The Smashing Pumpkins announce "The Rats In A Cage Tour" 2026: Dates, presales and tickets

"Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." That lyric has echoed through arenas, dorm rooms and car stereos for over three decades — and now it's the namesake of The Smashing Pumpkins' next major tour. Billy Corgan and company built one of alternative rock's most towering legacies on the back of ambitious production, genre-defying songwriting and a live show that hits like a wall of sound and emotion. For a generation of fans who grew up on "Siamese Dream" and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," this is the kind of tour that doesn't come around often.

The Smashing Pumpkins are marking the 30th anniversary of "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" with “The Rats in a Cage Tour,” a 27-date North American arena run. Each night is expected to feature a dedicated set of "Mellon Collie" songs, followed by a second set pulling from nearly four decades of hits, deep cuts and fan favorites.

The Smashing Pumpkins "The Rats In A Cage Tour" 2026 dates and schedule

Below is the full list of confirmed headlining dates for "The Rats In A Cage Tour" across the U.S. and Canada. Festival appearances are not included.

When is the presale for The Smashing Pumpkins tour?

Presales for The Smashing Pumpkins’ "The Rats In A Cage Tour " begin ahead of the general on-sale.

Citi cardmembers and Verizon customers can access presales starting Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10 a.m. local time.

• For the Citi presale, enter the first six digits of an eligible Citi® credit card or Citibank Debit Card as the presale code, then use that same Citi® card at checkout.

• For Verizon Access, connect your Verizon account to your Ticketmaster account by going to My Profile > Connected Accounts. Once linked, the presale will unlock without a code.

There will be a SeatGeek presale on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. local time for the Oct. 29 show at the Delta Center. SeatGeek is the Official Ticketing Partner of the Delta Center.

The Live Nation presale also begins Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. local time, with Live Nation All Access members getting exclusive presale access.

When do The Smashing Pumpkins tour tickets go on sale?

The general onsale for "The Rats In A Cage Tour" will begin Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. local time. SeatGeek will be hosting the onsale for the Oct. 29 stop at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

When does The Smashing Pumpkins tour start?

"The Rats In A Cage Tour" opens on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH.

When does The Smashing Pumpkins tour end?

The final date of "The Rats In A Cage Tour" is Thursday, November 12, 2026 at Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA.

What to expect at The Smashing Pumpkins' "The Rats In A Cage Tour"

Billy Corgan has never been one to scale things down, and “The Rats In A Cage Tour” is built around a fittingly ambitious concept: the 30th anniversary of "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." Fans can expect more than a standard greatest-hits arena show, with each night set to feature a dedicated "Mellon Collie" segment that revisits one of the most ambitious and era-defining albums of the ’90s in a theatrical live setting.

The show will also include a second set drawing from across The Smashing Pumpkins’ nearly four-decade catalog, from early favorites and alternative-rock staples to deeper cuts for longtime listeners. That format should give each stop a balance of anniversary nostalgia and setlist variety, with room for songs beyond the "Mellon Collie" era.

Expect a big, immersive arena production: heavy guitars, dramatic visuals and the kind of layered sound that has long defined the band’s live shows. For fans who grew up with "Mellon Collie" — or discovered The Smashing Pumpkins later through songs like “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Zero” — this tour is positioned as both a celebration of a landmark album and a full-career look back at one of alternative rock’s most influential bands.

How to get The Smashing Pumpkins tour tickets on SeatGeek

Finding the right seat for "The Rats In A Cage Tour" — whether it's floor seats for the Chicago homecoming at United Center or upper-level value picks at the Delta Center — starts with a quick search on SeatGeek.

1. Search for The Smashing Pumpkins on SeatGeek and select your preferred "Rats In A Cage Tour" date

2. See full prices upfront with all-in pricing — no hidden fees added at checkout

3. Filter by price, section or Deal Score to find Smashing Pumpkins tickets that match your budget and seating preference

4. Check out quickly and securely in just a few clicks.

5. Access your tickets instantly in the SeatGeek app — ready for show day

Every ticket is backed by SeatGeek's Buyer Guarantee, so you can lock in your spot with confidence. After that, the only thing left to do is wait for the lights to drop and the opening notes of 'Cherub Rock' to rip through the arena — and trust me, that moment is worth every bit of the wait.