Feature Photo: Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock.com
Foreigner, one of classic rock’s most enduring and best-selling bands, will mark its 50th anniversary with a special five-night residency in Las Vegas. The series, titled Foreigner: The Hits Orchestral – Celebrating 50 Years Live in Vegas, will take place at The Venetian Theatre from March 6 to March 14, 2026. The shows will be held on March 6, 7, 11, 13, and 14, with each performance scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM.
In a twist that sets this residency apart from previous tours, Foreigner will be joined by a full 20-piece orchestra. These performances will breathe new life into the band’s extensive catalog of hits, blending rock with classical arrangements to create an immersive sonic experience. Orchestral direction and arrangements will be led by acclaimed cellist and composer Dave Eggar, whose background includes work with artists like Coldplay, Paul Simon, and Amy Winehouse, alongside his long-time collaborator Chuck Palmer. Their mission is to honor the intensity and drama of Foreigner’s music while enhancing it with lush symphonic textures.
This orchestral journey is not uncharted territory for the band. In 2017, Foreigner staged their first concert with an orchestra in Lucerne, Switzerland, which led to a global run of symphonic shows. That same year, the group performed with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus at the Sydney Opera House, a performance that was later released as a live album and DVD. The success of these collaborations showed just how well Foreigner’s soaring melodies and anthemic choruses lend themselves to orchestral treatment.
Founded in 1976 by British guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones, Foreigner was built on the strength of a transatlantic lineup that included British and American musicians. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1977, introduced the world to a distinctive sound combining hard rock energy with pop songwriting finesse. The record sold over five million copies in the U.S. alone and spawned hit singles like “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Long, Long Way From Home.”
Foreigner’s commercial success continued into the 1980s with a string of multi-platinum albums including Double Vision (1978), Head Games (1979), and 4 (1981), which featured enduring hits like “Urgent,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Juke Box Hero.” Their global breakthrough came in 1984 with the power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which topped charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. By combining anthemic hooks with emotional depth, Foreigner became one of the most successful bands of the classic rock era, selling more than 80 million records worldwide.
The upcoming 2026 residency not only marks a milestone in the band’s timeline but also offers a rare opportunity for fans to hear these iconic tracks in an entirely new form. According to guitarist and founding member Mick Jones, the orchestral shows represent “a dramatic re-imagining of the music” that still manages to capture the spirit and drive that first made the band famous.
Tickets for Foreigner: The Hits Orchestral – Celebrating 50 Years Live in Vegas go on sale April 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT. They will be available via Ticketmaster, at The Venetian Resort box office, or by phone at 702.414.9000 or 866.641.7469.
In addition to the Las Vegas shows, Foreigner is scheduled for a busy year of touring. The band will kick off a Latin American tour in late April 2025, followed by dates across North America. Notably, longtime lead vocalist Kelly Hansen will sit out the Latin American and Canadian legs due to residency obligations. In his place, Luis Maldonado will handle vocals for Latin American shows, with original lead singer Lou Gramm appearing for select dates. For the Canadian run, Nova Scotian singer-actor Geordie Brown will front the band.
While no other 50th anniversary celebrations have been announced yet, the Las Vegas engagement stands as a definitive tribute to one of rock’s most beloved catalogs. With rich orchestral arrangements and five decades of history behind them, Foreigner is set to celebrate its legacy in grand style—just as fans would expect.
Check out more Foreigner articles on ClassicRockHistory.com Just click on any of the links below……
Jeff Pilson of Foreigner: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview
10 Most Rocking Foreigner Songs
Top 10 Foreigner Songs
Foreigner’s Best Song On Each Of Their Studio Albums
Top 10 Foreigner Love Songs
Complete List Of Foreigner Band Members
Complete List Of Foreigner Studio Albums
Frampton, Foreigner, Ozzy, & Dave Matthews Band Voted Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory
Foreigner Announces 50th Anniversary Vegas Shows With Orchestra article published on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2025
About The Author
Brian Kachejian
Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press.