As Deftones launched their summer 2026 European tour at Vienna’s METAStadt, the Sacramento band surprised fans by playing “Risk” live for the first time since 2011, weaving deep-cut emotional history into a massive 21-song setlist spanning their enduring career.
The Bottom Line
- Deftones opened their summer 2026 European tour at METAStadt in Vienna with a 21-song setlist.
- The band performed “Risk” live for the first time in 15 years, a track originally written in the wake of late bassist Chi Cheng’s 2008 car accident.
- The tour precedes high-profile festival headlining slots, including London’s All Points East and San Diego’s upcoming Dia De Los Deftones.
Unearthing a Deep Cut at METAStadt
Touring behind their 2025 album Private Music, frontman Chino Moreno took to the Austrian stage on August 16 with support from Show Me The Body. But it was the inclusion of a specific track from 2010’s Diamond Eyes that sent ripples through the fanbase.
Performing “Risk” for the first time since 2011, the group tapped into a profound piece of their catalog. Written in the difficult aftermath of the 2008 car accident that left bassist Chi Cheng in a coma until his passing in April 2013 at age 42, Moreno has previously characterized the song as one of the most touching and moving pieces the band has ever composed. Hearing it echo across the Vienna venue added a poignant gravity to the evening’s unfolding narrative.
Here is the kicker: the setlist wasn’t just a nostalgic glance backward. Deftones seamlessly fused foundational classics with contemporary material, integrating four tracks from Private Music—“My Mind Is A Mountain,” “Locked Club,” “Infinite Source,” and “Milk Of The Madonna”—alongside staples like “Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away),” “Feiticeira,” and “Around The Fur.”
The Evolution of Deftones’ Global Appeal
Reflecting on this enduring phenomenon, Moreno spoke candidly to NME last year about the band’s trajectory. “After all this time, we’re really able to reflect and be grateful that, at this age and this stage of our lives, we’re able to be creative and have people care,” Moreno shared. “Multiple generations are into what we’re doing. When I’m on stage, it is inspiring to look out there and see fresh faces, and familiar faces as well. I don’t think that’s something that any of us anticipated.”
| Tour Stop / Event | Date | Key Supporting Acts / Details |
|---|---|---|
| METAStadt, Vienna | August 16, 2026 | Show Me The Body; live debut of “Risk” since 2011. |
| All Points East (Outbreak Edition), London | August 23, 2026 | Headlining bill featuring IDLES, Amyl And The Sniffers, Interpol, and AFI. |
| Dia De Los Deftones, San Diego | November 7, 2026 | Seventh edition of the festival at Petco Park. |
What Lies Ahead on the 2026 Itinerary
Following their Vienna launch, the band heads directly to Berlin, followed by festival performances at Cabaret Vert and Pukkelpop. But the anchor of the European run lands this weekend in London.
Deftones are set to headline the Outbreak edition of All Points East at London’s Victoria Park on Sunday, August 23, sharing a powerhouse bill with IDLES, Amyl And The Sniffers, Interpol, and AFI. From there, outdoor collaborative dates with IDLES await in Dublin and Edinburgh before the band circles back to North America.
Ultimately, by dusting off tracks like “Risk” alongside fresh compositions, Deftones proves that their catalog remains a living, breathing entity rather than a static museum piece. As they prepare to anchor the seventh edition of Dia De Los Deftones at San Diego’s Petco Park this November, the cross-generational momentum behind Moreno and company shows zero signs of slowing down.
