System Of A Down will be returning as the headliner for the 2026 edition of the ‘Sick New World‘ festival. The news was confirmed by the multi-platinum Armenian-American band’s frontman Serj Tankian at a signing, with the below footage of that exchange emerging. In that video Tankian can be heard stating the band will be taking part in the festival next year. After headlining the first two editions of the event, ‘Sick New World‘ ran into issues this year.
With a pricey bill that included headlining sets from Metallica and Linkin Park — reportedly to the tune of a roughly $5 million guarantee a piece — sluggish ticket sales forced the event to be cancelled months in advance.
Teases for the 2026 return of the festival were spotted during System Of A Down‘s recent summer headlining shows. The band also hold strong ties to the festival through their longtime management in Velvet Hammer. Velvet Hammer CEO and owner David “Beno” Benveniste is a co-founder of the ‘Sick New World‘ festival.
The revelation that the band will be back was largely expected, as System Of A Down band’s drummer John Dolmayan also noted all the way back in 2024 that the festival would be back this year, suggesting plans for the group’s return to headline has long been in motion. To date the festival has been held in Las Vegas, NV around April. Thus far official word on next year’s edition has yet to be announced.
