In a major statement of intent for its 2026 return, the Sick New World festival has announced it will be expanding to a second city, with a new Texas date now planned in addition to its traditional Las Vegas event. The news, which surfaced on the festival’s official website, confirms an October 24 date in Fort Worth, Texas, with multi-platinum band System Of A Down expected to headline.
The expansion is a bold and surprising move for the festival, which was forced to cancel its planned 2025 edition due to what reports at the time described as “sluggish ticket sales” and an “overambitious lineup.” That canceled event was rumored to feature massive guarantees for headliners Metallica and Linkin Park, making the financial risk too great without an immediate sellout. The decision to now expand to two cities signals a renewed confidence from the promoters in the festival’s brand and the enduring power of the nu-metal and alternative scenes.
The announcement of the Texas date on Friday, October 17, comes just one day after the date for the festival’s flagship Las Vegas event was revealed via a leaked press application. That leak confirmed that the Las Vegas edition of Sick New World will take place on April 25, 2026, at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds.
While no official lineup has been announced for either date, System Of A Down is widely expected to be the headliner for both events. The Armenian-American rock icons, who have headlined previous editions of the festival, have already been the subject of fan speculation after frontman Serj Tankian reportedly hinted at the band’s involvement earlier this year.
After the disappointment of the 2025 cancellation, the expansion of Sick New World into a two-city event is a massive and welcome announcement for fans.
Sick New World – Confirmed 2026 Dates:
- April 25, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Festival Grounds
- October 24, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX – (Venue TBA)
