Alex Warren canceled his Monday (Aug. 24) concert at Auckland’s Spark Arena just hours before showtime, citing sudden illness during his Finding Family on the Road World Tour stop in New Zealand.
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“I never have to do this and it breaks my heart to even write this but I have to cancel tonight’s show,” Warren wrote on Instagram.
“I have tried everything to be able to make this show work and I’m sadly bedridden sick at the moment. I can barely talk let alone sing and it sadly isn’t possible to play tonight’s show.” He added: “I understand what it takes to be able to attend concerts and the fact so many of you travelled for this one has made this decision even more difficult. I love you so much and hope you understand.”
Promoter Frontier Touring confirmed the cancellation in a separate statement, saying Warren was unwell and unable to perform “following medical advice.”
“Alex is devastated to miss the show and has been looking forward to performing for his Auckland fans,” the statement read. “He sincerely thanks fans for their understanding and support.” Ticketholders will receive automatic refunds.
The Auckland date was the sole North Island stop on Warren’s New Zealand run, following two shows earlier in the week at Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena. It’s not the first time illness has forced Warren off the road: he scrapped Philadelphia and Montreal tour stops in 2025 after performing through bronchitis and laryngitis worsened his condition. Warren is next scheduled to perform Friday (Aug. 28) at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, continuing an Australian leg that runs through Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
The cancellation lands just before a major release for Warren. His sophomore album, Wildchild, arrives Friday via Atlantic Records — the same day as his Sydney show — following 2025’s breakout debut You’ll Be Alright, Kid. That album, anchored by the 10-week Hot 100 No. 1 “Ordinary,” earned Warren the MTV VMA for best new artist and Billboard’s best new artist of 2025.
Wildchild has been previewed by singles “Fever Dream,” “Fine Place to Die,” “Passenger” and “Rescuer,” and Warren has described the 13-track project as documenting a healing process following his father’s death, in contrast to the grief-driven tone of his debut.