KISS frontman Paul Stanley recently discussed the band’s plans for their upcoming KISS Kruise event. He confirmed that KISS will perform at the 2026 edition of the ‘KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas’ event, as reported by Indy KISS Fan Expo.
Stanley reflected on the evolution of the KISS Kruise concept. He shared details about the upcoming Vegas-based event scheduled for November 2026.
“So, the funny thing with the KISS Kruise — a couple of things. When we were first approached with the idea of doing a KISS cruise, when we first heard about it, I went, ‘Who is gonna go on a KISS cruise?’ And we’ve had people from 33 countries around the world for every time we went out. So it was amazing,” Stanley said.
The frontman explained how scheduling challenges led to the creation of the land-based alternative.
“But the crazy part about it is that over the years everybody started doing cruises, so we can’t get a ship most of the time. So last year we decided, I said, ‘Well, let’s do a ‘KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas’.’ So we did that, and it was really fun. Having the band play was amazing and seeing everybody was great. And that was the first one,” he continued.
Stanley expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming 2026 event. He promised improvements based on their previous experience.
“We’ll do it again this coming year. We’ll do it in November. And as good as that one was, this one’s gonna be so much better, because we learn as we’re going. And this next KISS Kruise in Vegas is gonna be awesome. I mean, we can’t wait to play, and we can’t wait to have the bands we’re gonna have and be with you again. So, pack your bags,” he concluded.
The KISS Kruise concept has evolved significantly since its inception. It represents a unique chapter in the band’s extensive touring history.
Carnival News reported that the original KISS Kruise launched in 2011 as the first-ever band-themed cruise. It sailed from Miami aboard Carnival Destiny to the Bahamas with both acoustic and full shows. This groundbreaking concept paved the way for numerous other artists to follow suit with their own themed cruise experiences.
The transition to the land-based Vegas format proved successful in 2025. Vegas Rocks Magazine detailed that the 2025 ‘Landlocked In Vegas’ edition was a three-day takeover at Virgin Hotels. The event featured panels, Q&As, meet-and-greets, and an acoustic KISS set. This format allowed the band to maintain the intimate fan experience that made the original cruises special while adapting to logistical challenges.
The upcoming 2026 event holds particular significance as it represents KISS’s continued connection with fans following their official retirement from touring. Wikipedia documented that KISS wrapped their End of the Road farewell tour in December 2023 at Madison Square Garden. This marked the close of their five-decade live performance era. The Vegas events now serve as the primary opportunity for fans to experience KISS in a live setting.
This announcement comes after KISS completed their farewell tour. The Vegas event provides fans another opportunity to see the legendary rock band perform live in an intimate setting that has become synonymous with the KISS Kruise experience.
