The Smashing Pumpkins - Rats In A Cage arena tour celebrates Mellon Collie
Published on 08/19/2026 at 13:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Smashing Pumpkins are turning their landmark album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness into a full-scale live celebration. According to a tour announcement from Climate Pledge Arena, the band’s new Rats In A Cage Tour runs across North America in fall 2026 with arena shows from September 30 to November 12, 2026.
Rats In A Cage Tour dates and concept
The Rats In A Cage Tour is billed as a 27-date North American arena run built around the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, released in 1995 and certified Diamond by the RIAA in the United States. A detailed schedule published by Vice shows the tour kicking off on September 30, 2026 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio and concluding on November 12, 2026 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Vice tour report
The same report notes that the run includes major markets like Chicago, New York, Boston, Charlotte, Nashville, Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, San Jose and Phoenix, with Lollapalooza in Chicago on July 31, 2026 flagged as a festival anchor ahead of the arena leg. In total, fans in more than two dozen cities get the chance to see the band revisit Mellon Collie in a theatrical setting while also covering material from nearly four decades of releases.
Ticket presales, on-sale dates and fan access
The tour announcement highlights a layered ticket rollout designed to give different groups early access. Climate Pledge Arena’s event page confirms that presales for the November 6, 2026 Seattle date start with Citi and Verizon customers on May 19 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by a Live Nation All Access presale on May 20 and a general on-sale on May 21 at 10:00 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Climate Pledge Arena announcement
Vice lists similar timing for the wider tour, noting that Citi cardmember and Verizon presales open on May 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. local time, with Live Nation presales on May 20 and general on-sale on May 21. The tour therefore offers a clear booking window several months ahead of the first show, which is typical for arena runs of this scale.
Tour, albums and background on The Smashing Pumpkins
Fans who want to dive deeper into The Smashing Pumpkins’ touring history and studio work can find more coverage and context in our archive and on the band’s official channels.
How the band builds the live show around Mellon Collie
Climate Pledge Arena’s description of the Seattle date makes clear that each night on the Rats In A Cage Tour features two distinct sets. One is dedicated to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, performed in a theatrical staging that leans into the album’s narrative arc. The second is a career-spanning set that draws from albums such as Siamese Dream, Adore, Machina and more recent works including Atum and Aghori Mhori Mei. This double-set approach underlines how central Mellon Collie remains while still situating it within a broader catalog.
Where the band stands and what’s next
The next confirmed live date for The Smashing Pumpkins is July 31, 2026 at Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park, followed by the September 30, 2026 start of the Rats In A Cage Tour at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
The Smashing Pumpkins at a glance
- Act: The Smashing Pumpkins
- Genre: Alternative rock / alt-pop
- Origin: Chicago, United States
- Active since: 1988
- Lineup: Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar), James Iha (guitar), Jimmy Chamberlin (drums), Kiki Wong (guitar), Jack Bates (bass), Katie Cole (keys, backing vocals)
- Label: Martha’s Music / Thirty Tigers
- Key works: Siamese Dream (1993), Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995), Machina/The Machines of God (2000), Atum (2023)
- Current album/single: Aghori Mhori Mei, released August 2, 2024
- Charts / certifications: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness certified Diamond by the RIAA in the US; Aghori Mhori Mei entered the Billboard 200 in August 2024
- Next live date: July 31, 2026 – Lollapalooza, Grant Park, Chicago
Frequently asked questions about The Smashing Pumpkins
When does The Smashing Pumpkins’ Rats In A Cage Tour start?
The Rats In A Cage Tour is scheduled to start on September 30, 2026 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, according to tour schedules published by Vice and Climate Pledge Arena.
Will The Smashing Pumpkins play festivals as part of their 2026 plans?
Yes, the band is billed to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago on July 31, 2026 before launching the arena leg of the Rats In A Cage Tour, giving fans a festival and arena option in the same summer.
Which album is at the center of The Smashing Pumpkins’ current live concept?
The shows are built around the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with that album played in a dedicated set each night and a second set covering material from the band’s wider catalog.
More on The Smashing Pumpkins on streaming and social
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by editors. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice; correction notes can be sent via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.
