Kiss: “We already have new songs ready for avatars in 2028”

Kiss are ready to return to the stage, as avatars. Protagonists on the cover of the May 2026 issue of “Pollstar” magazine, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons spoke about the next virtual show, which should debut in Las Vegas in 2028. For the occasion, the band also made it known that they already have new songs ready.

When asked by journalist Katherine Turman which eras of Kiss will be represented on the show with avatars, whether the current lineup or the original, Simmons responded: “It will be the iconic ‘face personas,’ The Demon, the Starchild and so on. Who you want to put in that lineup is up to the viewer.” As for the songs included in the show, Stanley said, “We’ll have all the classics from over the years and some surprises.” Simmons then added:

“You will have all this, and new songs too.”

After Turman asked for clarification on what was meant by “new” songs, Gene clarified: “Exactly what that means, written by us. We already have songs ready.”

Kiss’ experience with avatars, still without a definitive title, will be the first major foray into the US market for Pophouse Entertainment, a Swedish music investment company co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, behind “ABBA Voyage”. Kiss’ deal with Pophouse, reportedly worth more than $300 million, saw the company acquire the band’s music catalogue, name, image and exploitation rights – including famous facial makeup – as well as an artist’s share of the master recordings and publishing rights.

Unlike “ABBA Voyage,” which recreates a 1970s ABBA concert in a specially built arena in London, the Kiss avatars that appeared during the band’s final concert in New York on December 2, 2023 were not as lifelike as the Swedish group’s digital replicas. According to the BBC, Kiss’ avatars previewed at Madison Square Garden instead appeared as fantasy superheroes over eight feet tall, capable of breathing fire and shooting electricity from their fingers as they floated above the audience. Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos told Pollstar:

“What audiences saw at MSG was an early prototype of the Kiss avatar concept. A lot has changed since then, both creatively and in avatar technology. We are now in full development with a top-notch creative team led by Thierry Coup – last week the team was on set testing pyrotechnics on a new generation of LED screens, to ensure we maximize Kiss’ signature flame throw. The show’s concept is a crazy 4D roller coaster ride through the hits, comic book worlds and Kiss identities”.

Kiss will reportedly become the first American band to go completely virtual and stage an avatar-based show.