Sufjan Stevens made his first public musical performance in more than eight years. He appeared unexpectedly during Meg Lui's show at Tempo in Kingston, New York, on September 25, playing piano and singing backing vocals on Elvis Queen.

The performance took place at the release party for Instant Validation, Lui's album produced by Stevens. Two weeks later, he joined the singer again at the O+ Festival, also in Kingston.

In 2023, Stevens revealed he had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves, and was relearning how to walk and use his hands. Last year, he said he did not feel ready to tour yet but was beginning to see the light.

The musician has not announced his own shows or a new album. In recent years, he released anniversary editions of Seven Swans and Carrie & Lowell and produced work by other artists.