On January 8, 2026, Britney Spears shocked her fans by saying in a heartfelt Instagram post that she would “never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons.” The pop star, who hasn’t toured the U.S. since her 2018 Piece of Me Tour, posted the statement with a picture of herself sitting next to a white piano on stage. Spears made it clear that her choice was based on personal reasons, which means that there will be no more live shows in the U.S.

Spears hinted at future shows abroad while closing the door on American performances. She said she hopes “to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon.” She called her son a “huge star,” which got people excited about the possibility of a family collaboration that could be her first big stage appearance since 2018. Fans think this could help her career take off again abroad, since this is her first tour of Australia since 2009.

Spears’ last performances in the U.S. were in 2017, when she had a residency in Las Vegas and then went on tour. She was supposed to have a residency in 2019, but it was canceled because of family health problems. Her 13-year fight for conservatorship, which ended in 2021, has always been a dark cloud over her career. However, recent posts show dance videos as “self-therapy” against critics. This announcement fits with her ongoing recovery story, which puts international stages first.