The Weeknd postpones Australia and New Zealand tour due to ...

Canadian singer The Weeknd has postponed his upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand, citing "unforeseen circumstances".

In a statement posted to Ticketek's website, the 33-year-old musician and star of HBO series The Idol said he was "deeply disappointed" but new dates for the After Hours til Dawn tour would be announced next year.

People who bought tickets for the cancelled dates will be contacted with new tour dates when they are known, and will be able to use their tickets for the rescheduled shows.

Those unable to make the new dates will be able to have their money refunded.

A representative of tour promoter Live Nation said the company understood fans would be disappointed, and it was working with the Canadian singer to reschedule the shows.

"We will make a further announcement as soon as possible," the statement said.

The Weeknd, who recently said he was considering dropping his stage name and performing under his real name Abel Tesfaye, was scheduled to open his tour in Brisbane with two shows at Suncorp Stadium on November 20 and 21.

He was then set to play three shows at Sydney's Accor Stadium on November 24, 25 and 27, followed by four shows at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on December 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Two shows in Auckland on December 8 and 9 have also been postponed.

The After Hours til Dawn tour has so far proven enormously successful for the Blinding Lights singer, raking in more than $US350 million (about $543 million) in gross sales from shows in the US and Europe over the 12 months to July.