So, the Sick New World carnival was supposed to happen on April 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. A heady lineup—Metallica, Linkin Park, huge reunion acts like Acid Bath, and a ton of other names—only to be halted by “unforeseen circumstances.” Turns out it wasn’t just bad luck. We’re talking overambitious artist fees (some rumored to be around $5 million each for the headliners) and a ticket price tag that looked more like a mortgage down-payment (GA starting around $400, VIP up to nearly $1,900). In short, ticket sales hit barely a third of the venue’s 60K capacity, and down it all came. Snuffed.
But don’t count Sick New World out yet. John Dolmayan, drummer for System of a Down and also tight with the festival’s founding team, posted a now-deleted message urging fans on, saying “SNW will be back, and so will we if the fans demand it!”
Fast forward to September 2025. At recent System of a Down stadium shows, filler visuals—Tim Burton-y characters and that signature swirling SNW background—flashed on screens, fuelling rumors that something’s brewing. No official announcement yet, but the signs sure feel like thumbs-up from the festival’s ghost.
Fan Reactions from Reddit
What are the fans saying? Per redditors:
“SNW will be back… sounds like they will play in 2026.”
And one more hopeful plea:
“Fingers crossed on my end too. If it’s gonna happen we’ll probably get updates sometime in October.”
What Might Be Happening
Let’s play detective:
| Clue | Implication |
|---|---|
| Dolmayan’s message (deleted but sincere) | Someone on the inside wants a return |
| SNW imagery at recent SOAD shows | Putting the idea in the room—or stadium |
| Strong SOAD fan demand and sold-out shows | The power to pull the plug—or plug back in |
So yes, all hints point to a possible return in 2026, but—as always—take it with a horn-metal-sized grain of salt.
Bottom Line
Don’t say it’s back—yet. But don’t rule it out, either. The stage (literally) might already be set. Keep an eye on October, keep clicking those “following” buttons, and maybe—just maybe—Sick New World will rise again.
