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2026 in heavy metal music

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

Bands disbanded

Bands reformed

Events

  • On February 9, former Manowar guitarist Ross the Boss announced that he was diagnosed with ALS; he died of the disease less than two months later.
  • On February 26 and 27, Children of Bodom played their first shows in seven years at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki, titled "A Celebration of Music". Both shows were held as a tribute to their original vocalist and guitarist Alexi Laiho, who died in 2020, with Samy Elbanna of Lost Society filling in for him.
  • On April 22, Triumph will begin their first major tour in 38 years with all three of the original members (Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore) at the GFL Memorial Gardens.
  • On April 23, Megadeth is scheduled to perform the first show of what has been announced as the band's farewell tour, which is projected to span approximately three to five years.
  • On June 7, Rush will play their first show in eleven years as part of their "Fifty Something" reunion tour at the Kia Forum.
  • Sepultura is scheduled to conclude what was announced as a year-long farewell tour, titled "Celebrating Life Through Death".
  • Iron Maiden is scheduled to conclude their ongoing "Run for Your Lives World Tour" this year.
  • Twisted Sister had previously announced their first major tour in a decade to mark the band's 50th anniversary, titled "Twisted Forever, Forever Twisted". However, lead singer Dee Snider retired from the band in February after a series of health issues, leading to the tour's cancellation and the band's future unknown. On March 3, it was announced the band would play select shows later in the year with Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row) as the vocalist.

Deaths

  • January 5 – Michael "M-Bro" Embro, former drummer of Razor, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 63.
  • January 22 – Francis Buchholz, former bassist of Scorpions and Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, died from cancer at the age of 71.
  • January 31 – Jimmy Iversen, former guitarist of Jorn, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 66.
  • February 8 – Andrzej "Quack" Kułakowski, former guitarist of Hate, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 54.
  • February 9 – Ernesto Colon, former guitarist of Merauder, died from undisclosed reasons.
  • February 15 – Mark Sawickis, former guitarist of Impetigo, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 58.
  • March 13 – Phil Campbell, guitarist of Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons and former guitarist of Motörhead, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 64.
  • March 26 – Ross the Boss, former guitarist of Manowar, died from ALS at the age of 72.

Albums expected

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Artists with material in production

References