Nightwish Disbands After Nearly 30 Years, Citing Creative Closure and Personal Journeys

• Nightwish Disbands After Nearly 30 Years, Citing Creative Closure and Personal Journeys

In a stunning and emotional announcement, legendary Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish has officially declared the end of their journey as a band, closing a nearly 30-year chapter that reshaped the landscape of heavy music.

The statement, released on May 10, 2025, via the band’s official channels, came as a shock to millions of fans worldwide. “We have come to a moment of creative closure,” wrote founder Tuomas Holopainen. “Nightwish was never meant to last forever, and we now feel the story has been told in full.”

The decision comes shortly after the release of their tenth studio album, Yesterwynde—an ambitious, philosophical work praised by critics as the completion of a thematic trilogy. Many fans hoped the album signaled a new era, especially with the return of original vocalist Tarja Turunen and the planned 2026 world tour.

However, behind the scenes, the band had reached a different conclusion. Holopainen, along with long-time members Emppu Vuorinen, Floor Jansen, and Troy Donockley, acknowledged that life paths, families, health, and a deep desire for personal exploration had shifted their priorities.

“We leave not in bitterness, nor tragedy,” the band clarified. “We leave as friends, as family, and with pride in what we’ve created.”

Nightwish has promised a farewell concert and documentary, expected in late 2025, to commemorate the band’s extraordinary legacy—from the ethereal ballads of Oceanborn to the epic theatricality of Imaginaerum.

Reactions across the metal world have been swift and emotional. Fellow musicians, critics, and fans alike have expressed deep gratitude, flooding social media with tributes and memories.

Though the music ends here, Nightwish’s legacy—one of myth, nature, dreams, and darkness—will echo across generations.

“Now let us rest beneath the stars,” the final line of the band’s farewell post read.