Billy Joel Sets December Campus Event, His First Official Appearance Since Diagnosis

Billy Joel is scheduled to appear at Florida Atlantic University on Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., according to Rolling Stone. The event is titled "Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions & Answers…And a Little Music." It is his first official appearance since he announced a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus and stepped away from the stage.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid builds up in the chambers of the brain. It can affect walking, balance and memory. Joel has said he is not currently allowed to drive because of his health condition. After the diagnosis, he canceled his previously scheduled 2025-2026 tour.

The Florida Atlantic event is a question-and-answer evening with some music, and tickets are not open to the general public at first. They will be available only to students who are currently enrolled at the university, starting Nov. 12. Anyone else will have to wait for further details from the university or from Joel's team.

Joel has also made a brief return to the stage in recent months. In January, he made a surprise appearance in Wellington, Florida, during a show by Turnstiles, a Billy Joel tribute band. He performed "We Didn't Start The Fire" and "Big Shot" with the group.

For the students at Florida Atlantic, the December date is a chance to see a performer whose music many of them grew up hearing on their parents' records and car radios. For the wider public, it is the clearest sign yet of when Joel will next appear in front of an audience. The event is set for the evening of Dec. 14, and the ticket window opens on Nov. 12.