Alice in Chains may be preparing to make new music in 2026. The band's last album, Rainier Fog , was released in 2018, and since then fans have been waiting for news. In a recent interview with Cleveland.com ( transcription via MetalSucks ), guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell commented on the band's future plans and raised the possibility of a new studio album, which should be explored starting in 2026.
Cantrell explained that 2025 wasn't as the band had planned, as they had to deal with some unforeseen circumstances. "We're just wrapping up the I Want Blood , so I'm going to take the winter off and see where we are," said the musician. He revealed that there were plans for tours this year, but a health issue with drummer Sean Kinney forced the group to cancel part of their schedule. "We had a bit of bad luck, we planned to do a lot more this year, but it just didn't work out. We'll probably look at everything early next year and decide what we're going to do: whether we'll go into the studio to record another album, do some shows, or both."
The "health problem" mentioned by Cantrell refers to Sean Kinney's medical condition, details of which have not been publicly disclosed. The situation was serious enough for Alice in Chains to cancel their scheduled performances for 2025.
Alice in Chains and their only performance in 2025
With the cancellations, the band's only performance this year was at the Back to the Beginning , which honored Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath . On that occasion, Alice in Chains played classics such as “Man in the Box”, “Would?” and “Fairies Wear Boots”. Jerry highlighted the importance of the moment: “It was a beautiful thing, and I’m very happy that we were able to witness and be a part of it. (…) We are all fans of Sabbath and Ozzy. It’s seminal. None of us would exist without them.” For the guitarist, being able to celebrate Ozzy shortly before his death made the moment “magical”.
With this atmosphere of reflection and overcoming challenges, Cantrell made it clear that 2026 could be the year Alice in Chains makes a big comeback, both on stage and with new music.
READ ALSO: Alice In Chains' Sean Kinney speaks out about canceled shows and reveals medical diagnosis.
