In a new conversation with Mike Hsu of 100 FM The Pike, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx opened up about the band’s massive 2026 tour, the creative ideas fueling the stage production, and what the anniversary means to them as a group that has now been rocking for 45 years. The upcoming trek, titled “The Return Of Carnival Of Sins,” celebrates both the 20th anniversary of the original 2005–2006 tour and nearly five decades of the band’s history.
Produced by Live Nation, the 33-city tour launches on July 17, 2026, in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania at the Pavilion at Star Lake. It will also feature support from EXTREME and TESLA, two acts that already bring a massive following of their own. Because of that, excitement has been building quickly among fans who remember the original Carnival of Sins tour and those who discovered the band more recently.
During the interview, Nikki Sixx reflected on why this particular tour means so much to MÖTLEY CRÜE, especially when compared to their previous major runs. He explained the creative thinking behind revisiting such an iconic era, and he also highlighted the advances in modern production that will help the band bring an even larger vision to life.
Sixx said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):
“Listen, two of our biggest and most successful tours was the ‘Dr. Feelgood’ tour. And that’s not to negate ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ or any of that stuff, but that was a big peaking time for us and that album connected with people. And then the ‘Carnival Of Sins’ tour 20 years ago. That was unbelievable. It was such a fun experience.”
He continued by describing how the anniversary sparked new creative energy:
“And we were just, like, ‘It’s an anniversary of that and that DVD and people still talk to us about that show.’ We were, like, ‘Well, what can you do now with technology that you couldn’t do back then?'”
Sixx pointed out how much has changed since the mid-2000s, especially when it comes to stage visuals. The original Carnival of Sins tour didn’t include the kind of massive screens and immersive effects that modern concerts now rely on. Because of that, the 2026 tour gives the band a chance to reimagine moments that fans already loved — only bigger and more dramatic.
He explained:
“They didn’t have video screens back then, and anything that you could do that would encompass and take over the imagination of all the people there.”
The band recently experimented with more advanced visuals in Las Vegas. According to Sixx, those test runs helped inspire what will happen on stage next year. He offered an example from the Vegas production:
“‘In The Beginning’, [which] starts off the ‘Shout At The Devil’ album, we had an amazing visual presentation of ‘In The Beginning’. Mid-show, everything went dark and there’s this, basically, devil talking to you, narrating that, which then led into ‘Shout At The Devil’.”
Experiences like that pushed MÖTLEY CRÜE to think about how far they can take the “Carnival” theme. Because the band has always been known for theatrical tours, this anniversary felt like the perfect opportunity to push the envelope once again.
Why EXTREME and TESLA Were Chosen as Support Acts
During the interview, Sixx also explained why TESLA and EXTREME were selected for the tour. He emphasized that the lineup focuses on musicians known for timeless songwriting, regardless of the style.
He said:
“We’re really stoked with TESLA and EXTREME, because the idea of TESLA and EXTREME and MÖTLEY CRÜE is it’s all about songs, however you interpret them. You can play ’em RAMMSTEIN style or you can play ’em George Thorogood style or you can play ’em whatever. A good song is a good song, and that’s what I’m really excited about.”
Sixx compared the upcoming tour to The Stadium Tour, which brought together several legendary rock acts in 2022. He remembered the crowd’s overwhelming energy:
“We did ‘The Stadium Tour’. They were singing every Joan Jett song, all the POISON songs, all the DEF LEPPARD songs, all the MÖTLEY CRÜE songs. So this has a little feel of that.”
Although the 2026 shows will be held in outdoor amphitheaters rather than stadiums, Sixx believes that the “shed” atmosphere will bring an exciting, summer-night vibe that fans will love.
Is This the End? Nikki Sixx Clears Up the Rumors
At one point in the interview, Mike Hsu asked a question many fans were already wondering: Is this massive, extended tour a way for MÖTLEY CRÜE to put a final cap on things? After all, Sixx recently mentioned how challenging it can be to leave his family behind for long periods.
Sixx was quick to shut down the idea that this is some sort of farewell tour.
He explained:
“No. It’s summertime. It’s great to be able to go out and be with the band and the fans and not leave my family behind ’cause they’re in school and all this kind of stuff.”
He went on to describe how summer touring allows him to balance his home life with his long-time commitment to the band. As he put it:
“I’m a dad and a husband and a sobriety advocate and a musician before I am a rock star… I have a lot of dimension that I like to enjoy in my life.”
Beyond music, Sixx also mentioned his animation company and other creative projects that bring him fulfillment throughout the year.
Finally, he made it clear:
“And no, this isn’t a cap on anything. And then plugging it into summertime, it just works for everybody. It’s just a blast.”
