SLIPKNOT 2026 TOUR: FINAL BOW TO LATE PAUL GRAY & JOEY JORDISON — FULL DATES AND CITIES REVEALED
For more than two decades, Slipknot has been a force that redefined heavy music — a chaotic family bound not by blood, but by thunder, fire, and unshakable loyalty. In 2026, that legacy takes on its most emotional form yet. Today, Slipknot officially announces what many fans never expected to hear: a global tour dedicated as a final bow to two of their fallen brothers — Paul Gray and Joey Jordison.
The announcement, delivered across the band’s social platforms in a cinematic black-and-white video, struck the metal world like a lightning bolt. No masks, no theatrics — just emotion. Corey Taylor’s steady voice narrates: “This isn’t an ending. This is a thank you. For Paul. For Joey. For all of you who kept us alive.”
The 2026 Memorial World Tour, spanning seven months and four continents, is framed not as a farewell but as a pilgrimage — a journey back through Slipknot’s origins, triumphs, evolutions, and scars. Each show is set to include a special 20-minute dedication segment titled “The Ghost Note Ceremony,” where isolated bass tracks, drum stems, and unseen video footage of Paul and Joey will be projected on towering screens as the remaining members stand in silence. Early insiders describe it as “the most emotional production the band has ever created.”
THE TOUR DATES & CITIES
The tour kicks off in Tokyo, Japan, before tearing across Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. Cities announced include:
Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Manila, Sydney, Auckland, Berlin, Paris, London, Manchester, Rome, São Paulo, Mexico City, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and more.
But the heart of the announcement lies in its finale — August 2, 2026 — in Des Moines, Iowa, Slipknot’s birthplace. For fans, this is sacred ground. The band revealed that the final show will take place at an expanded outdoor field built exclusively for the event, expected to reach over 80,000 attendees. Local officials call it “the biggest homecoming concert Iowa has ever seen.”
Clown (Shawn Crahan), visibly emotional in the announcement, shared:
“Paul and Joey built this house with us. It’s only right we close this chapter where it all began.”
A TRIBUTE YEARS IN THE MAKING
Paul Gray, the band’s founding bassist, passed away in 2010. Joey Jordison, Slipknot’s original drummer and one of the greatest metal drummers of all time, died in 2021. Their absence reshaped the band forever. But their influence never faded — it lived in every rhythm, every stage flame, every chant from every crowd.
This 2026 run is designed to immortalize them.
Fans attending the shows will witness performances of early-era songs that haven’t been played in years, including “Prosthetics,” “Skin Ticket,” “Purity,” and “The Heretic Anthem.” Joey’s signature drum riser — the rotating, ascending monster that once defied gravity — will return in tribute form.
THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT OF A LEGACY
Whether this is Slipknot’s final world tour remains unspoken, but the tone suggests a transition — a closing circle, a final salute, a promise kept.
As the announcement ends, a simple message appears on screen:
“For Paul. For Joey. Forever.”
Leave a Reply