My Chemical Romance have got fans talking by posting a cryptic message on social media, without further explanation.
Earlier today (January 25), the band shared a post on their Instagram account, with a caption that simply read: “A GAME YOU WILL PLAY”. It was also posted to guitarist Frank Iero’s page.
Alongside it, there is a flickering image of the word ”PHANTOM” in neon green letters, but the clip does not contain music or any other sounds.
The band are playing their first show of 2026 tonight in Lima, Peru, having had to cancel their planned tour opener in Bogotá last week due to circumstances beyond their control. This post, however, does not appear to reference the ongoing ‘The Black Parade’ tour, nor is it in keeping with the aesthetic design of their recent activity.
MCR fans have been eagerly awaiting any possible indication of new music for a long time. Their last release was the one-off single ‘The Foundations Of Decay’ in 2022, which itself was their first new material in eight years.
See some fan reactions here:
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. WHAT DOES THIS MEANS???? *A GAME YOU WILL PLAY*????? pic.twitter.com/3Hyzr60Unz
— trust no one. (@justwayalex) January 25, 2026
I DON’T WANT TO PLAY YOUR GAMES MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE I’M SO FUCKING SCARED pic.twitter.com/cqFNYffFCY
— blue ⚢ 🗡️ (@lesbianfrikey) January 25, 2026
Guys this means Dan and Phil are going to be on stage with my chemical romance trust me on this bro pic.twitter.com/jX1zVp2CnP
— Ryan 🗡️ ⚞ • ⚟ (@Sageryy_2) January 25, 2026
The band’s last studio album was 2010’s ‘Danger Days’, although they did enter recording sessions for a fifth album in 2011, but that never materialised and the band separated in 2013.
Since they announced their return in 2019, there have been occasional teases that have excited fans, such as in 2023, when rumours of a new album had to be debunked after a cryptic post from an associate of the band.
Just last September, fans thought they had picked up on clues about new music from an on-stage prop clock that was ticking down to December 12, but that date passed without any news.
NME spoke to Iero in 2025 about the possibility of new MCR music. “No, sorry,” he replied. “When that stuff – if that stuff were to happen, we will tell you. We will tell you in the way we want to tell you.”
Their current tour arrives in the UK with a show at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium on June 30, before a date in Glasgow and trio of huge shows at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 8, 10 and 11. From there, they will head around Europe and then to the US in August. See all the dates and ticket information here.
They have also announced the huge list of support acts for the tour, which includes the likes of Echo & The Bunnymen, Interpol, Joan Jett, Skunk Anansie, Sunny Day Real Estate and Mogwai.
