This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2026.
Bands disbanded The Crown Exciter Ghost (hiatus) Heavy Heavy Low Low Sepultura Svalbard
Bands formed Blue Medusa Lex Legion
Bands reformed Black Tide Blind Channel Burnt by the Sun Edguy Faith No More Forced Entry Living Death Mortification Mucky Pup Norther Slaughter
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 10, Triumph began their first major tour in 38 years at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida. Originally planned to feature all three original members (Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore), Levine was absent from the tour due to health issues. On April 13, Iron Maiden were announced among the 2026 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On April 23, Megadeth performed the first show of what has been announced as the band's farewell tour in Lima, Peru, which is projected to span approximately three to five years. On May 1, Solitude Aeturnus announced that they have parted ways with longtime vocalist Robert Lowe, who fronted the band from 1988 to 2011 and again from 2023 to 2026. On June 7, Rush played their first show in eleven years as part of their "Fifty Something" reunion tour at the Kia Forum, with drummer Anika Nilles filling in for Neil Peart, who died from brain cancer in 2020. On July 24, King Diamond announced they had parted ways with original and longtime guitarist Andy LaRocque, and revealed Gus G of Firewind and formerly of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band as his replacement. On August 12, original Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore performed with the band for the first time in 33 years at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, joining them for "Smoke on the Water" during the encore. On November 7, Sepultura will play their final show at the Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo, concluding their year-long "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour. 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", to begin this year. 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 complications from surgery at the age of 64. March 26 – Ross the Boss, former guitarist of Manowar, died from ALS at the age of 72. April 2 – Bo Lueders, guitarist of Harm's Way, died from suicide at the age of 38. May 8 – Bartholomäus "Barth" Resch, former bassist of Belphegor and Our Survival Depends on Us, died in a car accident. May 11 – Jack Douglas, producer and mixer of numerous bands including Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Blue Öyster Cult, Montrose, Rough Cutt and Zebra, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 80. May 21 – Federico Benini, bassist of Akercocke, died from drowning at the age of 37. June 2 – Rick Johnson, former drummer of Grief, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 55. June 28 – David Black, guitarist of Seduce and former guitarist of Crud, died from cancer. July 1 – Shaun Glass, former guitarist of Soil and Dirge Within, and former bassist of Broken Hope, died of complications from a stroke at the age of 57. July 4 – Roger "B. War" Svensson, former bassist of Marduk and Devils Whorehouse, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 60. July 6 – Kevin Chown, bassist who performed with numerous bands and artists, including Tarja, Steelheart, and Artension, died from cancer at the age of 56. July 13 – Mike Browning, drummer of Nocturnus AD, former drummer and vocalist of Morbid Angel, and former drummer of Acheron, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 62. July 18 – Jennifer Finch, bassist and vocalist of L7, died from brain cancer at the age of 59. July 26 – Ken Elkinton, former vocalist of Defiance, died from complications of pneumonia, sepsis and heart issues at the age of 66. July 30 – Danny Lomeli, drummer and former guitarist of Elysia, died from undisclosed reasons. July 31 – John Brenner, vocalist and guitarist of Revelation, died from stomach cancer at the age of 59. August 8 – Mike Milford, vocalist of Scars of Tomorrow, died from cancer. September 5 – Andy Williams, guitarist for Every Time I Die, died after collapsing during a professional wrestling match at the age of 48. September 9 – Mikko Karmila, producer and engineer of numerous bands including Nightwish, Children of Bodom, Stratovarius, Amorphis, and Sonata Arctica, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 62. September 15 – Marcus Andersson, drummer of Disfear, died from glioblastoma. September 20 – Chad Gilbert, former bassist of Morning Again and former lead vocalist of Shai Hulud, died from adrenocortical carcinoma at the age of 45. September 25 – Chuck Varga, former occasional vocalist and backing vocalist of Gwar, died from cancer. October 1 – Conrad "Cronos" Lant, vocalist and bassist of Venom, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 63.
Albums expected January Day Artist Album 2 Paleface Swiss The Wilted EP (EP) 7 Nanowar of Steel The Genghis Khan EP to End All Genghis Khan EPs (EP) 9 Alter Bridge Alter Bridge Beyond the Black Break the Silence Bullet Kickstarter For My Pain... Buried Blue The Ruins of Beverast Tempelschlaf Uuhai Human Herds 16 Edenbridge Set the Dark on Fire The Eternal Celestial (EP) Holy Dragons Guardians of Time – Part I Kreator Krushers of the World My Ruin Declaration of Resistance Ov Sulfur Endless Soen Reliance 23 Coronatus Dreadful Waters Crystal Lake The Weight of Sound Helix Scrap Metal Megadeth Megadeth Melissa Bonny Cherry Red Apocalypse Pelican Ascending (EP) Poppy Empty Hands Textures Genotype 28 Hanabie. Hot Topic (EP) 30 Hällas Panorama Møl Dreamcrush Our Mirage Fractured Minds Therion Con Orquesta (live album)
February Day Artist Album 3 Stephen Brodsky Cut to the Core Vol. 2 (covers album) 5 Paganizer As Mankind Rots 6 Demonic Resurrection Apocalyptic Dawn (EP) Karnivool In Verses KMFDM Enemy Mayhem Liturgy of Death Tailgunner Midnight Blitz Wolverine Anomalies 13 Converge Love Is Not Enough Powerwolf Wildlive (Live at Olympiahalle) (live album) Saille Forebode 18 Lovebites Outstanding Power 20 Clawfinger Before We All Die Exhumed Red Asphalt Michael Monroe Outerstellar Stam1na Apnea Sylosis The New Flesh Worm Shepherd Dawn of the Iconoclast (EP) 27 Cryptic Shift Overspace & Supertime Rob Zombie The Great Satan Ruoska Kade Varials Where the Light Leaves
March Day Artist Album 6 Blackbraid Nocturnal Womb (EP) Bosse-de-Nage Hidden Fires Burn Hottest Erra Silence Outlives the Earth Leaves' Eyes Song of Darkness (EP) Lost Society Hell Is a State of Mind More Destructor Prong Live and Uncleansed (live album) Vreid The Skies Turn Black 12 Eternal Champion Friend of War (EP) 13 Angus McSix Angus McSix and the All-Seeing Astral Eye Lamb of God Into Oblivion Monstrosity Screams from Beneath the Surface Nili Brosh Eventide The Scratch Pull Like a Dog UnityTX Somewhere, in Between... Vicious Rain The Anatomy of Surviving Witchcraft A Sinner's Child (EP) 20 Attila Concrete Throne Axel Rudi Pell Ghost Town Dawn of Ashes Anatomy of Suffering Exodus Goliath King 810 Rustbelt Nu Metal 3 Lost in Hollywood Lost in Hollywood Neurosis An Undying Love for a Burning World Poison the Well Peace in Place Tyketto Closer to the Sun 27 Black Label Society Engines of Demolition Carnivore A.D. Transmutation (EP) Chamber This Is Goodbye... Defacing God Darkness Is My Crown Godsticks Void Hellripper Coronach Iron Savior Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy (covers album) Lion's Share Inferno Mallavora What If Better Never Comes? Myrath Wilderness of Mirrors Ram-Zet Sapien Threat Signal Revelations Winterfylleth The Unyielding Season
April Day Artist Album 3 Corrosion of Conformity Good God / Baad Man Green Carnation A Dark Poem, Pt. II: Sanguis Michael Sweet The Master Plan Nervosa Slave Machine Sunn O))) Sunn O))) 8 Dir En Grey Mortal Downer 10 Archspire Too Fast to Die As Everything Unfolds Did You Ask to Be Set Free? Bodysnatcher Hell Is Here, Hell Is Home Enter Shikari Lose Your Self Immolation Descent Long Distance Calling The Phantom Void Lord of the Lost Opvs Noir Vol. 3 Melechesh Sentinels of Shamash (EP) The Melvins and Napalm Death Savage Imperial Death March (collaborative album) Metal Church Dead to Rights Spirit Adrift Infinite Illumination Vomitory In Death Throes 17 Crimson Glory Chasing the Hydra From Ashes to New Reflections The Last Ten Seconds of Life The Dead Ones Nekrogoblikon The Boiling Sea (EP) Skindred You Got This Victorius World War Dinosaur Wage War It Calls Me by Name (EP) 18 Corey Taylor, Jim Root, Shawn Crahan and Sid Wilson Look Outside Your Window 23 Vomit Forth In the Name of the Father (EP) 24 The Amity Affliction House of Cards At the Gates The Ghost of a Future Dead Atreyu The End Is Not the End Drudkh Thaw (EP) Elegant Weapons Evolution Gus G Steel Burner John Corabi New Day Plini An Unnameable Desire Portrayal of Guilt ...Beginning of the End Saratoga En Estado Puro Sepultura The Cloud of Unknowing (EP) Six Feet Under Next to Die
May Day Artist Album 1 -(16)- Forgeries (72–84) (covers album) Cognizance In Light, No Shape Godsmack Live at Mohegan Sun (live album) Haste the Day Dissenter Sevendust One Venom Into Oblivion 3 Geoff Tate Operation: Mindcrime III 5 Darko US Oni 2 8 Black Veil Brides Vindicate Crashdïet Art of Chaos Darkthrone Pre-Historic Metal Draconian In Somnolent Ruin Frozen Soul No Place of Warmth Ingested Denigration Panopticon Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet The Quill Master of the Skies Rexoria Fallen Dimension 15 Acid Reign Daze of the Week Angellore Nocturnes Artillery Made in Hell (EP) Jungle Rot Cruel Face of War Periphery A Pale White Dot Primus A Handful of Nuggs (EP) Pro-Pain Stone Cold Anger 22 Armored Saint Emotion Factory Reset Ayreon 30th Anniversary – An Amazing Flight Through Time (live album) Dimmu Borgir Grand Serpent Rising Elvenking Rites of Disclosure (EP) Erik Grönwall Bad Bones Moonlight Haze Interstellar Madness (EP) Varg Live at Wolfszeit Festival 2024 (live album) Vision Divine A Clockwork Reverie (EP) 29 Devin Townsend The Moth Hecate Enthroned The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried Lynch Mob The Final Ride (Live) (live album) Narnia X Shinedown Ei8ht
June