Bob Dylan Kicks Off 2026 Tour With Surprise Eddie Cochran Cover, New Acoustic Set

The legendary singer-songwriter debuts a stripped-down show with a rare 'The Man in the Long Black Coat' and an Eddie Cochran cover.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:22pm

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Bob Dylan launched the 2026 leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour on Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska, with a stripped-down acoustic set that featured several surprises. The show included the first performance of 'The Man in the Long Black Coat' since 2013, as well as Dylan's first-ever live cover of Eddie Cochran's 1958 classic 'Nervous Breakdown'.

Why it matters

Dylan's tour changes, including ditching his grand piano for a small keyboard and having his guitarists play acoustic instead of electric, signal a significant shift in his live show. The inclusion of rarities like 'The Man in the Long Black Coat' and the Cochran cover also demonstrate Dylan's continued willingness to surprise and delight his longtime fans.

The details

The Omaha show featured just six songs from the Rough and Rowdy Ways album, down from the usual nine, and Dylan never touched the electric guitar that sat on his amp all night. The set also included classics like 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' and Bo Diddley's 'I Can Tell', which Dylan has rarely played in recent years. The biggest surprise came near the end when he performed Eddie Cochran's 'Nervous Breakdown' for the first time ever.

  • Bob Dylan launched the 2026 leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour on Saturday, March 22, 2026, at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Dylan last played in America on the final leg of the Outlaw Festival tour in September 2025.

The players

Bob Dylan

A legendary American singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular music for more than five decades.

Bob Britt

One of Dylan's guitarists who played acoustic guitar during the Omaha show.

Doug Lancio

Another of Dylan's guitarists who played acoustic guitar during the Omaha show.

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What they’re saying

“[It was] the roughest concert of the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour.”

— Matt Simonsen, Flagging Down the Double E's newsletter reporter

What’s next

Dylan's spring tour resumes Sunday night at Mary W. Sommervold Hall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It wraps up May 1 at Abilene Auditorium in Abilene, Texas. He's playing additional U.S. shows this summer, but the only dates he's announced so far are June 6 and 7 at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington, and July 2 at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

The takeaway

Dylan's stripped-down acoustic set and surprise song choices on the 2026 tour leg signal his continued evolution as a live performer, keeping his longtime fans on their toes and demonstrating his enduring creativity even decades into his legendary career.