Las Vegas Heavy Metal Festival Suddenly Canceled: Featured Linkin Park, Metallica, and More

Linkin Park found a faithful following over the years as they released albums like Hybrid Theory and Minutes to Midnight. Thanks to those albums the band went on to sell over 100 million albums over the decades. Sadly, back in 2017, singer Chester Bennington passed away. Taking an extended break following the singer’s death, the band eventually announced their return to the stage with Emily Armstrong as the lead vocalist. And while the band prepared to take the stage in Las Vegas for the Sick New World Festival, it seems organizers abruptly canceled the festival. 

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Although fans looked forward to the heavy metal festival, slated to kick off on April 12, 2025, organizers announced the cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. Leaving fans shocked and surprised by the announcement, the festival promised that those who purchased tickets should receive a refund to the original payment method. 

[RELATED: Linkin Park Drops Highly Anticipated Album ‘From Zero,’ Fans Weigh In on Band’s New Era]

Sick New World Promoted More Bands Than Linkin Park

As for the reason for canceling the Sick New World Festival, the organizers didn’t give away too many details about what might have happened. Instead, they released the following statement, “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.” The organizers added in their original statement, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the 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.”

With Sick New World Festival canceled, fans expressed their confusion and anger on social media as the festival promoted bands like Metallica, Linkin Park, Evanescence, and even Queens of the Stone Age. “Sick New World getting canceled is crazy, but so were the ticket and hotel prices.” Another fan added, “I’m big sad that Sick New World got canceled because Metallica is one of my bucket list bands and there was a whole bunch of other sick bands on the lineup that I really wanted to see.”

(Photo by Joern Pollex/Redferns)