Amy Lee says Evanescence are still pushing forward with optimism, even while looking at the world around them and seeing confusion, violence, and instability. In a recent interview with Las Vegas station KOMP 92.3, she said it is hard to fully capture the state of the world because it feels “violent, wild and out-of-control,” but she still sees her role as an artist as one of reflecting truth, offering a light, and giving people hope.
That outlook sits at the center of Evanescence’s upcoming album, Sanctuary, which is due out on June 5, 2026. Amy described the record as something the band has been building for more than three years, and said the process intensified last year as they kept working through touring, writing sessions, and recording in different places rather than in one single run.
Lee has framed the album as a personal outlet as much as a new release. She said the music is her “sanctuary,” explaining that creating songs, writing words, and making art has long been her way of dealing with overwhelming moments. She also said the album became a place to pour out what feels wrong or out of control and turn it into something that can help others, too.
The record brings together multiple producers, including Zakk Cervini, Jordan Fish, and Nick Raskulinecz, with the material shaped over a long period and spread across sessions in Los Angeles and Nashville. The album will be available digitally, on standard CD, deluxe CD, and a limited box set, while a double vinyl edition is scheduled for September 4, 2026.
Evanescence have already begun rolling out the new era with the single “Who Will You Follow,” released on April 10, 2026. Lee said the song and album are connected by the idea of cutting through noise and getting closer to truth, not escape from reality itself.
The band’s 2026 world tour begins on June 11, 2026, just days after the album arrives, and will take Evanescence across North America and Europe. Spiritbox and Nova Twins will support the North American leg, Poppy will join for European dates, Nova Twins will open outside the U.K., and K.Flay will appear on the U.K. shows as well as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre date.
The tour also carries a charitable angle, with PLUS1 partnering on the run so that $1/£1/€1 from every ticket sold goes toward humanitarian aid and medical relief organizations. It gives the rollout a broader purpose, matching the hopeful tone Lee keeps returning to in interviews.
For Amy Lee, Sanctuary is not just another Evanescence album. It is a statement about endurance, truth, and staying open in a world that often feels closed off. And for fans, it is shaping up to be one of the band’s most important eras in years.
