Megadeth To Release Last Album & Launch Farewell Tour In 2026

Megadeth will call it quits after releasing a final studio album and embarking on a farewell tour in 2026. Frontman Dave Mustaine shared the shocking news with his fans and “Cyber Army” through a social media post made by his Vic Rattlehead persona.

Dave Mustaine, who also revealed he’ll release a memoir in 2026, issued a statement explaining the decision to put Megadeth on ice after 40+ years. “There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,” Mustaine said. “Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.”

While details of the album and tour are forthcoming, the first single will arrive this fall along with pre-orders. “We can’t wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour. If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it’s now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it’s now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it’s our last studio album. We’ve made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour,” Mustaine added.

“Don’t be mad, don’t be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that’s truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it’s played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything,” the statement from Mustaine concluded.

Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth in 1983 after he was fired from Metallica. Mustaine has been the sole consistent member of a group that has underwent several lineup changes over the past 42 years. He’s joined in the current iteration by bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and drummer Dirk Verbeuren.

Megadeth’s most recent album, The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!, arrived in 2022. Watch the message featuring mascot Vic Rattlehead speaking for the first time below: