects such as “Uncut Gems” and co-created HBO’s “The Idol.”
Even when discussing retirement, he consistently maintained that music would remain part of his future.
“I don’t think I can stop doing that,” he said in 2025. “But everything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered.”
Tesfaye added that he felt he had accomplished everything he set out to achieve as the character.
“No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me,” he said. “And I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.”
The SoFi Stadium Incident Played a Major Role
The Weeknd halted his second night at L.A.’s Sofi Stadium after losing his voice: “This is killing me, I don’t want to stop the show but I can’t give you the concert I want to give you right now.” https://t.co/nCQlFm7lX6 pic.twitter.com/BwA9W2TNDT
— Variety (@Variety) September 4, 2022
The idea of ending the persona reportedly gained momentum after a difficult moment during a 2022 concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Tesfaye lost his voice just a few songs into the performance, forcing the show to end early. While doctors reportedly found no physical explanation for the issue, the experience left a lasting impact on the singer.
“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say,’” he recalled. “Don’t overstay at the party, you can end it now and live a happy life.”
The incident prompted him to question whether there was ever a perfect time to leave the spotlight.
For a period, The Weeknd believed retiring the persona at the peak of his success might be the best way to preserve its legacy.
Fans Can Expect More From The Weeknd
That no longer appears to be the plan.
With his latest comments in Stockholm, The Weeknd has stepped back from retiring the iconic moniker and reassured fans that he intends to remain a visible presence in music.
While it remains unclear how he will balance future projects with his growing interests in film and television, his message was unmistakable: The Weeknd is not going anywhere.
For fans who feared that “Hurry Up Tomorrow” would mark the end of an era, the singer’s latest update offers a much different outlook. Rather than preparing a farewell, The Weeknd appears ready to continue evolving while keeping the name that made him a global superstar.
Featured image: @theweeknd/Instagram
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