Behemoth release statement after their show in Turkey was cancelled

Behemoth, a Polish extreme metal band, has responded to the cancellation of their planned shows in Turkey.

To our fans in Istanbul and Ankara, we are deeply disappointed to confirm that our scheduled performances in Turkey have been cancelled. Despite exhausting every possible avenue throughout the day and engaging in extensive discussions, the decision from the local authorities remains final. There is simply nothing further we can do to overturn it.

The cancellations come after pressure from religious groups who have characterized our art as satanic propaganda and deemed it unacceptable. This is another example of ideology being used to suppress artistic expression and restrict cultural freedom. Behemoth has always stood for creative independence and the right of artists to express themselves without censorship. Music is not a threat, but silencing it should concern anyone who values freedom of expression.

To those who planned to attend, who travelled, and who stood ready to share this night with us, we are truly sorry. We fought to make these shows happen and we share your frustration and disappointment. Turkey has some of the most passionate and dedicated fans in the world and we hope the day will come when we can return to Istanbul and Ankara and perform for you without interference. Until then, thank you for your unwavering support.

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Upcoming shows:

CHANTS OF THE EASTERN LANDS 2026
BEHEMOTH + NIDHOGG

• 02/15 – Bangkok, TH @ Mr. Fox Live House
• 02/18 – Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli
• 02/20 – Sydney, AU @ The Metro
• 02/21 – Melbourne, AU @ The Forum
• 02/22 – Adelaide, AU @ The Gov
• 02/25 – Tokyo, JP @ O-East
• 02/27 – Tianjin, China @ Damai 66 Livehouse
• 03/01 – Shanghai, CN @ Bandai Namco
• 03/03 – Bangalore, IN @ Phoenix Marketcity

TICKETS: https://www.behemoth.pl/

THE GODLESS IV 2026
BEHEMOTH + DEICIDE + ROTTING CHRIST + IMMOLATION

• 4/14 – San Diego, CA — The Observatory North Park
• 4/15 – San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom
• 4/17 – Boise, ID — Knitting Factory 
• 4/18 – Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
• 4/19 – Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
• 4/21 – Salt Lake City, UT — Union Event Center
• 4/22 – Denver, Co — The Fillmore
• 4/24 – Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
• 4/25 – Chicago, IL — The Vic Theatre
• 4/26 – St. Louis, MO — The Pageant
• 4/28 – Norfolk, VA — The NorVa
• 4/30 – Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore^
• 5/01 – Worcester, MA — Palladium&
• 5/02 – New York, NY — Palladium Times Square
• 5/04 – Buffalo, NY — Buffalo RiverWorks
• 5/05 – McKees Rocks, PA — The Roxian Theatre
• 5/07 – Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome To Rockville*
• 5/09 – Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
• 5/11 – Toronto, ON — HISTORY
• 5/12 – Montreal, QC — L’Olympia
• 5/14 – Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple*
• 5/15 – Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
• 5/16 – Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
• 5/18 – Dallas, TX — The Bomb Factory
• 5/20 – Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
• 5/21 – Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium

*Festval Date

^ = No Rotting Christ 
& = No Deicide 

TICKETS: https://www.behemoth.pl/

IN LEAGUE WITH SATAN TOUR 2026
BEHEMOTH + DIMMU BORGIR

• 09 Oct – Zurich, Switzerland – Halle 622
• 10 Oct – Zwickau, Germany – Sparkassen-Arena Zwickau
• 11 Oct – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
• 13 Oct – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
• 14 Oct – Munich, Germany – Zenith
• 16 Oct – Paris, France – Zenith18 Oct – Den Bosch, Netherlands – Mainstage
• 20 Oct – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
• 22 Oct – Hamburg, Germany – Inselpark Arena
• 23 Oct – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
• 24 Oct – Brno, Czech Republic – Hala Vodova
• 27 Oct – Helsinki, Finland – Ice Hall
• 29 Oct – Stockholm, Sweden – B-K
• 30 Oct – Copenhagen, Denmark – K.B. Hallen

TICKETS: https://www.behemoth.pl/