2026 in heavy metal music

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2026.

Bands disbanded

• Sepultura ^[1]
• Svalbard ^[2]

Events

• Sepultura is scheduled to wrap up what was announced as a year-long farewell tour, titled "Celebrating Life Through Death". ^[1]
• Iron Maiden is scheduled to wrap up their ongoing "Run for Your Lives World Tour" this year. ^[3]
• Twisted Sister will embark on their first major tour in ten years, which will see the band celebrate its 50th anniversary. ^[4]
• On June 7, Rush will play their first show in eleven years as part of their "Fifty Something" reunion tour at the Kia Forum. ^[5]

Albums expected

January

Day	Artist	Album
9	Alter Bridge	Alter Bridge [6]
	Beyond the Black	Break the Silence [7]
16	Edenbridge	Set the Dark on Fire [8]
	Holy Dragons	Guardians of Time – Part I [9]
	Kreator	Krushers of the World [10]
	Ov Sulfur	Endless [11]
	Soen	Reliance [12]
23	Crystal Lake	The Weight of Sound [13]
	Megadeth	Megadeth [14]
	Melissa Bonny	Cherry Red Apocalypse [15]

February

Day	Artist	Album
6	Karnivool	In Verses [16]
20	Clawfinger	Before We All Die [17]
27	Rob Zombie	The Great Satan [18]

March

Day	Artist	Album
6	Powerwolf	Wildlive (Live at Olympiahalle) (live album) [19]

Artists with material in production

• Abysmal Dawn ^[20]
• Accept (re-recording album) ^[21]
• Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 3 (covers album) ^[22]
• Acid Reign ^[23]
• Alcatrazz ^[24]
• Angus McSix ^[25]
• Anthrax ^[26]
• Archspire ^[27]
• Armored Saint ^[28]
• Atreyu ^[29]
• August Burns Red ^[30]
• Bangalore Choir ^[31]
• Black Label Society ^[32]
• Bullet for My Valentine ^[33]
• Clutch ^[34]
• Cold ^[35]
• Conception ^[36]
• Corrosion of Conformity ^[37]
• Crimson Glory ^[38]
• Cro-Mags ^[39]
• Crystal Lake ^[40]
• Cyco Miko ^[41]
• Dangerous Toys ^[42]
• Decapitated ^[43]
• Deep Purple ^[44]
• Def Leppard ^[45]
• Die Krupps ^[46]
• Dimmu Borgir ^[47]
• Disturbed ^[48]
• Doro ^[49]
• Down ^[50]
• Europe ^[51]
• Evanescence ^[52]
• Excel ^[53]
• Exodus ^[54]
• Fear Factory ^[55]
• Firewind ^[56]
• Flotsam and Jetsam ^[57]
• Forbidden ^[58]
• Gojira ^[59]
• Gorguts ^[60]
• Hatebreed ^[61]
• Ice Nine Kills ^[62]
• Insomnium ^[63]
• John Corabi ^[64]
• Kerry King ^[65]
• King Diamond – Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920 ^[66]
• Lita Ford ^[67]
• Masterplan – Metalmorphosis ^[68]
• Mayhem ^[69]
• Metal Allegiance ^[70]
• Michael Schenker ^[71]
• Michale Graves ^[72]
• Ministry ^[73]
• Moonspell ^[74]
• Ne Obliviscaris ^[75]
• Nonpoint ^[76]
• Obituary ^[77]
• Overkill ^[78]
• P.O.D. ^[79]
• Papa Roach ^[80]
• Prong (live album and studio album) ^[81]
• Queensrÿche ^[82]
• Ring of Fire ^[83]
• Russian Circles ^[84]
• Samael ^[85]
• Savatage – Curtain Call ^[86]
• Saxon ^[87]
• Sepultura (EP) ^[88]
• Sevendust ^[89]
• Shinedown ^[90]
• Six Feet Under ^[91]
• Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators ^[92]
• Snot ^[93]
• Soil ^[94]
• Soilwork ^[95]
• Spineshank ^[96]
• Steel Panther ^[97]
• Stoned Jesus – Songs to Moon ^[98]
• Stratovarius ^[99]
• Suicidal Tendencies ^[100]
• Symphony X ^[101]
• Tool ^[102]
• Trivium ^[103]
• U.D.O. ^[104]
• Ugly Kid Joe ^[105]
• Venom Inc. ^[106]
• Victory ^[107]
• Vio-lence ^[108]
• Warrior Soul – Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em ^[109]

References

1. "ANDREAS KISSER Is Still Hoping CAVALERA Brothers Will Take Part In SEPULTURA's Final Concert: 'There's No Reason To Be Fighting'". Blabbermouth.net. January 31, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
2. "Svalbard calling it quits in 2026". Lambgoat. May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
3. "Iron Maiden Announce 2025-2026 Run For Your Lives World Tour". The Rock Revival. September 19, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
4. "It's Official: TWISTED SISTER To Reunite In 2026 For Worldwide Performances Celebrating 50th Anniversary". Blabbermouth.net. September 10, 2025. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
5. Annie Zaleski (October 6, 2025). "Rush Sets Reunion Tour for 2026; Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Discuss the 'Difficult Decision' of Finding a New Drummer After Neil Peart's Death". Variety . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
6. "ALTER BRIDGE Announces Self-Titled Eighth Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
7. "BEYOND THE BLACK Announces New Album 'Break The Silence', Shares Title Track". Blabbermouth.net. July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
8. "EDENBRIDGE Returns To STEAMHAMMER/SPV, Announces New Album 'Set The Dark On Fire'". Blabbermouth.net. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
9. "Holy Dragons - Next Full Length Announced". Metal Storm. September 16, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
10. "KREATOR Announces 'Krushers Of The World' Album; European Tour With EXODUS And CARCASS To Launch In March 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
11. "Ov Sulfur announce new album 'Endless', debut latest single "Evermore" and video". Lambgoat. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
12. Jerry Ewing (September 16, 2025). "Soen announce new studio album, Reliance, will be released in January". loudersound.com . Retrieved September 16, 2025.
13. "Crystal Lake announce new album 'The Weight of Sound' and debut title track". Lambgoat. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
14. Gregory Adams (October 3, 2025). "Hear MEGADETH's "Tipping Point": First single off thrash titans' final album". Revolver . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
15. "AD INFINITUM Vocalist MELISSA BONNY Shares Cover Artwork And Tracklist For Cherry Red Apocalypse Solo Album". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
16. "KARNIVOOL Announce Long-Awaited New Album 'In Verses'". The Rockpit. September 16, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
17. "CLAWFINGER Announces New Album, 'Before We All Die'". Blabbermouth.net. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
18. Benedetta Baldin (October 10, 2025). "Rob Zombie announces new album and releases first single". Chaoszine. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
19. "POWERWOLF Announces New Live Album, DVD And Blu-Ray, 'Wildlive (Live At Olympiahalle)'". Blabbermouth.net. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
20. "Abysmal Dawn - New Material In The Making". Metal Storm. January 6, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
21. "ACCEPT To Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Tour And Album Of Re-Recorded Classics". Blabbermouth.net. July 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
22. Andrew Daly (September 5, 2025). ""I did the least amount of overdubs on Alive! – I'll let the fans decide why that is…" Ace Frehley looks beyond his next Origins album to his travel guitar, more touring and even reconciling with Kiss". Guitar World . Retrieved October 1, 2025.
23. "Acid Reign - Writing New Material". Metal Storm. January 29, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
24. "ALCATRAZZ Signs With BraveWords Records; New Studio Album To Be Released In 2026". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . May 12, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
25. "Power Metal Band ANGUS McSIX Evolves with New Vocalist Sam Nyman". My Global Mind. January 7, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
26. "Anthrax readies first new album in 10 years: 'So riff-centric and brutal'". 105.7 The Point . April 30, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
27. Greg Kennelty (May 27, 2025). "ARCHSPIRE Get A New SPENCER On Drums, Announces Plans For A New Record". Metal Injection . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
28. "ARMORED SAINT To Begin Recording Ninth Studio Album In May 2025". Blabbermouth.net. April 9, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
29. "BRANDON SALLER Says There Will 'Probably' Be No New ATREYU Music Before 2026". Blabbermouth.net. December 16, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
30. Benedetta Baldin (September 30, 2025). "August Burns Red are recording new material". Chaoszine. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
31. "BraveWords Records Signs DAVID REECE for New BANGALORE CHOIR Studio Album, Out in 2026". Metal Shock Finland. May 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
32. "BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Releases New Single 'Broken And Blind'". Blabbermouth.net. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
33. "MATT TUCK Says BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Will Resume Work On Band's Eighth Studio Album In August". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
34. "CLUTCH To Reteam With Producer GENE 'MACHINE' FREEMAN For Next Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
35. "New COLD Album To Arrive In 2026: 'I'm Writing Right Now', Says SCOOTER WARD". Blabbermouth.net. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
36. "ROY KHAN Says CONCEPTION Has 'A Few Songs' Written For Next Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
37. "CORROSION OF CONFORMITY Releases Special Jam-Session Version Of FREE's 'Fire And Water'". Blabbermouth.net. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
38. "Crimson Glory - Finish First Long Player In 26 Years". Metal Storm. August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
39. "Cro-Mags - Reunite With Drummer Pete Hines". Metal Storm. September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
40. "Crystal Lake debut new single "Crossing Nails," new album arriving in January 2026". Lambgoat. August 7, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
41. "SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' MIKE MUIR On Upcoming CYCO MIKO Album: 'It Probably Sums Up What I Like About Music'". Blabbermouth.net. September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
42. "Scott Dalhover reveals that Dangerous Toys will be releasing two new albums in 2026". Sleaze Roxx. August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
43. "Decapitated - Working On New Music". Metal Storm. October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
44. "ROGER GLOVER: 'There'll Probably Be' A New DEEP PURPLE 'Album Next Year'". Blabbermouth.net. September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
45. Melissa Ruggieri (August 7, 2025). "Def Leppard's Joe Elliott shares process of new album: 'Laptops have become Abbey Road'". USA Today . Retrieved September 30, 2025.
46. "DIE KRUPPS Signs With DEPENDENT RECORDS; New Album Due In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
47. "DIMMU BORGIR Completes Recording, Mixing And Mastering Long-Awaited New Album: 'What A Fantastic Journey'". Blabbermouth.net. September 14, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
48. Gary Graff (February 24, 2025). "'We've Never Done Anything Like This': Disturbed Share What to Expect at 'The Sickness' 25th Anniversary Tour". Billboard . Retrieved May 1, 2025.
49. "Doro - Drops New Song 'Warriors Of The Sea'". Metal Storm. May 24, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
50. "DOWN To Release New Album In 2026 Via New Label Home NUCLEAR BLAST". Blabbermouth.net. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
51. "IAN HAUGLAND: EUROPE's New Album Will Be 'More Of An Homage To The '80s'". Blabbermouth.net. September 30, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
52. "AMY LEE: Next EVANESCENCE Studio Album Will 'Probably' Arrive In Early 2026". Blabbermouth.net. June 22, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
53. "Excel - In The Studio". Metal Storm. August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
54. "GARY HOLT: No New EXODUS Album Until 2026". Blabbermouth.net. February 15, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
55. "FEAR FACTORY's First Album With New Singer MILO SILVESTRO Will '100%' Arrive In 2026, Says DINO CAZARES". Blabbermouth.net. August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
56. "GUS G. Says FIREWIND Is Working On An 'Epic And Massive' Concept Album: 'We Are Excited About It'". Blabbermouth.net. August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
57. "FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Signs With NAPALM RECORDS; New Album To Arrive In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
58. "Forbidden - Release First Song In 15 Years". Metal Storm. June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
59. "GOJIRA's New Album To Arrive In 2026: 'It's Very Crucial To Take The Time To Bring Something Fresh And New And Powerful'". Blabbermouth.net. August 24, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
60. "New GORGUTS Album To Arrive In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
61. "HATEBREED's MATT BYRNE: Next Album Is 'About 90 Percent, 85 Percent Done'". Blabbermouth.net. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
62. Teemu Hakala (May 5, 2025). "Ice Nine Kills teases new album for 2026 – first single likely dropping this summer". Chaoszine. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
63. "Insomnium - Working On New Material". Metal Storm. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
64. "JOHN CORABI Says His Upcoming Solo Album Will Be 'Very Eclectic': 'We've Got A Bunch Of Killer Songs Together'". Blabbermouth.net. August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
65. "KERRY KING Wants To Release Second Solo Album In Early 2026: 'That's A Realistic Goal'". Blabbermouth.net. February 19, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
66. "ANDY LA ROCQUE Says Plan Is To Finish Recording KING DIAMOND's 'Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920' Album Before Christmas". Blabbermouth.net. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
67. "LITA FORD Says Her Long-Awaited New Album Should 'Hopefully' Arrive By Early 2026". Blabbermouth.net. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
68. "MASTERPLAN Is Putting Finishing Touches On Long-Awaited New Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
69. "MAYHEM: 'We Are Currently In The Studio To Record A New Album'". Blabbermouth.net. August 1, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
70. "DAVID ELLEFSON On METAL ALLEGIANCE: 'We've Got Some New Material That We're Working On Now'". Blabbermouth.net. February 2, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
71. "MICHAEL SCHENKER Shares 'Mother Mary' Single Featuring SLASH And ERIK GRÖNWALL". Blabbermouth.net. June 19, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
72. "Former MISFITS Singer MICHALE GRAVES Is Working On New Music And A Book That Will Come Out In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
73. Greg Kennelty (February 11, 2025). "MINISTRY Announces New Album Reworking Their Super Early, Long-Hated Material & North American Tour". Metal Injection . Retrieved March 1, 2025.
74. "No New MOONSPELL Album Until Late 2025 Or Early 2026". Blabbermouth.net. May 16, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
75. "Tim Charles Says Ne Obliviscaris' Next Album is Coming in 2026". MetalSucks. May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
76. "ROBB RIVERA Says 'It's Time' For NONPOINT To Release A New Full-Length Album: 'We've Got 16, 17 Songs'". Blabbermouth.net. September 8, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
77. "OBITUARY Could Have New Album Out In 2026 Or 2027, Says TERRY BUTLER". Blabbermouth.net. July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
78. "BOBBY 'BLITZ' ELLSWORTH: No New OVERKILL Album Before 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 7, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
79. Drew Davis (October 13, 2025). "BOOM! Ready Or Not, P.O.D. Are Already Working On Their New Album". The Nu Metal Agenda. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
80. "Next PAPA ROACH Album Will Be Out In 2026: 'We're Gonna Be Releasing Music Throughout The Year', Says JACOBY SHADDIX". Blabbermouth.net. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
81. "PRONG: New Live Album To Be Released In February, Next Studio LP To Arrive In October 2026". Blabbermouth.net. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
82. "Queensrÿche - Begin Demoing New Music". Metal Storm. February 12, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
83. "MARK BOALS Working On New RING OF FIRE Album And Tour For 2026 + New Project With VISION DIVINE's Olaf Thorsen; Video". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . August 26, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
84. Greg Kennelty (July 18, 2025). "New RUSSIAN CIRCLES Material In The Works For A 2026 Release". Metal Injection . Retrieved July 18, 2025.
85. "SAMAEL's Long-Awaited New Album Will 'Probably' Be Released In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
86. "Savatage - Update On First Album Since 2001". Metal Storm. December 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
87. "BIFF BYFORD: New SAXON Album To Arrive In Late 2026". Blabbermouth.net. February 13, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
88. "SEPULTURA To Release New Four-Song EP In 2026: 'It's Already Recorded'". Blabbermouth.net. August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
89. "SEVENDUST To Begin Pre-Production For New Album Later This Month". Blabbermouth.net. September 7, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
90. "SHINEDOWN's Eighth Album Will 'Probably' Arrive In 'Late February' Or 'Early March Of 2026'". Blabbermouth.net. July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
91. "Six Feet Under - To Enter The Studio Next Month". Metal Storm. May 29, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
92. "New SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS Album May Not Come Out Until 2026". Blabbermouth.net. January 29, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
93. Greg Kennelty (July 15, 2025). "SNOT Are Back In The Studio For Their First New Material In Over Two Decades". Metal Injection . Retrieved July 18, 2025.
94. "SOiL - To Enter The Studio In September". Metal Storm. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
95. "No New SOILWORK Album Before 2026, Says BJÖRN 'SPEED' STRID". Blabbermouth.net. January 3, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
96. "New SPINESHANK Music Will Arrive 'Probably Sometime Next Year'". Blabbermouth.net. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
97. "STEEL PANTHER Is Hoping To Release New Studio Album In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. January 3, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
98. "Stoned Jesus - Announce Full-Length Release". Metal Storm. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
99. "Stratovarius - New Material In The Works". Metal Storm. October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
100. "MIKE MUIR Says Next SUICIDAL TENDENCIES Album Will 'Probably' Arrive In 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
101. "SYMPHONY X Will 'Probably' Release Long-Awaited New Album In 2026: 'It's Gonna Have All The Cool Stuff' Fans Like". Blabbermouth.net. February 23, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
102. "Tool - To Enter The Studio This Spring". Metal Storm. February 19, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
103. "New TRIVIUM Album To Arrive In 2026: 'We've Been Working On Some Stuff', Says COREY BEAULIEU". Blabbermouth.net. February 12, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
104. "UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER: No New U.D.O. Album Before Late 2026 Or Early 2027". Blabbermouth.net. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
105. "UGLY KID JOE's New Album 'Is Basically In The Can': 'It's Getting Mixed Right Now'". Blabbermouth.net. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
106. "TONY DOLAN Talks Upcoming Music From VENOM INC.: 'It Feels Like A New Beginning'". Blabbermouth.net. July 29, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
107. "VICTORY Signs With SPV/STEAMHAMMER; New Studio Album Due In Autumn 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
108. "Vio-lence - To Start Working On New Material Next Month". Metal Storm. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
109. "WARRIOR SOUL To Release New Album In January 2026; KORY CLARKE's Memoir Due Next Year". Blabbermouth.net. September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 10, 2025.

Preceded by 2025

Heavy Metal Timeline 2026

Succeeded by 2027