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Key developments
Dylan reshapes Berkeley set with rare returns
Cult Following's Ewan Gleadow reported that Bob Dylan played a 16-song Summer 2026 tour set at the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California, with multiple arrangement changes. The set included a heavily altered "When I Paint My Masterpiece," a harmonica-highlighted "Tryin' to Get to Heaven," the tour's first "Baby Won't You Be My Baby," and a rare return of "I Shall Be Released." Covers included "I Can Tell," "Share Your Love With Me," "I'll Make It All Up to You," and "Nervous Breakdown."
Why it matters
The Berkeley show adds to a developing pattern of unusually fluid setlists and revived catalog material on Dylan's current tour.
Sources & driving stories
CULT FOLLOWING · Ewan Gleadow
Cult Following coverageDylan reflects on aging in rare op-ed
Rolling Stone and NME reported that Bob Dylan, now 85, contributed to a New York Times package collecting reflections from octogenarians around Donald Trump's 80th birthday. Dylan wrote about aging as freedom from the illusion of control and from chasing external demands, while also noting drawbacks including bodily limits, fewer surprises, and the persistence of inner drives. The pieces noted that Dylan did not offer Trump-specific advice.
Why it matters
Dylan rarely publishes personal reflections, making the comments a notable new statement on age, time, and self-understanding.
Sources & driving stories
ROLLING STONE
Rolling Stone coverageNME · Max Pilley
NME coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Possible new music activity
NME's Max Pilley noted reports that Dylan has been working on new music with members of his band in Albany, New York, a potentially significant signal if corroborated by further reporting.
WORTH NOTING
Recent MacGowan tribute noted
NME also highlighted Dylan's Ireland performances, including a Dublin cover of Shane MacGowan's "A Rainy Night in Soho" and a traditional folk ballad reportedly played for the first time in 34 years.
WORTH NOTING
New critical reassessment of protest era
Altrockchick published a fresh review of "The Times They Are a-Changin'," emphasizing the album's continued relevance across civil rights, war, poverty, racism, and social-change themes.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will rare songs stay in rotation?
The Berkeley set suggests deliberate setlist experimentation, but it is unclear whether revived material like "I Shall Be Released" and "Baby Won't You Be My Baby" will become recurring tour features.
OPEN QUESTION
Is the Albany recording report leading somewhere?
The new-music signal is potentially important but currently thin, so confirmation from sessions, collaborators, or release plans would materially change its significance.