sick new world
17:27 Friday, 12 September 2025
It looks like Sick New World might rise again. The Las Vegas festival — which imploded in 2025 after lofty plans to book Metallica and Linkin Park collapsed under spiraling overheads and sluggish ticket sales — has started teasing a comeback for 2026.
Fans who caught System Of A Down's massive stadium run this summer noticed familiar animated mascots from past Sick New World line-ups appearing on venue screens. That, coupled with a new signup portal at sicknewworldfest.com, has stoked speculation that the festival is gearing up for a return.
The 2025 edition of Sick New World had promised to expand beyond its nü-metal core with headliners Metallica and Linkin Park reportedly commanding $5 million guarantees each, but the economics proved unsustainable. The plug was officially pulled in November 2024.
However, System Of A Down — longtime Sick New World staples and Velvet Hammer management clients — appear to be at the heart of the revival. Their freshly announced European stadium tour wrapped with the cryptic line: "Plans are also underway for a very special event to take place following these shows."
That timing complicates things — their trek doesn't wrap until July 2026, while Sick New World has historically taken place in April. Whether the two worlds collide remains unclear, but System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan hinted back in late 2024 that the fest "would be returning at a later date."
Given that Velvet Hammer boss David "Beno" Benveniste co-founded Sick New World, fans have good reason to believe that a reboot is in motion. For now, all eyes are on Vegas to see if the nu-metal carnival can reclaim its place on the calendar.
