Anticipation for the 2026 return of the Sick New World festival has intensified with the release of a new teaser video featuring music from three iconic bands: System Of A Down, Deftones, and Korn. The clip, released on Monday, October 20, strongly suggests the involvement of these nu-metal and alternative metal pioneers in the festival’s lineup, which is expected to be fully revealed today, October 21.
The use of music from these specific bands in the official teaser is significant. System Of A Down has already been widely expected to headline the festival’s comeback year. Furthermore, all three bands are clients of Velvet Hammer management, whose founder, David “Beno” Benveniste, is also a co-founder of the Sick New World festival itself.
While the teaser focuses on these foundational acts of the late 90s and early 2000s era, reports suggest the full lineup will span various subgenres of heavy music. Hints from other promotional materials, including an art installation at the recent When We Were Young festival, have also suggested potential appearances from bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Gojira.
The 2026 edition of Sick New World marks a major comeback and expansion for the event. After successful iterations in 2023 and 2024, the festival was forced to cancel its planned 2025 event due to reported financial risks associated with an ambitious lineup.
For 2026, the festival is not only returning to its home at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on April 25 but is also expanding to a second city, with a newly announced date in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 24. The new teaser video confirms that the festival’s core identity remains rooted in the iconic sounds of the nu-metal and alternative metal era, setting the stage for a massive lineup reveal today.
Sick New World – Confirmed 2026 Dates:
- April 25, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Festival Grounds
- October 24, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX – (Venue TBA)
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