Castle Rat Announce “Summon The Beasts Tour 2026” North American Headline Run
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Black Sabbath, medieval fantasy, and a live-action role-playing battle collided on a concert stage, Castle Rat has your answer.
Fresh off a breakout year that saw them become one of heavy music’s most talked-about underground success stories, the New York City-based doom metal warriors have announced their biggest headline tour to date. Dubbed the “Summon The Beasts Tour 2026,” the 20-date North American trek kicks off September 23 in Baltimore and wraps October 21 at Webster Hall in New York City.
The announcement follows a massive spring campaign that included appearances alongside Amon Amarth and Dethklok, major festival performances, and a sold-out headline show at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California.
For those unfamiliar with Castle Rat, the band delivers far more than a traditional metal concert. Their performances blend crushing riffs, theatrical storytelling, elaborate costumes, and choreographed battle sequences into a fully immersive fantasy experience. Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Riley Pinkerton, known in the band’s mythology as “The Rat Queen,” Castle Rat has built a devoted following through both their music and their unforgettable live shows.
The band’s sophomore album, The Bestiary, earned praise from major outlets including Rolling Stone, NPR Music, Kerrang!, Revolver, and Metal Hammer. Produced by Randall Dunn, whose résumé includes work with Sunn O, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Björk, the album helped propel Castle Rat into a new level of visibility within the metal world.
In addition to announcing the tour, Castle Rat has launched its first-ever online webstore, Castle Market, offering exclusive merchandise, vinyl variants, VIP experiences, and more. For the first time, fans will also have access to a VIP package that includes a live soundcheck performance, meet-and-greet, merchandise gift, early shopping access, and a photo opportunity with the band’s infamous adversary, “The Rat Reaperess.”
Fans can also catch Castle Rat taking over SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal channel this week, where the band will discuss their recent success and share some of their favorite heavy metal tracks.
Castle Rat 2026 North American Tour Dates
Sept. 23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sept. 25 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sept. 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Sept. 28 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Bomb Factory
Sept. 30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
Oct. 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Oct. 3 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
Oct. 6 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Oct. 7 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Market
Oct. 9 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct. 10 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Oct. 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand
Oct. 12 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
Oct. 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Oct. 15 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Oct. 16 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
Oct. 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Oct. 19 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Oct. 20 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Oct. 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
For more information on tour dates, VIP packages, merchandise, and music from Castle Rat, visit the band’s official website.
Have you seen Castle Rat live yet? Are you planning to catch the Summon The Beasts Tour this fall? Let us know in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: I’ve had the chance to watch Castle Rat’s ascent firsthand over the past year. The first time I saw the band was in a sold-out club in Columbus, Ohio, where it was immediately clear they were building something special. Earlier this year, I caught them again on their tour with Amon Amarth and Dethklok, and seeing how much the band had grown in such a short time was impressive. Whether they’re commanding a small club stage or performing in front of thousands of metal fans, Castle Rat brings the same energy, theatricality, and larger-than-life presence every single night. If you haven’t experienced Castle Rat live yet, the Summon The Beasts Tour might be the perfect opportunity.
