ABBATH, the band fronted by former IMMORTAL vocalist and guitarist Abbath, have cancelled every remaining show on their 2026 calendar. No explanation was offered.
The announcement came via social media on Tuesday, September 15, and ran to three sentences. "ABBATH have made the decision to cancel all remaining shows for 2026," it read. "We sincerely apologize to the fans, festivals, and everyone affected. Thank you for your understanding and support."
The silence on the reason is conspicuous, because the last time ABBATH were on a stage it ended badly. Roughly a month ago, at the SaariHelvetti festival in Tampere, Finland, the band lasted about two minutes. Footage from the show captured them opening with "To War!" — Abbath, born Olve Eikemo, notably without the corpsepaint and body armour his bandmates were wearing. Halfway through the song he threw his guitar down and left.
Drummer Ukri Suvilehto walked to the front of the stage and addressed the crowd himself. According to Finland's Inferno magazine, he told them: "Let's just say that it probably won't come as a surprise to anyone that our lead singer is struggling with health problems, so we're very sorry if this gig has been interrupted. But we, as solid professionals, are prepared for anything, so we'll see. But thank you and sorry. We have done everything we can." Organisers later confirmed the set had ended because of the frontman's health.
It is not the first abandoned show of its kind. In November 2019 ABBATH played two songs in Buenos Aires before the night collapsed, with some ticket-holders demanding refunds. That lineup consisted only of a visibly intoxicated Abbath alongside then-bassist Mia Wallace and Suvilehto; guitarist Ole André Farstad had reportedly stayed at the hotel after an argument. Later that month Abbath issued a statement acknowledging that he had been fighting addiction and committing to a rehabilitation programme that would get him clean "once and for all." By early 2020 he reported two months of sobriety and said he was in good shape.
The band have spent recent years touring behind "Dread Reaver," their third album, released in March 2022 through Season Of Mist. Whether the 2027 calendar survives intact is, for now, an open question — the statement gave no indication of when ABBATH expect to return.