Sick New World 2025 Cancelled

The alternative music world is in shock following the news that Sick New World Festival 2025, set to dominate Las Vegas with a jaw-dropping lineup, has been cancelled. 

Organisers have now released an official statement, agter Trevor Dunn, bassist for Tomahawk, let the cat out of the bag during an episode of The Vinyl Podcast, you can listen to the clip here.

“I’m probably not supposed to talk about this, but it’s not happening,” Dunn said, addressing the festival’s fate. “It’ll come out in the wash soon, but basically, the festival is not happening [Sick New World]. We had a whole tour, we had a two-week thing built around that, which we can’t do now because financially it doesn’t make any sense, so yeah, that’s not happening.”

Pressed for clarity, Dunn confirmed, “I believe so,” when asked if the entire festival had collapsed. When it was suggested that a final decision might not have been made, he responded bluntly: “No, I think they have. I erased it from my calendar, so I’m not going.”

The sad news has now been confirmed by the festival promoter:

Statement from Sick New World:

“It is with great disappointment that we announce that Sick New World will no longer take place in Las Vegas on April 12, 2025.

Despite our best efforts, we’ve encountered unforeseen circumstances that we are unable to overcome for next year’s show. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated SNW fans who had made plans to join us for another cultural celebration of hard rock, goth, alternative, and heavy music. Please stay tuned for further and future information regarding Sick New World.

Tickets purchased directly from Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment in as little as 30 days.”

This is a devastating blow for fans who had snapped up tickets to see Metallica, Linkin Park, Queens of the Stone Age, Evanescence, and over 50 other artists in the desert heat on April 12, 2025. The festival also promised rare moments, like a reunion performance by Acid Bath, playing together for the first time since 1997.

Rumours now confirmed

Whispers of trouble started circulating on the sicknewworld subreddit last month, with users speculating that poor ticket sales might force the festival’s cancellation. With these rumours have now being confirmed, Dunn’s comments would have caused a lot of stress behind the scenes and left Sick New World in crisis mode.

The reason for the cancellation has not been addressed by the promoter. Festivals are massive logistical beasts, and last-minute adjustments or financial hiccups can sometimes lead to cancellations. But given the lineup’s star power, many fans are wondering if there’s more to the story. Tickets have only been on sale for just over a month, however low tickets out of the gate can be enough to spook a promoter into a cancellation.

The Ripple Effect on Smaller Bands

For artists, the potential cancellation isn’t just disappointing—it’s disruptive. Bands like Tomahawk, who had planned a two-week tour around the festival, may now be left scrambling to reconfigure schedules or risk financial losses. Festivals like Sick New World aren’t just a stage—they’re often the linchpin of larger touring plans, especially for acts that rely on these high-profile slots to anchor their budgets and logistics.

This news also adds to the broader conversation about the festival industry’s recent struggles. With cancellations cropping up globally—like Australia’s Splendour in the Grass earlier this year—it’s becoming clear that festivals are facing mounting challenges. Rising costs, logistical complexities, and fluctuating ticket sales are making it harder for organisers to pull off large-scale events, and the fallout is being felt across the music world.

Unanswered Questions

Stay tuned to Blunt as we continue to track this developing story.

Listen: Sick New World Cancelled

2025 Sick New World Festival – Full Lineup

Metallica
Linkin Park
Queens of the Stone Age
Evanescence
Ministry
311
AFI
The Sisters of Mercy
Gojira
Acid Bath (reunion)
The Flaming Lips
Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway
Down
Three Days Grace
Cannibal Corpse
Meshuggah
Tomahawk
Melvins
Testament
Mastodon
Refused
Filter
Cradle of Filth
Terror
Mayhem
X (Exene John Billy DJ)
Underoath
The Hives
Carcass
Kitty
Poison the Well
Mudvayne
Exodus
Machine Head
Arch Enemy
Twin Tribes
Quicksand
Sponge
Dir En Grey
Static-X
Erra
Stabbing Westward
Rendez-Vous
Dethklok
Orgy
Lacuna Coil
The Birthday Massacre
Nuovo Testamento
Scowl
Dope
Show Me the Body
Amira Elfeky
Lebanon Hanover
Napalm Death
Seven Hours After Violet
Vision Video