Evanescence Launch Sanctuary World Tour With 21 Songs, Teasing Possible Australia Shows for 2027
Evanescence have officially started the touring cycle for their new album Sanctuary, launching the first full show of the world tour at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida, on June 11.
Led by frontwoman Amy Lee, the band delivered a major 21-song set that mixed fresh material from Sanctuary with the classic tracks that helped make Evanescence one of the most successful rock bands of the last two decades.
Fans Hear Sanctuary Songs Live for the First Time
The Florida concert marked the first full opportunity for fans to experience songs from Sanctuary in a live setting. Out of the album’s 12 tracks, eight songs made their live debut during the opening night performance.
The remaining songs from the album had already been introduced through recent promotional appearances and festival sets, giving fans an early taste of the band’s newest creative chapter.
New Album Arrives With Renewed Momentum
The launch of the Sanctuary tour is more than just another album cycle for Evanescence. The band is entering this era with fresh commercial energy, helped by the success of recent singles such as “Afterlife” and “Who Will You Follow.”
The West Palm Beach show highlighted how Evanescence are blending their current sound with a back catalogue that continues to connect strongly with audiences more than 20 years after the release of Fallen.
Opening Night Setlist Blends New Songs and Classics
The concert began with the title track “Sanctuary,” which was performed live for the first time. Amy Lee and the band then introduced several new songs, including “Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough,” “Rapture,” “Self Destruct,” “Calm Down,” “Beautiful Lie,” “Forever Without You,” “About Us,” and the closing track “Wide Open Heart.”
The setlist was arranged to move between new material and fan favourites, creating a balance between discovery and nostalgia.
Classic Evanescence songs such as “Going Under,” “Lithium,” “Call Me When You’re Sober,” “Bring Me To Life,” “Imaginary,” and “My Immortal” remained key parts of the show, proving how central the band’s earlier catalogue still is to their live identity.
“Fight Like A Girl” Becomes a Collaborative Highlight
One of the biggest moments of the night came during “Fight Like A Girl,” a track originally recorded with K.Flay for the Ballerina soundtrack.
During the performance, support acts Nova Twins and Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox joined Amy Lee on stage. Their appearance made the song one of the most memorable collaborative moments of the evening.
“Like You” Gets Long-Awaited Live Debut
Longtime fans also noticed the inclusion of “Like You.” The song originally appeared on Evanescence’s 2006 album The Open Door, but the band had never performed it live before.
Its debut made the track one of the most unexpected and talked-about additions to the opening night setlist.
Evanescence’s Legacy Continues With Sanctuary
The Sanctuary tour marks another major chapter in Evanescence’s long-running career. The band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the mid-1990s and reached worldwide success with their 2003 breakthrough album Fallen.
That album produced some of the group’s most enduring songs, including “Bring Me To Life,” “Going Under,” and “My Immortal.” It also established Amy Lee as one of the most recognizable voices in modern rock.
Over the years, albums such as The Open Door, Evanescence, Synthesis, and The Bitter Truth expanded the band’s sound while keeping their signature mix of heavy guitars, orchestral layers, and piano-led arrangements.
Now, Sanctuary stands as Evanescence’s sixth studio album and arrives during one of the busiest touring periods of the band’s career.
Tour Continues Across North America, UK and Europe
Following the Florida launch, Evanescence’s North American tour will continue through August. After that, the band will head to the United Kingdom and Europe in September.
The tour schedule is also set to include appearances at Sick New World in Texas and a headline performance at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
Australia and New Zealand Shows Set for 2027
For fans in Australia and New Zealand, the opening night of the Sanctuary tour offers an early look at what they can expect when Evanescence arrive in March 2027.
The band has already announced a six-date arena run that will bring the full Sanctuary production to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland.
Based on the first show’s setlist, audiences can likely expect a concert that gives strong focus to the new album while still including the career-defining songs that have shaped Evanescence’s legacy.
Evanescence Australia and New Zealand 2027 Dates
March 5, 2027 – Perth, RAC Arena
March 7, 2027 – Adelaide, AEC Arena
March 9, 2027 – Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
March 12, 2027 – Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena
March 16, 2027 – Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
March 20, 2027 – Auckland, Spark Arena
Evanescence’s opening night for the Sanctuary world tour showed a band confidently balancing its past and present. With eight new songs making their live debut, a powerful mix of classics, special guest moments, and rare live additions, the West Palm Beach concert set a strong tone for the tour ahead. Spanning more than two decades of music, the tour reflects both the lasting influence of Evanescence and the continued strength of their connection with rock audiences around the world.
