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    SYSTEM OF A DOWN Confirmed To Headline 2026 ‘Sick New World’ Festival

    SenecaBy 391 Comments2 Mins Read
    The Mosh Network - System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian basking in the atmosphere live in 2025

    System Of A Down will officially return as the headliner for the 2026 edition of the ‘Sick New World’ festival. The news was confirmed by frontman Serj Tankian during a recent signing event, where he told fans the band would indeed take part in next year’s festival.

    After headlining the first two installments of the Las Vegas-based event, ‘Sick New World’ hit turbulence in 2025. Despite boasting a massive lineup featuring Metallica and Linkin Park—each reportedly commanding around a $5 million guarantee—the festival was ultimately cancelled months in advance due to underwhelming ticket sales.

    Sick New Rock - Spotify Playlist

    Hints of the festival’s return surfaced during System Of A Down’s summer headlining shows, and the connection runs deep: the band shares management with Velvet Hammer, whose CEO David “Beno” Benveniste co-founded ‘Sick New World’.

    The confirmation aligns with previous comments from drummer John Dolmayan, who stated back in 2024 that the festival would return, implying that System Of A Down’s involvement has been in the works for some time. While official details for the 2026 event have yet to be announced, the festival has historically taken place in Las Vegas, NV around April.

    Serj confirms snw 2026 and they’ll be there.
    byu/Confident_Pie_6450 inSickNewWorld

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    391 Comments

    11. Colton Dustin Charette on

      I mean they’ve been teasing it while on tour by displaying the SNW logo on their banners. SNW learned their lesson by signing Metallica and they couldn’t sell out the show. I cant wait to go again what a blast it was seeing them twice at SNW

      Reply
      • Melly Martinez Espitia on

        Colton Dustin Charette yet how did Sonic temple have metallic 2 nights and both nights were sold out tho? It makes no sense

        Reply
        • Nicole Leonel on

          Matt Hardtke SoaD is still selling out stadiums all over the world. Their Fandom is epic and although at one time Metalica could do the same, it is not longer true.

          Reply
        • Nicole Leonel on

          Matt Hardtke they literally just got off tour in south America. And also that only furthers my point. 20 years later and still selling g out stadiums worldwide.

          Reply
        • Jeff Homen on

          Matt Hardtke you missed the point. SNW bailed last time because the money wasn’t there for the likes of Metallica. Metallica isn’t a nu-metal festival band and aren’t going to take a meager paycheck. Lars would never allow that, lol.

          Reply
      • Jimmy del Villar on

        Colton Dustin Charette went to the first to they still need to improve the layout ther it was way over crowded last time

        Reply
    19. Austin Moler on

      You wanna know why we didn’t get a SNW 2025? Because charging almost $500 for a GA pass for a one day event is absolutely ridiculous, don’t be shocked or upset when they try that bull shit again and then cancel it because nobody bought tickets

      Reply
      • Marcos Largo on

        Austin Moler For that price you could go all 5 days at Aftershock in Sacramento. SNW is way too overpriced for what its worth.

        Reply
        • Austin Moler on

          Marcos Largo exactly! Sick New World is using SOAD as a way to sell more tickets and have a mediocre lineup while Aftershock’s pricing makes more sense cause it’s longer and has a much better lineup

          Reply
        • Robert Anthony on

          Austin Moler it really wasn’t a mediocre line-up whe I attended. Unless of coarse you consider Deftones, Korn, SOAD, Chevelle, Incubus, Papa Roach, Stabbing Westward, Sevendust “mediocre” 😅

          Reply
        • Rachel Yarris Ghastin on

          Robert Anthony year 1 undercard was STACKED, year 2 was good too but we had to cancel for $$ reasons

          Reply
      • Christopher Gearin on

        Austin Moler people didn’t buy tickets because of the price, especially for 1 day. People also started realizing that resell of tickets was going for far less than original ticket prices, so waiting for desperate ticket sellers seems like a better way to go. Problem is if the ticket sales are not high enough from the start, they cancel the show. Didn’t help that Sonic Temple announced days later with cheaper prices over 4 days with almost the same lineup and more.

        Reply
      • Robert Anthony on

        Esmie Bartolome I mean all 3 were in Las Vegas (2 that happened and 1 canceled) so one would assume it’ll be in Vegas again.

        Reply
      • Alex Muro on

        Esmie Bartolome I heard Montana from someone who attends MANY shows. I’ll take his word for it until I hear otherwise.

        Reply
      • Needles Kane on

        Derik Miranda it was because people were able to see the same bands at the sonic temple festival and for cheaper and it was a two day festival. Also Metallica seems off about doing a festival like this one.

        Reply
    34. Natasha Zuckerberg on

      So excited I got to see them in Chicago, I feel like a festival would be a tease, short set and you have to see them preform for a couple hours

      Reply
    37. Joseph Orta on

      Idk still ain’t worth it, now that I’ve been going to other festivals sick new world was way to pack merch took hours to get.., people would literally not let u go thru to go to the pits fucken sad lol

      Reply
      • Rachel Yarris Ghastin on

        Joseph Orta I was in merch line for not even 10 minutes at noon-ish while London After Midnight played right across the way… it moved pretty quick.

        Reply
      • Arturo Del Real III on

        Tinnie Lee some dude asked him at a book signing and he said yes, so I suppose that’s official, but nothing actually official has been announced, wwwy is in 2 weeks, I’m sure after that we will know something 🤷🏽🤘🏼🤘🏼

        Reply
        • Elle Resendez on

          AJ Tenter I am also surprised at this comment because I’ve seen them 4 times and they were amazing every single time. I’ll keep seeing them every chance I get!

          Reply
      • Danielle Palermo on

        Anne Magee I dunno what you were hearing, I saw them in Toronto and they were amazing. Deftones sounded off but I think that was due to the venue sound setup rather than the band.

        Reply
      • Andy Cee on

        Anne Magee everyones entitled to their own opinions but man it would suck to have opinions like this. That show fuckin rocked my socks off

        Reply
      • Richard Hare on

        Anne Magee ???????? I was at night one for Korn/SOAD and it was an amazing show and SOAD and rocked out ?????

        Reply
      • Carlos Guadalupe Duarte on

        Anne Magee the band itself musically sounds great, it’s Serj that does not sound good. He sounds like a cat getting strangled, plus he just looks bored. He just stands there waves his finger around a bit and that’s about it.

        Reply
      • Alex Michael Lindsey on

        Anne Magee not gonna lie I fucking love system of a down truly I love that band but when I saw them back in 2005, they already looked tired and bored with the material I’m really hopeful that since all these years have passed, maybe some of the passion has come back and they’ll perform their material with theenergy that it deserves

        Reply
    76. Rob Chiola on

      ROCKVILLE NEXT 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

      Reply
      • Kelsey Elizabeth Lee on

        Elisabeth Arce If you have to choose one or the other, go for Sick New World. I went two years ago only because SOAD was headlining. Every single band was so purposeful and fit into the one-day festival so seamlessly. It’s easy AF to get into the festival grounds too, restrooms are solid, only a day of top-tier music.

        Or fuck it, do both. 🤘🏽🖤🤣 They’re both so amazing in their own ways!

        Reply
    123. Ryan Fischer on

      Now if only they would make a new album. But they won’t because they are afraid it won’t live up to their past albums

      Reply
    168. Christina Barbagallo Mora on

      I live in Massachusetts. If I couldn’t afford to see them in NJ this year I DEFINITELY can’t afford to see them in LV NV 😞💔

      Reply
      • Andrew Gearin on

        Megan Smith already knew this before it went public as i do for alot of awesome bands that are doing big tours next year its going to be EPIC. Save your money all i can say 😉

        Reply
    223. Dorian Freeman on

      I’ve been listening to Serj read his memoir “Down With the System” in my spare time this week and it’s been really awesome to hear him tell it in his own voice. Great stories and insights into one of the most original rock bands of the last 30 or so years, if not ever. Such a charming and talented guy. I talked to Shavo and John while out promoting back when we all spent more time on the strip. They were nice enough but not exactly what I would call “Charming”. They were already blowing up so I was just happy they were cool to us when we saw them. They’re great live. John is like a machine. His endurance level is ridiculous. Talk about stamina… just not his politics. 😂
      Media: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.tenor.co%2Fm%2FY4tk1ZvW-jcAAAAC%2Fnoice-brooklyn99.gif&h=AT1B2z6zpMbLPpljpR3i-uXfa6wIkyoHczukW09f_2dYReffpLyotiLDAR4tFgfq5Ro0CMpM4Lrp26KXJXdP-etFK0wBy0eKN1nBOJevSRKKF-hir4ctRQhP2EZkanJh&s=1

      Reply
    224. RW Ross on

      Claudia Sanchez-Aguirre. Monica Mendoza. Stephanie Archuleta Ward

      Tawnya Adams. Tanya Palma

      Katy Ross

      Chad Libbey. Jonathan Sidwell

      Reply
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