Dutch gothic metal icons THE GATHERING have confirmed that their reunited classic "Mandylion" lineup has no plans to continue beyond the ongoing 2026 world tour, ending speculation about a permanent reunion.
Guitarist René Rutten told fans: "No, we don't have any plans for the future. The last show will be in Chile from this kind of 'Mandylion' 30th-anniversary shows." The tour concludes on October 17 at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile.
The reunion took shape when the band — featuring vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen, guitarists René and Jelmer Wiersma, keyboardist Frank Boeijen, drummer Hans Rutten, and bassist Hugo Prinsen Geerligs — performed six shows in the Netherlands in August 2025 to mark the 30th anniversary of their landmark 1995 album "Mandylion." The audience response far exceeded expectations.
"We didn't expect this many people to react on it and want a ticket to see us perform live again," said Van Giersbergen.
Rutten described the experience of returning to the classic material: "When Anneke came by, she was so impressed with hearing the old classic songs, now with two guitars and amps on 11."
The 2026 leg spans approximately 30 additional dates across Europe, North America, and South America. "Mandylion," released in 1995 via Century Media Records, was the first THE GATHERING album to feature Van Giersbergen and remains a cornerstone of gothic and atmospheric metal. The record introduced the band to a global audience and launched one of the most distinctive careers in European metal.