Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd are gearing up for an action-packed 2026 that goes well beyond the stage. With a fresh management setup, major touring plans, a Super Bowl spotlight, and even prospects for a biopic and official autobiography in the works, the band’s legacy is being preserved and expanded for both longtime followers and new audiences alike.
Manager Ross Schilling, who has led Skynyrd’s team since 1999, recently launched his own company, King Duke Entertainment, with the goal of guiding not just Lynyrd Skynyrd but also frontman Johnny Van Zant and the estates of late band members. For Schilling, the move represents both continuity and renewed focus on keeping the band’s heritage alive.
“Getting through the things that have happened — the ups and then the downs of losing guys, now knowing what’s gonna happen next — the thing I’m most proud of is going, ‘How you pick up everyone back up and continue on.’ That’s no easy feat,” Schilling says. “But they’re still out there playing, they’re keeping the music alive. That’s probably what I’m most proud of.”
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 2026 schedule already includes high-profile appearances that reinforce their ongoing relevance as a major live act. The band is set to play comedian Bert Kreischer’s Full Throttle Festival on February 14 in Daytona Beach, Florida, before heading to Brazil for a series of April shows — including a stadium date shared with Guns N’ Roses.
Looking ahead to the summer, Skynyrd will launch the Double Trouble Double Vision Tour with fellow rock icons Foreigner, beginning July 23 in Atlanta and running through August. This co-headlining run will hit arenas and amphitheaters across North America, bringing classic Southern rock and arena rock together for what promises to be a standout rock touring package in 2026.
The band’s profile is also set to rise outside the concert arena. Their signature anthem “Free Bird” has been selected for use in a Super Bowl LX advertisement airing on February 8, giving their classic sound a massive mainstream platform early in the year.
Schilling and the Skynyrd camp are also pursuing multiple storytelling projects that dig deeper into the band’s history. Talks are underway with “two or three big players” interested in producing an official biopic, exploring the band’s dramatic rise, triumphs, and tragedies across decades. Formats under consideration include both feature films and extended series for streaming platforms — underscoring the narrative’s broad appeal.
Alongside the film prospects, the group is working toward releasing an official autobiography told from the perspective of those who lived the story, something Schilling suggests will offer fans a more personal and authoritative account than previous books.
While Lynyrd Skynyrd hasn’t released a full studio album since 2012’s Last of a Dyin’ Breed, there’s lingering interest in their unreleased material. Schilling notes that there are about 30 songs written with the late guitarist Gary Rossington that could be revisited and potentially recorded or released in the future — though no concrete plan has been finalized.
Even after the passing of pillars like original guitarist Gary Rossington and others from the group’s early years, Skynyrd’s current lineup — led by Johnny Van Zant, and anchored by longtime member Rickey Medlocke — continues to play with credibility and passion, honoring the band’s heritage while keeping its music vibrant onstage.
Schilling sums it up succinctly: as long as fans want to hear the music performed live, Lynyrd Skynyrd will keep playing — a testament to both the strength of their catalog and the enduring bond between the band and its audience.
