Fans of System Of A Down have reason to celebrate: the multi-platinum Armenian-American band will headline the 2026 edition of the Sick New World festival. The news was confirmed by frontman Serj Tankian during a recent signing, with video footage surfacing of Tankian confirming the band’s participation next year.
System Of A Down previously headlined the first two editions of the festival, which ran into complications this year. Teases for the festival’s 2026 return were spotted during the band’s summer headlining shows, signaling that plans were already underway.
The band’s connection to the festival is deep. Longtime management company Velvet Hammer, led by CEO and co-founder David “Beno” Benveniste, has been instrumental in organizing the event. Their involvement has helped keep the festival closely tied to System Of A Down over the years.
Hints of the band’s return had been circulating for some time. Drummer John Dolmayan suggested back in 2024 that the festival would make a comeback, confirming that the group’s headline spot was already in motion. While the festival has traditionally been held in Las Vegas, NV, around April, official 2026 dates have not yet been announced.
In addition to their festival appearance, System Of A Down will also embark on a major European stadium tour in 2026, sharing the stage with Queens of the Stone Age and the newly reunited Acid Bath. The tour will hit some of Europe’s largest arenas, including multiple dates in Paris, London, and Warsaw, making it one of the summer’s biggest live events.
European Tour Dates 2026:
- June 29 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
- July 2 – Paris, France – Stade de France (original date)
- July 4 – Paris, France – Stade de France (added date)
- July 6 – Milan, Italy – Ippodromo Snai La Maura
- July 8 – Berlin, Germany – Olympiastadion Berlin
- July 10 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Open Air Park Düsseldorf
- July 13 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (original date)
- July 15 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (added date)
- July 18 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy (original date)
- July 19 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy (added date)
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
