Sonic Temple 2026 has confirmed farewell tour stops for both MEGADETH and SEPULTURA at the four-day Columbus, Ohio mega-festival running May 14-17, creating a once-in-a-lifetime convergence of two legendary acts in the twilight of their performing careers. The dual farewell appearances add tremendous emotional weight to an already stacked festival that has rapidly become one of North America's premier rock and metal gatherings.
MEGADETH, who released their seventeenth and final studio album "Megadeth" in January 2026, will perform on Sunday beneath headliner TOOL. Frontman Dave Mustaine has been characteristically candid about the band's impending farewell, describing the "This Was Our Life" tour cycle as a celebration of four decades of thrash metal excellence. The self-titled final album, produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, received strong reviews and debuted well on charts worldwide. For Sonic Temple attendees, the opportunity to witness one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal in a festival setting one final time is an occasion of enormous significance.
SEPULTURA, meanwhile, bring their farewell cycle to the festival grounds in what could be among the very last chances to see the Brazilian thrash and groove metal legends in action. The band's farewell tour has been an extended, emotionally charged affair, allowing fans across the globe to pay their respects to one of South America's most important musical exports — a band that broke barriers, blended indigenous Brazilian rhythms with extreme metal, and helped put an entire continent on the heavy metal map.
Combined with headline sets from MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE (Friday), SHINEDOWN (Saturday), BRING ME THE HORIZON (Sunday), and TOOL (Sunday), plus over 140 bands spread across five stages, Sonic Temple 2026 is shaping up as one of the year's most significant rock and metal festivals. The four-day format, festival camping, and the historic farewell appearances give the event a gravity that transcends typical festival programming.
Tickets for Sonic Temple 2026 are available now, with VIP packages offering premium viewing areas, exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities, and commemorative festival merchandise marking the farewell appearances.