Who Is Opening for My Chemical Romance on the Black Parade Tour 2026?
My Chemical Romance is taking the Long Live the Black Parade tour into its second year in 2026, celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Black Parade by performing the album in full at stadiums and festivals across North America. But the real talking point isn't just the setlist — it's the openers. Every single show has a different opening act, and the range of artists MCR has curated is genuinely impressive.
A Different Opener at Every Show
Most tours announce one or two support acts and bring them along for the entire run. My Chemical Romance took a completely different approach. Each city gets its own hand-picked opening act, and no two shows share the same bill. The result reads less like a standard tour package and more like a curated festival lineup spread across the country.
The openers span punk legends, post-punk revivalists, indie rock icons, Japanese metal, progressive rock, and the emo-adjacent bands that grew up alongside MCR. It's a statement about the breadth of music that influenced Gerard Way and company — and a gift to fans who might catch multiple dates and never see the same show twice.
Full 2026 North American Dates and Opening Acts
| Date | City | Venue | Opening Act |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10 | Daytona Beach, FL | Daytona International Speedway | Welcome to Rockville Festival |
| May 14 | Columbus, OH | Historic Crew Stadium | Sonic Temple Festival |
| August 9 | Queens, NY | Citi Field | Franz Ferdinand |
| August 13 | Nashville, TN | Nissan Stadium | Pierce the Veil |
| August 18 | Washington, DC | Nationals Park | Modest Mouse |
| August 21 | Detroit, MI | Comerica Park | Iggy Pop |
| August 24 | Minneapolis, MN | Target Field | Sleater-Kinney |
| August 27 | Denver, CO | Coors Field | The Breeders |
| August 30 | San Diego, CA | Petco Park | Babymetal |
| September 6 | Phoenix, AZ | Chase Field | Jimmy Eat World |
| September 12 | San Antonio, TX | Alamodome | The Mars Volta |
| September 19 | Louisville, KY | Highland Festival Grounds | Louder Than Life Festival |
| October 1 | Sacramento, CA | Discovery Park | Aftershock Festival |
| October 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl | TBA |
| October 23 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl | TBA |
| October 24 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl | TBA |
| October 30 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl | The Used |
| October 31 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl | Thrice |
Breaking Down the Openers
Franz Ferdinand — Queens, NY (August 9)
The Scottish post-punk band kicks off the stadium run at Citi Field. Franz Ferdinand's angular guitar work and dancefloor energy make them an unexpected but sharp pairing with MCR — both bands broke through in the mid-2000s, both drew from post-punk, and both know how to command a massive crowd.
Pierce the Veil — Nashville, TN (August 13)
Of all the openers, Pierce the Veil might be the most natural fit. The San Diego post-hardcore band carries the torch for the exact style MCR helped pioneer, and their fanbase overlaps heavily. Expect the Nashville crowd to be on their feet from the first note.
Modest Mouse — Washington, DC (August 18)
Isaac Brock and Modest Mouse bring indie rock credibility to the DC date. They're a left-field pick that signals MCR's taste extends well beyond their own genre. "Float On" in a stadium full of Black Parade fans should be something to witness.
Iggy Pop — Detroit, MI (August 21)
This is the marquee pairing of the entire tour. Iggy Pop playing Detroit — his hometown — opening for a band that owes a direct debt to The Stooges and the entire punk lineage Iggy helped create. At 79 years old, Iggy remains one of the most electrifying live performers in rock. If you're catching one show on this tour, this is a strong candidate.
Sleater-Kinney — Minneapolis, MN (August 24)
The riot grrrl legends bring raw intensity and political fire to Target Field. Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker have been making vital punk rock for over three decades, and their inclusion speaks to MCR's respect for the broader punk and indie underground.
The Breeders — Denver, CO (August 27)
Kim Deal's band brings alt-rock royalty to Coors Field. From "Cannonball" to Last Splash, The Breeders are one of the defining acts of 90s alternative, and their laid-back cool will make for an interesting contrast with the theatrical intensity of The Black Parade.
Babymetal — San Diego, CA (August 30)
The wildcard pick. Babymetal's fusion of J-pop and thrash metal is unlike anything else on this tour — or any tour — and their choreographed spectacle will give San Diego a truly unique double bill. MCR has never been afraid of theatricality, and neither has Babymetal.
Jimmy Eat World — Phoenix, AZ (September 6)
Jimmy Eat World playing their hometown at Chase Field is a perfect booking. They're one of the bands that helped build the emotional, melodic rock sound that MCR took in a more operatic direction. "The Middle" and "Sweetness" will sound enormous in a baseball stadium.
The Mars Volta — San Antonio, TX (September 12)
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez bring progressive chaos to the Alamodome. The Mars Volta's sprawling, technically demanding rock is a bold opener for a pop-punk-adjacent headliner, but both bands share an ambition that makes the pairing click.
The Hollywood Bowl Closing Run
MCR wraps the tour with five nights at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, their home city. Three of those shows (October 21, 23, and 24) still have openers TBA. But the final two nights are the ones to circle on your calendar.
October 30 — The Used: MCR and The Used came up together in the early 2000s New Jersey and Utah scenes respectively, and they share a deep history. Bert McCracken and Gerard Way collaborating on "Under Pressure" in 2004 was a defining moment for both bands. This is a Devil's Night show the night before Halloween.
October 31 — Thrice: Halloween night with Thrice closing out the entire tour. Dustin Kensrue's band has evolved from post-hardcore into something more expansive over the years, and they're a fitting final opener for a tour built on artistic ambition. Expect costumes, expect theatrics, expect a send-off.
The Black Parade — 20 Years Later
The core draw of this tour remains the album itself. The Black Parade, released in October 2006, is being performed front to back at every date. The record's concept — a dying cancer patient reflecting on life through the lens of a marching band — produced "Welcome to the Black Parade," "Famous Last Words," "Teenagers," and "I Don't Love You." It sold over 5 million copies worldwide and defined a generation of rock fans.
Twenty years later, the songs haven't lost their punch. MCR's 2022 reunion tour proved the demand was still massive, and the Black Parade anniversary gives the band a narrative arc that elevates these shows beyond a standard victory lap.
How to Get Tickets
Stadium shows are available through Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Festival dates (Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, Louder Than Life, Aftershock) are sold separately through their respective festival websites. The Hollywood Bowl shows are available through Ticketmaster.
Check the My Chemical Romance page on TourWax for direct ticket links and updated tour information.
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