Guns N' Roses have officially kicked off their 2026 world tour, returning to the stage with a career-spanning setlist — and a couple of long-awaited surprises for fans.
The veteran rock group, fronted by Axl Rose alongside Slash and Duff McKagan, launched the tour on March 28 at the Tecate Pa’l Norte festival in Monterrey, Mexico, playing to a crowd estimated at around 100,000 people.
Opening with the iconic Welcome to the Jungle, the band wasted no time diving into the kind of high-energy performance that has defined their live shows for nearly four decades.
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The set leaned heavily on classic material, with staples like Mr. Brownstone, It’s So Easy and Yesterdays all making appearances, alongside deeper cuts such as Pretty Tied Up and Double Talkin’ Jive.
But what truly stood out for longtime fans was the live debut of two “new” tracks — Nothin’ and Atlas — both originally tied to the long and complex recording era of their 2008 album Chinese Democracy.
While that record famously took over a decade to complete, these songs had remained unreleased until recently, making their inclusion a significant moment for die-hard followers.
Rose kept his on-stage chat to a minimum, briefly greeting the crowd with “It’s good to see you” and later thanking them with “Muchas gracias”, but let the music — and the band’s chemistry — do most of the talking.
Slash’s signature guitar work and McKagan’s steady basslines anchored the performance, while the current touring lineup, including guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Isaac Carpenter, delivered a tight, polished show.
Notably absent was long-time keyboardist Melissa Reese, who is sitting out the tour due to personal reasons.
The band also paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with a rendition of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, a nod to the heavy metal legend’s influence and legacy.
It marked a rare public acknowledgement from Rose, who has historically kept a low media profile in recent years.
Visually, the show leaned into Guns N’ Roses’ legacy, featuring massive screens filled with imagery of guns, roses and robotic motifs, alongside references to their breakthrough album Appetite for Destruction, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027.
That milestone looms large over the tour, adding an extra layer of nostalgia to a setlist already packed with defining moments from their catalogue.
Beyond the live show, there’s growing excitement about what’s next. Slash has hinted that the band could soon release a collection of reworked archival material — including tracks like Atlas and Nothin’ — before finally delivering a full album of entirely new music.
If it materialises, it would mark the first proper Guns N’ Roses record featuring Slash and McKagan since the early 1990s Use Your Illusion era, something fans have been waiting decades to hear.
The tour itself is expected to be one of the band’s most extensive in years, with over 60 dates planned across multiple continents.
After its Latin American opening leg, the run will head to North America in July before moving on to Europe.
Guns'N'Roses will play the 3 Arena June 10, featuring special guests Mammoth.
With a mix of nostalgia, deep cuts and long-awaited material, Guns N’ Roses’ 2026 tour is shaping up to be more than just another run of shows — it’s a reminder of why they remain one of the most enduring forces in rock music.
Guns N'Roses have confirmed that they will play their 2026 World Tour without bandmember Melissa Reece.
Reese had been performing with the band since 2016 as their second keyboardist, and has worked with them since Axl Rose, Duff McKagan and Slash reunited that same year. She has also in cahoots with their drummer, Bryan 'Brian' Mantia prior to joining G'n'R, with the pair working on video game soundtracks under the moniker of Brian and Melissa.
But, Guns N'Roses have since confirmed in a statement that Reece will not join them on stage for their upcoming tour.
"Rock legends Guns N’ Roses have announced that Melissa Reese will not be joining the band on tour due to unforeseen personal reasons," the band said in a brief statement on Friday. "We hope our fans understand".
The tour which launched this weekend in Monterrey, Mexico, will see them embark across Latin America, North America, Europe, Australia and Singapore, and will see the band fully booked up until at least December this year.
They will be supported by acts including Public Enemy, the Black Crowes, Ice Cube, Pierce The Veil, and the Barbarians of California.
They added fresh dates down under earlier this month, including Adelaide, Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland in New Zealand. Find out more on this report from Nova here.
News of this also comes days after original members Slash and Duff McKagan reunited with the band's original drummer Steven Adler and ex guitarist Gilby Clarke at the Rock For Jennifer Memorial Court at the Troubadour in Hollywood.
It was reported that the concert was in celebration of the former house agent at the Troubadour, Jennifer Perry, who died in February aged 67.
Gilby Clarke had served in the band in 1991, replacing original guitarist, Izzy Stradlin, staying with them until 1995. Steven Adler had featured as a member of Guns N'Roses from when they formed in 1985 until 1990. He was dismissed from the band due to his drug addiction. More on this from Nova here.
