Sick New World recently shared the unfortunate news that its 2025 edition was getting canceled just weeks after announcing an impressive lineup.
“It is with great disappointment that we announce that Sick New World will no longer take place in Las Vegas on April 12, 2025. Despite our best efforts, we’ve encountered unforeseen circumstances that we are unable to overcome for next year’s show," read a statement posted to the festival's website. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated SNW fans who had made plans to join us for another cultural celebration of hard rock, goth, alternative, and heavy music. Please stay tuned for further and future information regarding Sick New World. Tickets purchased directly from Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment in as little as 30 days.”
According to a report by Hits Daily Double, the festival's headliners Metallica and Linkin Park were set to make $5 million dollars each for their performances. The hefty price tag, paired with overbooking (more than 50 bands were slated to play the one-day festival), meant Sick New World needed to sell out, or get close to it, to make up for the cost. Unfortunately, the fest only sold around a third of the 60,000 available tickets, causing the plug to get pulled. The report suggests a more alternative-leaning lineup (Sick New World was originally billed as a nu-metal festival when it launched in 2023) and high ticket prices (GA admission cost $472 and VIP was a whopping $1,873) could be culprits for low sales. However, the bands aren't getting left completely high and dry. Each act is getting paid a percentage of its guarantee following the cancellation.
Evanescence, Queens Of The Stone Age, Gojira, AFI, The Flaming Lips, the Sisters Of Mercy, Meshuggah, Cradle Of Filth, X, Refused, Cannibal Corpse and Lacuna Coil were some of the other big names slated to play.