Weekly International Music News Roundup: BTS, Behemoth, and Major 2026 Tour Dates
Another week, another stack of massive music news. Whether you're into K-pop, death metal, industrial rock, or anything in between, this week's delivered the goods. We've got world tours, festival lineups, fresh album drops, and some long-awaited comebacks that have fans losing their minds.
Grab a brew and let's get into it.
BTS Announces Massive 2026 World Tour 'ARIRANG'
Let's kick things off with probably the biggest announcement of the week. BTS are back together and they're going global with their 2026 World Tour 'ARIRANG'. We're talking 79 dates across Asia, North America, and Europe. Yeah, you read that right. Seventy-nine shows.
The tour kicks off in South Korea with three shows in Goyang on April 9, 11, and 12, before heading to Tokyo on April 17-18. From there, it's off to North America starting in Tampa, Florida on April 25-26. The boys will hit up El Paso, Mexico City, Stanford, Las Vegas, New York (East Rutherford), Boston (Foxborough), Baltimore, Dallas (Arlington), Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
European fans aren't left out either. The tour swings through Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich, and Paris between June and July. There's also a return to South Korea for shows in Busan on June 12-13.
Presales ran on January 22-23, with general onsale kicking off January 24, 2026. If you missed out, keep your eyes on official resale platforms because tickets are moving fast.
Oh, and that's not all. BTS are dropping a new album on March 20, which means tour setlists are going to be absolutely stacked with fresh material. ARMY, this is your year.
Behemoth Unleashes 'The Godless IV' North American Tour
From K-pop to blackened death metal. That's the range we're working with this week.
Polish legends Behemoth have announced their spring North American tour, dubbed 'The Godless IV'. And the support lineup? Absolutely stacked. We're talking Deicide, Rotting Christ, and Immolation. That's four bands who have been pushing extreme metal forward for decades, all on one bill.
If you've never seen Behemoth live, their stage production is genuinely next level. Nergal and the crew don't just play a gig, they put on a full theatrical experience. Fire, elaborate costumes, and enough atmosphere to make you feel like you've stepped into another dimension.
Dates and venues are rolling out now, so if you're anywhere near the tour route, this is one you don't want to sleep on. These kinds of lineups don't come around often.
Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson Co-Headline with The Hu and Orgy
Speaking of tours that feel like a fever dream from 1999, how about this one?
Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are teaming up for a co-headlining tour, with support from The Hu and Orgy. It's like someone raided the best bits of industrial rock, shock rock, and Mongolian metal and threw them all together.
Rob Zombie's live shows are always a visual feast, packed with horror movie imagery and enough pyro to light up a small city. Marilyn Manson remains one of the most polarising and captivating performers in rock. The Hu bring their incredible blend of traditional Mongolian instruments and heavy rock. And Orgy? Pure nostalgic goodness for anyone who grew up on late 90s industrial.
This is going to be one of those tours people talk about for years. If it comes anywhere near you, grab tickets.
Five Finger Death Punch Celebrates 20 Years
Hard to believe, but Five Finger Death Punch are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2026. To mark the occasion, the band is hitting the road for a special anniversary tour.
Love them or have complicated feelings about them, there's no denying 5FDP have been a dominant force in heavy music for two decades. From "The Bleeding" to "Burn MF" to "Wash It All Away", they've built a catalogue of anthems that have soundtracked countless gym sessions, road trips, and bad days turned around.
Details are still coming through on exact dates and special guests, but expect this to be a big production celebrating their entire career. Fans can probably count on deep cuts alongside the hits.
Rock Fest 2026 Lineup Drops
Festival season is creeping closer, and Rock Fest 2026 has dropped a lineup that's got people buzzing.
Headliners include Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, and Gojira. That's a solid mix of nu-metal nostalgia, skate punk classics, and modern progressive metal heavyweights.
Limp Bizkit have been on a massive comeback wave, with Fred Durst and the boys proving they can still pack out arenas and get crowds moving. The Offspring are timeless, with hits that span generations. And Gojira? They're arguably one of the best live metal bands on the planet right now, with a sound that's as crushing as it is technical.
More names are expected to be added, but this is already looking like one of the must-attend festivals of 2026.
New Releases: What Dropped This Week (January 16)
It's not just about tours and festivals. There's been some serious new music hitting streaming platforms too.
A$AP Rocky – 'Don't Be Dumb'
The big one. A$AP Rocky finally released his new album 'Don't Be Dumb', his first full-length project in eight years. Yeah, eight years. Since 'Testing' back in 2018, fans have been waiting and speculating. Now it's here, and early reactions are all over the place, from people calling it a masterpiece to others saying it's too experimental.
Either way, it's generating conversation, and that's what Rocky does. Give it a few spins before you make up your mind.
Megadeth
Megadeth dropped new material this week too, because Dave Mustaine simply does not stop. The thrash legends continue to prove they're still a force, delivering the kind of riffs and technicality that made them icons in the first place.
Alkaloid
For the tech-death and progressive metal fans, Alkaloid also released new music. If you're into intricate song structures, wild time signatures, and musicianship that makes you question your own abilities, check them out.
Coming Soon: What to Watch For
Looking ahead, there's more good stuff on the horizon.
Angel Du$t – February 13
Baltimore's Angel Du$t are dropping new music on February 13. If you're into that energetic, melodic hardcore-meets-power-pop sound, mark your calendar. Their last few releases have been absolute bangers, and there's no reason to expect anything less this time.
Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights Soundtrack
This one's a bit different but worth mentioning. Charli XCX is contributing to the soundtrack for an upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation. After the massive success of 'Brat' and her continued dominance of pop, it'll be interesting to hear what she brings to a project like this. Could be moody, could be unexpected, could be brilliant.
Wrapping Up
That's your weekly roundup sorted. BTS going global, Behemoth going brutal, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson teaming up, and festival lineups starting to take shape. Plus new music from A$AP Rocky, Megadeth, and more on the way.
It's shaping up to be a massive year for music, and we're only in January.
Stay tuned for next week's roundup. In the meantime, crank up something loud and enjoy your weekend.
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