Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx has promised fans that the band’s upcoming 2026 trek, dubbed “The Return Of Carnival Of Sins,” will leverage modern technology to reimagine one of their most beloved eras. The 33-city amphitheater run, featuring special guests Extreme and Tesla, is set to launch this July.
In a new interview with Mike Hsu of 100 FM The Pike, Sixx opened up about the creative process behind the tour, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of their 2005-2006 Carnival of Sins run. While that original tour is fondly remembered by fans, Sixx pointed out that the band was limited by the production capabilities of the time.
“They didn’t have video screens back then, and anything that you could do that would encompass and take over the imagination of all the people there,” Sixx explained.
The bassist noted that recent experiments with visuals during their Las Vegas residency—specifically during the intro track “In The Beginning“—have inspired them to push boundaries.
“Mid-show, everything went dark and there’s this, basically, devil talking to you, narrating that, which then led into ‘Shout At The Devil’. And these are the kind of things, when you think about the ‘Carnival’ environment, how far we can take it — it’s super exciting for us.”
Sixx also emphasized that the lineup was curated based on a shared history of hit-making, praising both support acts for their catalog.
“We’re really stoked with Tesla and Extreme, because the idea of Tesla and Extreme and Mötley Crüe is it’s all about songs, however you interpret them,” he said. “A good song is a good song, and that’s what I’m really excited about.”
When asked if this extensive tour signaled the end of the road or a “winding down” for the band, Sixx was quick to dismiss the notion, clarifying that summer touring aligns perfectly with his personal life.
“Summers are a great time for bands that have been around for a while and have families because we can go out and play and still be able to be with our families,” he stated. “That’s always kind of been the hardest part for me, is being separated from that. I’m a dad and a husband and a sobriety advocate and a musician before I am a rock star.”
He added: “And no, this isn’t a cap on anything… plugging it into summertime, it just works for everybody. It’s just a blast.”
The band is also using the tour to give back, with $1 from every ticket sold going to the Mötley Crüe Giveback Initiative benefiting ASAP! (After School Arts Program).
Mötley Crüe – “The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins” 2026 Tour Dates
With Extreme and Tesla:
- Jul. 17 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- Jul. 18 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
- Jul. 20 – Clarkson, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- Jul. 22 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
- Jul. 24 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
- Jul. 25 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
- Jul. 27 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
- Jul. 29 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
- Jul. 31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- Aug. 1 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
- Aug. 3 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
- Aug. 12 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- Aug. 14 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
- Aug. 15 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Aug. 17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
- Aug. 19 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
- Aug. 21 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater
- Aug. 22 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- Aug. 24 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
- Aug. 25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
- Aug. 27 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
- Aug. 28 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
- Sep. 8 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater
- Sep. 10 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
- Sep. 11 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- Sep. 13 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- Sep. 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- Sep. 18 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Sep. 19 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater
- Sep. 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Sep. 23 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
- Sep. 24 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater
- Sep. 26 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
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