Megadeth Reveal Retirement Plans With Final Album And Farewell World Tour
Friday, 15 August 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Ross Halfin
Megadeth are calling it a day.
The Los Angeles thrash legends will mark the end of an era in metal music with one final studio album and a worldwide farewell tour in 2026. Founder and frontman Dave Mustaine announced the news in a statement posted to the Megadeth official website yesterday (August 14):
"There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional. 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 travelled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.
"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.
"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 band also shared a video to social media featuring their skull-faced mascot Vic Rattlehead speaking for the first time.
One of the "big four" of American thrash metal bands — alongside Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica — Megadeth formed in 1983 following Mustaine's dismissal from Metallica. They've released 16 studio albums to date, the latest being 2022's 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!'.
Their 17th and final studio album will arrive through Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label, with further details and the initial run of farewell tour dates set to be revealed later this year.
Megadeth will hit the road with Disturbed this autumn for dates across Europe and the UK as part of the latter's The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour. Tickets are on sale now.
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