Megadeth’s self-titled 17th and final studio album was released on January 23, 2026. Dave Mustaine’s memoir, In My Darkest Hour, followed on September 8, 2026. The band has also announced a 24-date European arena leg of its farewell tour for March and April 2027; that is one chapter of a larger itinerary, not the complete global schedule.
How the album, tour and memoir announcements developed
- August 14, 2025: Megadeth announced that its next record would be its final studio album, that a global farewell tour would begin in 2026, and that Mustaine planned a memoir for 2026. The album title and detailed schedule were not yet public in the Associated Press report. The AP report covered the announcement.
- January 23, 2026: The band announced the release of Megadeth, its 17th and final studio album, through Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint and Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK Records. Megadeth’s release announcement pointed fans to CD and vinyl editions.
- March 19, 2026: Megadeth announced In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine for September 8. The announcement described the book as covering Mustaine’s cancer treatment, remission and the effects on his life and music. The announcement gave the planned publication date and subject.
- August 3, 2026: The band announced a 24-date European arena chapter of the tour, named “Breakout: Hibernation of the Nations,” with Black Label Society and Testament. It runs from Belfast on March 9, 2027, to Lisbon on April 13. The official tour announcement lists the dates and ticket information.
- September 8, 2026: The band confirmed that the memoir was out. Mustaine said it recounts what happened when cancer forced him to face his mortality. The release post confirms publication.
Is Megadeth really the band’s last album?
The band’s announcement calls Megadeth its “17th and final studio album.” That is the specific claim established by the official announcement: it describes the album as final, but does not establish that no future recordings, performances or changes of plan are possible. In the January release announcement, Mustaine said the record holds different emotions and lyrics about his career, his life and the band, adding that listeners could hear more in it with repeated listens. Read the band’s album announcement.
What is known about the farewell tour?
The 2025 announcement described a global farewell tour beginning in 2026. The band’s later official site describes it as a multi-year farewell headline tour. The detailed European schedule announced in August 2026 is a defined 24-date leg for March and April 2027, not a complete itinerary for every region or future date.
Mustaine framed the European shows as a celebration rather than simply a goodbye, saying the band wanted to return to cities and celebrate with the fans who had made the last four decades possible. The official announcement also publicized ticket and VIP presales, including meet-and-greet and photo-op upgrades. Availability can change, so consult the official tour announcement for current ticket links and details.
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Announced European dates
| Date | City | Venue | Ticket seller | VIP package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 9, 2027 | Belfast | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 10, 2027 | Dublin | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 12, 2027 | Glasgow | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 13, 2027 | Manchester | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 15, 2027 | London | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 17, 2027 | Paris | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 18, 2027 | Antwerp | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 20, 2027 | Amsterdam | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 21, 2027 | Hamburg | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 23, 2027 | Berlin | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 24, 2027 | Prague | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 26, 2027 | Budapest | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 27, 2027 | Vienna | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 29, 2027 | Milan | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| March 30, 2027 | Zurich | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 1, 2027 | Barcelona | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 2, 2027 | Madrid | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 4, 2027 | Lisbon | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 6, 2027 | Paris | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 7, 2027 | Antwerp | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 9, 2027 | Amsterdam | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 10, 2027 | Hamburg | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 12, 2027 | Madrid | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
| April 13, 2027 | Lisbon | Not stated in the cited announcement | Check the official tour announcement | Presale upgrades were announced; current availability not stated |
What physical editions of the album are available?
The January 2026 announcement identified CD and vinyl as physical-format paths. The official store also listed a CD earbook edition: a hardback, 32-page book with the CD, full-colour artwork, lyrics and liner notes. When checked, that store listing showed the earbook as sold out; stock status can change. The official music store is the place to check its current listing. The announcement confirms the formats, but the information here does not establish current stock at other retailers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is in Dave Mustaine’s memoir?
In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine was released September 8, 2026. The band’s March announcement described it as a personal account of cancer treatment, remission and the effects on Mustaine’s life and music. On release day, Mustaine said he wrote it to tell what happened when cancer forced him to face his mortality, and what came out of that experience. The official release post confirms the memoir is out.
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