The Weeknd has made a decision about his future after previously hinting that he was ready to retire his famous stage name.
The “Blinding Lights” singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, revealed that he isn’t planning to step away anytime soon while performing for fans in Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday, August 8.
“I’ll never disappear,” the 36-year-old told the crowd in fan-captured footage shared on social media. “I love this too much to ever disappear.”
The Weeknd told fans he’s going to be with his fans forever at his concert on August 8. SOURCE: @QGTHEWEEKND/X
The Grammy winner then admitted that he had given retirement a try but quickly realized it wasn’t for him.
“I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels,” he said. “Imma be here forever with you.”
The Weeknd previously considered retiring his stage name
The Weeknd contemplated retiring his stage name. SOURCE: MEGA
Tesfaye’s latest comments mark a change of heart after he spent years discussing the possibility of leaving The Weeknd persona behind.
In January 2025, the singer opened up about the future of his stage name while preparing to release his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.
He explained that losing his voice during a 2022 concert in Los Angeles prompted him to reevaluate his life and career.
“I knew that I really needed to sit the f*** down and figure out my life,” he told Variety.
The experience also contributed to his desire to move on from The Weeknd persona, which he said had become associated with the never-ending competition for more success, albums, shows, awards and hits.
However, Tesfaye made it clear at the time that leaving The Weeknd behind didn’t necessarily mean he would stop making music.
“I don’t think I can stop doing that,” he said.
The Weeknd wasn’t ready to say goodbye
The Weeknd performed during his After Hours Til Dawn Tour while considering retirement. SOURCE: MEGA
The singer continued teasing the possible retirement of his stage name in May 2025.
“Have I started? Yeah, it’s getting there,” he told People when asked whether he had begun the process.
However, Tesfaye noted that his ongoing tour meant he couldn’t “fully retire it” just yet.
More than a year later, his plans have changed, with Tesfaye now telling fans he intends to stick around.
His announcement came during the latest leg of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, which first kicked off in 2022.
The Weeknd became one of music’s biggest stars
The Weeknd rose to fame in 2011 and headlined the Super Bowl halftime show a decade later. SOURCE: MEGA
Tesfaye began releasing music under the name The Weeknd in 2011, initially gaining attention through a series of mixtapes.
He later became a global superstar with hits including “The Hills,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Save Your Tears” and “Blinding Lights.”
The Canadian singer has won multiple Grammy Awards and performed at the Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2021.
His 2025 album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, completed a trilogy that began with After Hours in 2020 and continued with Dawn FM in 2022.