Bruce Springsteen Launches Politically Charged ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ Tour
A Defiant Opening Night in Minneapolis
Before a single note of music was played at the opening night of the 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams Tour, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band concert. In a break from decades of tradition, the band walked onto the stage in total darkness, visible to the crowd only in hazy silhouette. Springsteen came out last, and addressed the capacity crowd at the Target Center in Minneapolis, speaking much like he did at the city’s No Kings rally a few days earlier.
“I want to begin the night with a prayer for our men and women overseas,” he said. “We pray for their safe return. The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock & roll in dangerous times. We are here in celebration and defense of our American ideals, democracy, our Constitution, and our sacred American promise. The America that I love, the America that I’ve written about for 50 years, that’s been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous administration.”
“Tonight,” he continued, “we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, unity over division, and peace over war.”
A Setlist Defined by Resistance
As the final word “war” echoed through the arena, the stage lights flicked on. Springsteen and the band emerged from the darkness, and they ripped into Edwin Starr’s 1970 classic “War,” which they hadn’t played since America last started a Middle Eastern war in 2003. It was a fiery rendition featuring special guest Tom Morello on guitar, allowing Springsteen to roam the stage instrument-free, and it transitioned right into an impassioned “Born in the U.S.A.,” a song Springsteen recently allowed the ACLU to use in their battle to overturn Trump’s anti-birthright citizenship executive order.
If these were ordinary times, this tour wouldn’t even be happening. Springsteen has worked heavily on the road in recent years, and was planning to move his attention toward a new solo record. But these are nothing close to ordinary times. And after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE officers in January, Springsteen felt his response couldn’t be limited to his new protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” and appearances at a handful of No Kings rallies. He decided to convene the E Street Band with little notice, book arenas across the country, beginning in the town that served as the epicenter of the ICE resistance movement, and channel his righteous fury into something productive and unifying.
The Power of Solidarity
Prior to the E Street Band premiere of “Streets of Minneapolis,” Springsteen again spoke to the crowd. “This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis,” he said. “Well, they picked the wrong town. The power of solidarity, of the people of Minneapolis, was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us this is still America, and this will not stand. Minnesota, you gave us hope. You gave us courage. And for those who gave their lives, Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, and Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths. Their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten.”
Springsteen stopped the song midway through to lead a chant of “ICE out now!” that grew louder and louder with every repeat until the walls of the venue were practically shaking. Amazingly, there didn’t seem to be a single boo or any cries of dissent. Springsteen’s right-wing fans clearly got the message that this show wasn’t for them. (And it wasn’t a very subtle message since he slapped the No Kings logo onto many of the tour posters.)
A Call for Unity
When the band returned, keyboardist Roy Bittan softly played the opening of “My City of Ruins” while Springsteen delivered yet another address. “Here in the States, we are living through some very dark times,” he said. “Our American values that have sustained us for 250 years are being challenged as never before…Our justice department has completely abdicated its independence, and our attorney general, Pam Bondi, takes her marching orders straight from a corrupt White House. She prosecutes our president’s perceived enemies, covers up for his misdeeds, and protects his powerful friends. And this is happening now…So many of our elected leaders have failed us that this American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people. So join us and let’s fight for the America that we love. Are you with us?”
Even though it’s been a standard encore for quite some time, “Rosalita” did not come out. Fans instead received a surprise cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” dedicated to the “maestro,” with Morello and Nils Lofgren teaming up for the climactic guitar solo.
“These are the hard times, but we’ll make it through,” Springsteen said, concluding on a brighter note. “This is a tour that was not planned. We’re here tonight because we need to feel your hope, and your strength. We want to bring some hope and some strength to you. I hope we did that. All I can say is God bless Alex Pretti, God bless Renee Good, God bless you, and God bless America.”
