Dream Theater Returns to India for 40th Anniversary Tour

Dream Theater, the iconic American progressive rock and metal band, has announced their much-anticipated return to India in early 2026. Nearly eight years after their last Indian performance in Mumbai in 2017, the band will perform in Bengaluru and Kolkata as part of their global 40th anniversary tour. Fans can expect a grand celebration of the band’s illustrious four-decade-long career, with performances scheduled on January 30 at Phoenix Market City in Bengaluru and February 1 at Aquatic Ground in Kolkata. Tickets will be available starting September 5, 2025.

Celebrating Four Decades with Familiar Power

This tour not only commemorates Dream Theater’s 40 years in music but also marks a significant era following the return of their co-founder and drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined in 2023 after a long absence. Since Portnoy's reunion, the band released Parasomnia in early 2025, their first album with him since 2009, featuring singles such as "Night Terror" and "Midnight Messiah." 

Portnoy has described their new material as reminiscent of classic Dream Theater sounds, blending nostalgia with fresh energy. Additionally, the tour brings Dream Theater’s complex, masterful musicianship and expansive setlists back into the Indian live scene, with fans in Kolkata witnessing the band’s first-ever performance in eastern India. Band members also share notable connections to India, including keyboardist Jordan Rudess collaborating with local band Thaikuddam Bridge.

Dream Theater’s 40th anniversary tour comes at a time when India is rapidly emerging as a key destination for major international concerts. Earlier this year, British band Coldplay set a national record by drawing 134,000 attendees in a single day at their concert in Ahmedabad, which was the largest ticketed live music event in India’s history. Their five-city tour in India, including multiple shows in Mumbai and back-to-back dates at the Narendra Modi Stadium, not only broke attendance records but also showcased the growing appetite for large-scale music events in the country, reflecting India’s expanding concert economy.

This momentum is further bolstered by upcoming high-profile events like the inaugural Lollapalooza India festival, which will feature iconic bands such as Linkin Park. As India’s infrastructure, digital reach, and enthusiasm for Western live acts grow, bands like Dream Theater stand to benefit from an increasingly robust and receptive fanbase. With audiences embracing international tours on an unprecedented scale, India is solidifying its position as a major hub on the global live music map.