The next edition of 70000TONS OF METAL sets sail from Miami, Florida, from January 29 to February 2, 2026, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas – and it’s heading into new waters.

Originally planned to return to Labadee, Haiti, the festival organizers made the early call to change course due to ongoing safety concerns. Festival founder Andy Piller explains:

"Ensuring the safety and comfort of our Survivors is non-negotiable. With that in mind, we’ve made the proactive decision to change course for 2026. Nassau provides a welcoming alternative that allows us to maintain the world-class experience our Sailors expect — both on board and ashore."

Nassau brings vibrant Caribbean energy, historic charm, and much more stable conditions. The city also has deep ties to music history: at the legendary Compass Point Studios, Iron Maiden recorded Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), Somewhere in Time (1986), and The Final Frontier (2010), just before the studios closed.

On board, it’s business as usual – and that means:

4 full days of non-stop heavy metal

60+ bands from around the globe

4 stages, including the iconic Pool Deck Stage – the largest open-air stage ever to sail the seas

Meet & Greets, All-Star Jam, exclusive artist-hosted activities

Unmatched fan access and community you won’t find anywhere else

If you want to get your spot on this one-of-a-kind metal cruise, don’t wait – demand is always high.

First Bands for 2026 Announced

The first 28 bands have already been confirmed – and the lineup is shaping up to be massive.

Among the first wave are: Amorphis, Beast in Black, Dark Tranquillity, Eluveitie, Kamelot, Orden Ogan, Insomnium, Xandria, Rhapsody of Fire, Hiraes, and many more.

Here’s the full list so far:

Amorphis

Beast in Black

Dark Tranquillity

Dødheimsgard

Eluveitie

Ereb Altor

Firewind

Gama Bomb

Groza

Haggard

Harakiri for the Sky

Heathen

Hiraes

Hirax

Hour of Penance

Insomnium

Kamelot

Orden Ogan

Persefone

Rhapsody of Fire

Satan

Saturnus

Seven Spires

Skeletal Remains

Týr

Vio-Lence

Wind Rose

Xandria

The remaining 32 bands will be revealed over the coming weeks.