The Weeknd Cancels Stage Name Retirement: 'I Still Want to Perform for as Long as I Can'

Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye has openly canceled his plan to retire the stage name The Weeknd. In a cover interview with GQ Hong Kong, he stressed that he still wants to keep performing on stage as long as he is able. The statement also ends speculation that has swirled for more than a year about the possibility of him leaving the identity that made his name.

The decision grew out of the record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn world tour. According to Tesfaye, the gratitude that flowed from fans throughout the tour made him realize that leaving The Weeknd was not the right move. “I will keep doing this as long as I can. The Weeknd is not going anywhere,” he said in the interview.

Tesfaye's inner journey had actually been apparent since 2022. At the time, he lost his voice mid-concert in Los Angeles, triggering what he described as a kind of mental breakdown. The experience made him question the direction of his life and career. In an interview with Variety in January 2025, he admitted he had considered quitting because he felt he had already reached the peak and did not want to linger in a highly competitive industry.

“When you understand who I am too well, that is when I need to turn. But I can't really stop making music. Everything has to feel like a challenge,” Tesfaye said, describing his inner struggle.

In May 2025, he told PEOPLE that the process of retiring the stage name had already begun, though he could not fully let it go because he was still tied to a tour. A few months later, at a concert in Stockholm in August, he admitted he had tried retiring briefly and did not like how it felt. That admission became the turning point he finally made clear in the latest interview.

For the global music industry, The Weeknd's decision to stay on is not just good news for fans. A name as big as his carries significant economic weight, from concert ticket sales and streaming to brand partnerships. The canceled retirement also signals that he will still release new work and explore international markets, including Southeast Asia, one of his largest fan bases.

In Indonesia, enthusiasm for The Weeknd is high. Several times his name has appeared on lists of the most anticipated performers at regional music festivals. If he does extend his stage career, the chance of a concert in Jakarta or another major Southeast Asian city becomes more open. This is certainly welcome news for event organizers and players in the country's creative industry, who often bring in world-class artists.

Even so, Tesfaye's statement leaves questions about his artistic direction going forward. Will he stay consistent with the The Weeknd persona, or begin exploring his new identity as Abel Tesfaye in future works? What is clear is that he has closed the door on retirement for now. The public is waiting to see whether this decision will be followed by a new album or additional tours that reach Asia, including Indonesia.