While the ambitious plans for this year’s failed ‘Sick New World‘ festival in Las Vegas, NV didn’t pan out, it would appear that the event will be returning in 2026. This year’s event had been booked for April and breaking away from a bit from its nü-metal roots, was set to feature a number of heavy hitters, including headlining sets from Metallica, Linkin Park and more.
However, high overhead costs (Metallica and Linkin Park reportedly commanded $5 million guarantees a piece) paired with sluggish ticket sales eventually saw the plug pulled on the event. That official announcement arrived back in November of 2024. It’s been fairly quiet on that front since.
However fans who attended the recent stadium shows put on this summer by System Of A Down and various openers, including Deftones, Korn and more, noticed animated sequences being put up on the displays featuring characters previously seen on past admats for ‘Sick New World‘. Adding further credence to those teases is a signup featured at sicknewworldfest.com.
Some speculated that a potentially related tease came via System Of A Down‘s European/UK tour announcement earlier this week, where the nü-metal stars added, “plans are also underway for a very special event to take place following these shows.’
However, as previous ‘Sick New World‘ festival stops have taken place in April, and the shows on the above-mentioned tour will conclude in July of 2026, it remains to be seen if the special event is ‘Sick New World‘-related.
System Of A Down have held close ties to ‘Sick New World‘, and the band’s drummer John Dolmayan indicated back in November of 2024 that the festival would be returning at a later date.
System Of A Down would likely know the fate of the fest too, given that they long-time clients of Velvet Hammer management. Velvet Hammer CEO and owner David “Beno” Benveniste is a co-founder of the ‘Sick New World‘ festival.
