SICK NEW WORLD TX
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
…and BUC-EES?!
If the idea of 50 rock and metal bands playing back to back across four stages across a racecar speedway sounds great, then Sick New World was a dream for you.
If the idea of being stranded for hours with no signal or wifi and the inability to leave sounds awful, then Sick New World was a nightmare for you.
Both of those statements proved to be true in Ft. Worth, TX as over 80,000 people were corralled into the Texas Motor Speedway on October 24th, 2026. A date that will live in the memory of festival goers as seeing so many great bands live and the testament to survival.
Do not take this post as something bashing Sick New World, Sick New World TX, or the fans. That’s not the case. This was a massive one-day event and the planning the logistics remote for a new place is always going to have issues. It’s worth pointing out the things that went right.
Choosing late October for the timeframe was ideal as the weather in Texas was fine. The four stages, including two rotating platform stages, ran mostly without any issues in scheduling outside of some audio problems (that happens at any festival).
Some of the notable performances were System Of A Down headlining once again (who also announced four massive Rose Bowl shows in 2027), Slayer returning to Texas, Evanescence, Deafheaven, Prodigy, and many more.
During the festival, you saw a lot of people living for the pit and walking through the venue, including sitting in the racetrack stands to take it all in. A unique venue allows for this and it’s nice to have ample places to sit at any time.
The problems that stood out were the complete lack of cell and wifi coverage throughout the grounds. Even though SNW TX talked about bringing in towers, those towers had little assistance for so many people condensed in a concrete and electronic/frequency filled venue.
The prices for food and drink are unfortunately a standard across all festivals now, many of which gouging attendees for something as simple as a grilled cheese and a soda (over $20 for both and that’s if you are lucky).
Then came the biggest problem, leaving. It turns out that Uber and Lyft had no chance of receiving cell signals and orders from the venue leaving thousands stranded. On top of the many people who drove that reported up to three hours to get out of the concrete and grass parking, the rideshare users were doomed to march one mile to the nearest Buc-ees where an unofficial afterparty took place.
It was the saddest afterparty ever as it was 1,000+ attendees filling the parking lot and inside Buc-ees, allo of which still overloading Uber and Lyft apps and not getting rides. Many people didn’t get a ride for hours after the trek a mile away from Texas Motor Speedway. However…you could do worse than having to wait at a Buc-ee’s for hours. Well lit and more safe than being stranded in a park in the dark or a remote small town with miles toward civilization.
This festival was a massive undertaking that accomplished a great feat in the production during the festival but badly missed the mark for attendee safety during and after the event. Sick New World in Las Vegas has the logistics down due to prime location. The Texas Motor Speedway has enough space and is not in a rural destination, but the memories of Sick New World Texas (and the sickness many are feeling from the dust) will last a while.
We’ve heard plenty of praise and horror stories from many people online about Sick New World TX. The big question now is, will Sick New World TX return next year, and in Las Vegas or Ft. Worth?
For our coverage, we were thankful and honored to talk with Amy Lee backstage about the new Evanescence album Sanctuary and more. Scroll below to check the interview and photo galleries from the event.
Slayer
Deafheaven
Terror
Power Trip
Peeling Flesh
