IU Postpones 2026 Concerts and Sixth Album Due to Health Condition
IU has postponed her 2026 concerts and sixth studio album after her chronic patulous Eustachian tube condition worsened.
The singer-songwriter will postpone both her planned 2026 concerts and the release of her sixth full-length album after a worsening of her chronic health condition. The decision affects her scheduled Goyang Stadium concerts in September, the wider nationwide tour, and the rollout of her next studio record, marking a major shift in her plans for the remainder of the year.
Her agency, EDAM Entertainment, confirmed the news on July 21, explaining that the revised schedule was made with the artist's long-term health in mind.
According to the agency, IU's chronic patulous Eustachian tube condition has recently worsened. The disorder occurs when the Eustachian tube behind the eardrum remains abnormally open, creating ongoing discomfort that can make singing particularly challenging.
#IU postpones album & concerts due to health issues pic.twitter.com/G9HzDH5PrF
— ZAPZEE (@zapzee_net) July 21, 2026
The company stressed that the symptoms are not severe enough to disrupt IU's everyday life. Even so, performing at the level fans expect has become another story. The agency explained that postponing the concerts and album schedule was the best way to ensure she can eventually return to the stage in peak condition.
EDAM also pledged to fully support IU's treatment and recovery, adding that every effort will be made to help her reunite with fans in good health.
IU addressed the situation herself through the fan communication platform Berryz, offering an honest explanation of what she has been experiencing behind the scenes.
She revealed that moving forward with the Goyang Stadium concerts had ultimately become impossible because her Eustachian tube symptoms have continued to worsen. According to the singer, the condition now persists throughout both day and night, making it increasingly difficult to recover her vocal condition whenever she sings.
The update carried a mixture of disappointment and determination.
IU confirmed that recording for her sixth studio album has already been completed. Daily life remains manageable, she explained, but medical opinions indicate that holding concerts is not advisable for the time being. That distinction matters. Recording in a controlled environment is one challenge. Delivering a stadium performance night after night is another entirely.
For fans, the announcement lands with understandable disappointment. IU acknowledged that feeling directly, saying she was deeply sorry she could not keep her promise to hold a concert during the period she had hoped to share with the 8th generation of Uaena, her official fan club.
The postponement reaches beyond a single venue. Her nationwide concert tour has also been delayed, while the release of the completed sixth album will now arrive later than originally planned.
"I am so sorry that words alone cannot fully express it," IU said, apologizing once again to supporters who had been waiting for both projects.
She also made one promise clear. The wait, she hopes, will not last any longer than necessary.
IU said she will do everything possible to let Uaena hear the new album and experience the accompanying performances as soon as her condition improves. Stay put, she suggested in spirit, because the music is ready. The timing simply has to be right.
Looking ahead, the artist set her sights firmly on 2027.
She said she plans to continue treatment, take every possible measure to improve her condition, and dedicate herself to recovery so that she and her fans can begin next year together under better circumstances. It is a realistic goal, delivered without dramatic language, yet filled with quiet resolve.
Away from music, IU continues to face another battle. She remains involved in legal proceedings against individuals accused of posting malicious comments online. The singer recently filed a petition for discovery with a U.S. court as part of efforts to identify anonymous commenters for use in her ongoing legal action.
For now, though, health comes first. It is never easy to postpone a stadium concert or delay a completed album, especially for an artist known for keeping promises to fans. Sometimes the strongest decision is knowing when to step back, recover, and return when the moment truly feels right.
