After four decades of thrash metal dominance, Megadeth will release one last album and hit the road for a global farewell tour in 2026.
Megadeth is officially saying goodbye. The legendary thrash metal band has announced that their upcoming 17th studio album will be their last, followed by a global farewell tour in 2026.
“There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,” frontman Dave Mustaine shared in a heartfelt statement. “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.”
The final album is set to release in early 2026 via Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK label. While the title hasn’t been revealed, the first single is expected to drop alongside global pre-orders in fall 2025.
The farewell tour was teased in a video titled “The End Is Near”, featuring Megadeth’s iconic mascot Vic Rattlehead. Tour dates and cities will be announced in 2025.
Mustaine reflected on the band’s legacy:
“We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it’s played, and we changed the world.”
Founded in 1983 after Mustaine’s departure from Metallica, Megadeth helped define American thrash metal alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. Their debut album Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! dropped in 1985, launching a career that would span more than 40 years.
The current lineup includes Mustaine (vocals/guitar), Teemu Mäntysaari (guitar), James LoMenzo (bass), and Dirk Verbeuren (drums). In addition to the album and tour, Mustaine plans to release a memoir in 2026, offering fans a deeper look into his journey.
“Don’t be mad, don’t be sad, be happy for us all,” Mustaine wrote. “Come celebrate with me these next few years.”