The “Piano Man,” Billy Joel, is set to conclude his historic residency at Madison Square Garden after a remarkable 10-year run and an astounding 150 performances. The news was unveiled during a press conference, where Joel announced his plans for the final 10 concerts at the legendary venue, scheduled to take place from October 2023 through July 2024.

Reflecting on the extraordinary longevity of his residency, Joel expressed his gratitude to the dedicated fans who have made the journey to Madison Square Garden throughout the years. “I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years, 150 shows—all right already!” Joel exclaimed. Recalling his first show at The Garden, he reminisced, “I do remember the first time we played Madison Square Garden, it was the pinnacle of my career. I thought, ‘My God, I’m headlining Madison Square Garden.’ Everybody in the world knows when you play The Garden, it’s not just New York. To our audience, I want to thank them for coming to our shows for this long. It’s hard to end, even at 150 lifetime shows. I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful thing that’s happened here.”

Billy Joel’s extraordinary journey with Madison Square Garden began on Dec. 14, 1978, with his debut performance at the hallowed arena. Since then, he has continuously broken records with each subsequent show. In 2006, Joel staged an unprecedented 12 consecutive concerts, setting the record for “most consecutive performances by any artist” (later surpassed by Phish’s Baker’s Dozen run in 2017). His legacy at MSG is one of immense significance, as James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG Entertainment, acknowledged, stating, “Billy Joel’s franchise run has made history—not only for Madison Square Garden but also for the music industry overall. 150 sold-out lifetime shows is a remarkable achievement and speaks to Billy’s extraordinary talent, beloved catalog, and dedicated fanbase. Billy always has a home here at MSG, even though the residency is coming to an end with his 150th lifetime performance.”

In 2013, Billy Joel became an official franchise at Madison Square Garden, joining the esteemed ranks of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. As the first “musical franchise” of its kind, Joel initiated his residency the following year, committing to perform one show a month at The Garden “as long as the demand continues.” Nearly a decade later, Joel has amassed banners, shattered records, and even earned his own day in New York State – July 18, 2018, in honor of his 100th-lifetime show at Madison Square Garden. Throughout his residency, Joel has welcomed an impressive array of special guests to join him on stage, including Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Paul Simon, Miley Cyrus, John Fogerty, Olivia Rodrigo, Billy Gibbons, and many more. With over 1.6 million tickets sold to fans from all 50 states and 120 countries, Joel’s impact reaches far beyond the boundaries of New York City.

““There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel—and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all.”

The conclusion of Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden residency will undoubtedly be a monumental moment for both the artist and his devoted fans. Tickets for the first of the final 10 shows will go on sale to the public on June 9, with exclusive pre-sales for Citi cardmembers and Verizon Up members taking place earlier in the week. Fans are encouraged to keep an eye on Ticketmaster for ongoing availability, and tickets will also be accessible at the Madison Square Garden box office starting on June 10. Learn more and find tickets here.