The Gathering reveal what they have planned after this year’s tour

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the iconic record, Dutch rock group The Gathering‘s “Mandylion” lineup, which included singer Anneke Van Giersbergen, performed six times last year, as per Blabbermouth. In 2026, the band will carry on the festivities with about 30 more performances in Europe, North America, and South America, culminating on October 17 at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile. “Mandylion,” The Gathering’s third studio album, was published by Century Media Records in August 1995. Van Giersbergen was featured on the band’s first album. Guitarist René Rutten of The Gathering responded as follows when asked in a recent interview with Chile’s iRock.cl what it felt like to perform with Anneke once more after such a lengthy absence.

At the beginning, we just started with only the musicians, because it’s a bit more difficult to figure out how the music works. And then Anneke came by, and then she was so impressed with hearing the old classic songs, but now with two guitars and really full force, amps on 11. So, yeah, that’s absolutely fantastic to do again. And also on stage, the same kind of feeling, like how we did it exactly also 30 years ago.

René responded as to how the concept for the reunion and the celebratory tour originated.

We got the [‘Mandylion’] gold album two years ago in the Netherlands. And we had a meeting, and we had a lunch. And during the lunch I asked Anneke, like, ‘Let’s do something special with being this album 30 years old. And so it happened. Yeah. And that’s why I’m now here giving this interview to you. So, yeah.

René made this statement regarding the set list for The Gathering’s 2026 performances.

That’s a big secret. No. Everybody knows, in a way, what we played in the Netherlands last year in August. So it will be similar to that. And maybe a few more other songs. We still have to make that decision. And we have to see. We didn’t discuss about it yet.

When asked if The Gathering’s “Mandylion” lineup would continue after the 2026 tour, René responded as follows.

No, we don’t have any plans for the future. No. The last show will be in Chile, from this kind of ‘Mandylion’ 30th-anniversary shows. And after that I stay, of course, a little bit longer here in Chile, because I have my family here. And after that we will see — we will see what the future will bring. Anneke, of course, has her solo career and shows, and that’s happening in ’27. And we will see later what it’ll bring and what it’ll do.

Upcoming shows:

• Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – London, United Kingdom – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
• Thursday, May 21, 2026 – Paris, France – Le Trianon
• Friday, May 22, 2026 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Konzertfabrik Z7 & Mini Z7
• Saturday, May 23, 2026 – Trezzo sull’Adda, Italy – Live Club
• Sunday, May 24, 2026 – Villeurbanne, France – CCO (La Rayonne)
• Monday, May 25, 2026 – Esch‑sur‑Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
• Friday, June 5, 2026 – Sölvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival 2026
• Saturday, June 6, 2026 – Gdańsk, Poland – Mystic Festival 2026
• Sunday, June 14, 2026 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into the Grave Festival 2026
• Friday, June 19, 2026 – Clisson, France – Complexe du Val de Moine
• Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Oignies, France – Le Métaphone
• Sunday, June 21, 2026 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting 2026
• Thursday, June 25, 2026 – İstanbul, Türkiye – Zorlu Center for Performing Arts
• Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra
• Friday, July 3, 2026 – Cartagena, Spain – Rock Imperium Festival 2026
• Sunday, July 5, 2026 – Lisboa, Portugal – Evil Live Festival 2026
• Thursday, July 16, 2026 – Laukaa, Finland – John Smith Rock Festival 2026
• Sunday, July 19, 2026 – Vizovice, Czechia – Masters of Rock 2026
• Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air 2026
• Friday, July 31, 2026 – Râșnov, Romania – Rockstadt Extreme Fest 2026
• Thursday, September 10, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Auditorio BB
• Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Atlanta, GA, USA – ProgPower USA 2026 (Sold Out)
• Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Ancient Theatre
• Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Stavroupoli, Greece – Moni Lazariston
• Saturday, September 26, 2026 – Athens, Greece – Amphitheater of Lycabettus
• Thursday, October 15, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Audio
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena