Pantera Announces 2026 World Tour and First New Album in Over Two Decades
Metal Titans Return with Fresh Material and Global Dates After Long Hiatus
June 3, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA — Legendary groove metal band Pantera has officially announced their long-anticipated return to the studio and the stage. In a surprise statement released Tuesday morning, the band confirmed a 2026 world tour alongside the release of a brand-new full-length studio album — their first collection of original material since 2000’s Reinventing the Steel.
The band, currently composed of original members Rex Brown (bass) and Philip Anselmo (vocals), along with guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante — who joined in 2022 for the reformation tour — expressed excitement and gratitude to fans for their continued support.
“We’ve been through a lot to get here,” Anselmo said in a statement. “This isn’t about nostalgia anymore — it’s about moving forward, making new music that honors Dime and Vinnie, and giving the fans something real.”
The upcoming album, still untitled, is currently in the final stages of production and is expected to drop in early spring 2026. Sources close to the band say it will feature 10–12 tracks, blending Pantera’s classic heavy riffage with some unexpected twists. Zakk Wylde, filling the enormous shoes of the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, reportedly contributed not just guitar work but also co-writing on several tracks.
Drummer Charlie Benante echoed the band’s excitement: “This new material is heavy, it’s raw, and it’s very Pantera. It feels like we’re creating something that respects the past but isn’t trapped by it.”
The 2026 world tour — dubbed Vulgar Legacy — will kick off in March in South America, followed by dates across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Early ticket access for fan club members will begin later this year, with general ticket sales expected to open by November.
Reaction from fans and the metal community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the band’s decision to push forward creatively rather than rely solely on legacy performances.
Pantera’s resurgence has been one of the most talked-about stories in metal over the past few years, and with new music and a global tour on the horizon, it looks like the band is set to reclaim their place at the top of the genre — not just as icons of the past, but as a force in the future of heavy music.
More details on the album title, tracklist, and tour dates are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
