ArtistDirect News
Derek Hough Launches Symphony of Dance: Encore Tour in El Cajon, Bringing Family and New Energy to 40-City Run
On June 24, 2026, former “Dancing with the Stars” professional Derek Hough opened the first night of his “Symphony of Dance: Encore” tour in El Cajon, California. The 40‑city trek, which will conclude on August 16 in Las Vegas, promises a high‑energy blend of ballroom, contemporary, Latin and theatrical choreography. The production is co‑created and supervised by NappyTabs—Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo—who have previously worked on Jennifer Lopez’s “All I Have” residency and the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour.
In an interview with “Extra” reporter Mona Kosar Abdi, Hough described the backstage preparations in San Diego. “We’re hitting 40 cities. I’m backstage here. You can kind of see some of the lighting, the rigging here. It’s full out, man. These dancers are incredible. This is going to be an amazing show,” he said. The artist emphasized the large ensemble of dancers and a stage design that has been described as “full out” by the production team.
The tour is as much a family affair as it is a dance showcase. Hough’s wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, accompanies the show with their six‑month‑old daughter, Everley. Hayley explained that Everley sleeps upstairs away from the loud music, but “she’s having the time of her life on tour.” Hough added that the production is “her show” and that it carries special meaning because the original version of the show was the one in which Hayley suffered a brain bleed in December 2023. “Being able to redo the show in a different way is so special,” he said. Hayley remains six months postpartum, a fact that Hough described as “insanity” in the interview.
Hayley’s brain bleed—a cranial hematoma that required emergency surgery—was widely reported in December 2023. She has since recovered and was featured in a documentary that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2026. The couple’s experience has been covered in several entertainment outlets, including PEOPLE and ABC News, which highlighted Hayley’s resilience and the couple’s public discussion of her recovery.
Hough’s career spans more than a decade of dance and television. He was a professional dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” from 2007 to 2016, winning the show six times. He has received 14 Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography and has won the award four times. In 2025 he began hosting the daytime talk show “Extra.” The “Symphony of Dance: Encore” tour follows his earlier tours, including “Symphony of Dance” and “Dance for the Holidays,” both of which sold out in 2024.
Tickets for the tour are available through DerekHough.com and via Ticketmaster presales that begin on November 12, 2026. The schedule includes stops in major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami, as well as Canadian venues in Toronto and Vancouver. The production is expected to draw audiences who have followed Hough’s work on television and who are interested in a live dance experience that combines technical precision with theatrical storytelling.
The “Symphony of Dance: Encore” tour marks a significant return to live performance for Hough after a period of television hosting and choreography for other artists. It also highlights the personal dimension of his work, incorporating Hayley’s recovery story and the presence of their daughter Everley. The tour’s combination of high‑profile choreography, family involvement, and a large‑scale production positions it as a notable event in the 2026 live‑performance calendar.
In an interview with “Extra” reporter Mona Kosar Abdi, Hough described the backstage preparations in San Diego. “We’re hitting 40 cities. I’m backstage here. You can kind of see some of the lighting, the rigging here. It’s full out, man. These dancers are incredible. This is going to be an amazing show,” he said. The artist emphasized the large ensemble of dancers and a stage design that has been described as “full out” by the production team.
The tour is as much a family affair as it is a dance showcase. Hough’s wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, accompanies the show with their six‑month‑old daughter, Everley. Hayley explained that Everley sleeps upstairs away from the loud music, but “she’s having the time of her life on tour.” Hough added that the production is “her show” and that it carries special meaning because the original version of the show was the one in which Hayley suffered a brain bleed in December 2023. “Being able to redo the show in a different way is so special,” he said. Hayley remains six months postpartum, a fact that Hough described as “insanity” in the interview.
Hayley’s brain bleed—a cranial hematoma that required emergency surgery—was widely reported in December 2023. She has since recovered and was featured in a documentary that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2026. The couple’s experience has been covered in several entertainment outlets, including PEOPLE and ABC News, which highlighted Hayley’s resilience and the couple’s public discussion of her recovery.
Hough’s career spans more than a decade of dance and television. He was a professional dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” from 2007 to 2016, winning the show six times. He has received 14 Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography and has won the award four times. In 2025 he began hosting the daytime talk show “Extra.” The “Symphony of Dance: Encore” tour follows his earlier tours, including “Symphony of Dance” and “Dance for the Holidays,” both of which sold out in 2024.
Tickets for the tour are available through DerekHough.com and via Ticketmaster presales that begin on November 12, 2026. The schedule includes stops in major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami, as well as Canadian venues in Toronto and Vancouver. The production is expected to draw audiences who have followed Hough’s work on television and who are interested in a live dance experience that combines technical precision with theatrical storytelling.
The “Symphony of Dance: Encore” tour marks a significant return to live performance for Hough after a period of television hosting and choreography for other artists. It also highlights the personal dimension of his work, incorporating Hayley’s recovery story and the presence of their daughter Everley. The tour’s combination of high‑profile choreography, family involvement, and a large‑scale production positions it as a notable event in the 2026 live‑performance calendar.