CASTLE RAT DECLARES WAR ON NORTH AMERICA WITH ‘SUMMON THE BEASTS TOUR 2026’

The Realm is growing…and this fall, Castle Rat plans to conquer it city by city.

After a breakout year that saw the New York fantasy metal phenomenon storm stages across North America and Europe, Castle Rat has announced its largest headlining run to date. The Summon The Beasts Tour 2026 will bring the band’s unforgettable blend of crushing riffs, fantasy lore, theatrical combat, and larger-than-life characters to 20 cities across the United States and Canada this September and October.

The announcement arrives on the heels of a remarkable run for the band. Over the past year, Castle Rat has evolved from one of underground metal’s most intriguing newcomers into one of heavy music’s fastest-rising acts. The group spent the spring sharing stages with Amon Amarth and Dethklok, appeared at some of the world’s premier heavy music festivals including Desertfest, Hellfest, and Copenhell, performed in front of more than 75,000 fans, and recently celebrated the largest headline show of its career with a sold-out 1,400-capacity performance at House of Blues – Anaheim.

Now they’re ready to raise the stakes once again.

Anyone expecting a standard metal show is in for a surprise. Castle Rat’s live performance is an immersive experience that blurs the line between concert and fantasy epic. The battle between The Rat Queen and The Rat Reaperess unfolds in real time as towering riffs, doom-laden grooves, elaborate costumes, choreographed combat, and theatrical storytelling pull audiences deeper into The Realm with every song. It’s a spectacle that has helped transform curious first-time attendees into devoted followers and made Castle Rat one of the most talked-about live acts in underground metal.

For a glimpse of what to expect, check out Castle Rat’s recent KEXP session below:

Leading the charge is Riley Pinkerton as The Rat Queen, joined by Franco Vittore as The Count on lead guitar, Charley Ruddell as The Plague Doctor on bass, and Josh Strmic as The All-Seeing Druid on drums. Together, they defend The Realm against their eternal adversary, The Rat Reaperess, the embodiment of Death herself. The ongoing battle between these characters forms the backbone of Castle Rat’s mythology and provides the framework for the band’s uniquely immersive live performances.

The upcoming tour will see the band step into some of the biggest headlining venues of their career, including Webster Hall in New York City and The Belasco in Los Angeles.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10:00 a.m. local time HERE.

Coinciding with the tour announcement is the launch of Castle Market, Castle Rat’s first-ever official online store. Fans can now access VIP passes, exclusive merchandise, special album variants, and other Realm-approved treasures from a single destination. Check out CASTLE MARKET right HERE for more.

For the first time ever, Castle Rat will also offer VIP experiences on a headlining tour. Packages include access to a private soundcheck featuring two songs, a meet-and-greet with the band, autograph opportunities, exclusive merchandise, early merch access, and a photo opportunity with the dreaded Rat Reaperess herself.

The celebration continues this week as Castle Rat takes over SiriusXM Liquid Metal alongside Jose Mangin, SiriusXM’s legendary “Metal Ambassador.” The special takeover features an exclusive backstage interview captured during Castle Rat’s sold-out Anaheim headlining performance, as well as a personally curated playlist spotlighting some of the band’s influences, including Type O Negative, Morbid Angel, Ministry, Forbidden, and more. Check SiriusXM listings for scheduled broadcast times or stream the takeover on demand through the SiriusXM app.

Castle Rat’s ascent shows no signs of slowing.

Their debut album, Into The Realm, released in April 2024 through King Volume Records, quickly established Castle Rat as a force to watch. The album has amassed more than 10 million Spotify streams and debuted as Bandcamp’s #1 Best-Selling Hard Rock/Alternative Rock album, introducing listeners to the mythology of The Realm and laying the foundation for the band’s rapidly growing following.

Rather than suffer a sophomore slump, Castle Rat returned even stronger with The Bestiary, their acclaimed second full-length album produced by Randall Dunn, whose resume includes work with Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, and Björk. Released in late 2025, the album earned widespread praise from major outlets including Rolling Stone, NPR, Revolver, and Kerrang!, with many critics naming it among the standout heavy releases of the year. The success of The Bestiary elevated Castle Rat from cult favorite to one of the most exciting and original new bands in heavy music.

Watch Castle Rat’s recent music video for “Siren” off of The Bestiary below:

Following two sold-out tours in late 2024, a successful U.S. headlining run in 2025, extensive European touring, and a spring campaign alongside Amon Amarth and Dethklok, Castle Rat now sets its sights on its biggest North American headline tour yet.

This fall, the gates to The Realm swing open once again.

Whether you’re already sworn to The Realm or preparing for your first encounter, the battle awaits.

CASTLE RAT: SUMMON THE BEASTS TOUR 2026

w/ Unto Others + Wraith Knight

* 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