Fans of The Smashing Pumpkins are in for a monumental celebration in 2026, as the legendary alternative rock icons have officially unveiled their sprawling Rats in a Cage North American tour — a tribute to the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking 1995 double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Set to kick off on September 30th in Columbus, Ohio, the ambitious 27-date arena run promises far more than a standard anniversary tour. According to the band, each night will feature two distinct sets: the first will see the entirety of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness performed live in full, while the second set will dive deep into “nearly four decades of unruly hits and dark treasures.”
For longtime fans, it’s shaping up to be one of the most expansive and emotionally charged Pumpkins tours in years.
A Celebration of a Landmark Album
Released in 1995, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness became a defining record of alternative rock’s golden era. Packed with classics like “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” the album showcased the band at their most ambitious and cinematic.
Frontman Billy Corgan has often described the record as deeply personal. Reflecting on the album shortly after its release, he told The Chicago Tribune:
“To sum up all the things I felt as a youth but was never able to voice articulately.”
He added:
“I’m waving goodbye to me in the rear view mirror, tying a knot around my youth and putting it under the bed.”
Three decades later, those themes of nostalgia, loss, youth, and reinvention still resonate — making this anniversary tour feel especially significant.
Billy Corgan’s Busy Mellon Collie Era
The arena trek arrives during an especially packed touring season for Corgan. Before rejoining the Pumpkins in North America, he’ll embark on his own solo orchestral production, A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, across the UK and Europe this September.
The theatrical reimagining — blending orchestral and operatic arrangements — already enjoyed a successful run in Chicago and is now expanding overseas with dates in London, Paris, Antwerp, and Madrid.
Once those performances wrap, Corgan will have little time to rest before heading back on the road with the full band for nearly two months of arena shows across the US and Canada.
Ticket Information
Presales for The Rats in a Cage Tour begin May 19th and 20th at 10am local time, while general ticket sales launch May 21st at 10am local time.
Given the scale of the anniversary celebration and the rarity of hearing Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness performed in full, demand is expected to be extremely high.
The Smashing Pumpkins – 2026 North American Tour Dates
September
- Sept. 30 — Columbus, OH — Schottenstein Center
October
- Oct. 2 — Boston, MA — TD Garden
- Oct. 3 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena
- Oct. 4 — Brooklyn, NY — Barclays Center
- Oct. 6 — Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
- Oct. 7 — Hamilton, ON — TD Coliseum
- Oct. 9 — Montréal, QC — Centre Bell
- Oct. 11 — Madison, WI — Kohl Center
- Oct. 13 — Saint Paul, MN — Grand Casino Arena
- Oct. 14 — Chicago, IL — United Center
- Oct. 16 — Charlotte, NC — Spectrum Center
- Oct. 17 — Jacksonville, FL — VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
- Oct. 18 — Tampa, FL — Benchmark International Arena
- Oct. 20 — Indianapolis, IN — Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- Oct. 22 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
- Oct. 24 — Oklahoma City, OK — Paycom Center
- Oct. 25 — Austin, TX — Moody Center
- Oct. 27 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
- Oct. 29 — Salt Lake City, UT — Delta Center
- Oct. 30 — Las Vegas, NV — MGM Grand Garden Arena
November
- Nov. 1 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
- Nov. 3 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
- Nov. 5 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
- Nov. 6 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena
- Nov. 8 — San Jose, CA — SAP Center
- Nov. 11 — Phoenix, AZ — Mortgage Matchup Center
- Nov. 12 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum
For fans who grew up with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, this tour feels less like a nostalgic cash-in and more like a full-circle moment — a chance to revisit one of alternative rock’s most ambitious albums exactly as it was meant to be experienced: loud, emotional, sprawling, and unforgettable.