SATCHVAI — the powerhouse supergroup featuring guitar titans Joe Satriani and Steve Vai alongside legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, acclaimed bassist Marco Mendoza, and virtuosic guitarist Pete Thorn — has officially announced an extensive 40-date North American tour for spring 2026. Titled the “Surfing With The Hydra” Tour, the trek will launch on April 1 in Seattle and wrap up on May 30 in Vienna, Virginia, bringing an electrifying celebration of instrumental mastery across the United States and Canada. Support on all dates will come from acclaimed instrumental prog-metal innovators ANIMALS AS LEADERS.
The tour arrives at a historic moment for Satriani and Vai: nearly 50 years into their friendship and creative partnership, SATCHVAI marks the first time the two virtuosos have officially united as a full band. With a forthcoming album on the way and a new single titled “Dancing” scheduled for release on March 2, 2026 via earMUSIC, fans will finally get to hear fresh material co-written and performed by the duo who helped define the sound of modern guitar.
The upcoming tour follows a triumphant summer run that introduced SATCHVAI to European audiences. The band performed in major cities such as London, Manchester, Paris, Copenhagen, and Zurich, and appeared at top festivals including Hellfest, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Guitares En Scene Fest. Everywhere they went, the show delivered what only Satriani and Vai together can produce: an explosive blend of precision, improvisation, and boundless musical chemistry.
Now, North America will finally experience that unique interplay up close.
“The SATCHVAI band rides again!” says Satriani. “After a fantastic European tour last summer, Steve, Kenny, Marco, Pete and I will bring the ‘Surfing With The Hydra’ tour to the U.S. We can’t wait to play you the new material from our forthcoming SATCHVAI album along with your favorite songs from our shared catalog. And that’s not all — we’re bringing along the incomparable ANIMALS AS LEADERS. You do not want to miss this show with this lineup!”
Vai shares the same excitement, reflecting on the magic of their previous tour together. “The SATCHVAI band summer Euro tour of 2025 far exceeded anything I could have imagined. Joe and I struck pure jammin’ gold night after night. Being in the same band with Joe, playing songs we actually wrote together on stage, in real time, felt like watching a childhood fantasy step out of my teenage brain and stroll onto the stage. And somehow, it was even more rewarding, satisfying, and downright fulfilling than I ever thought possible.”
Fans will have two opportunities to secure tickets. A Live Nation pre-sale for most shows begins Thursday, December 11 at 10 a.m. local time, available for Live Nation All Access members. The general on-sale opens Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.
With two of the most celebrated electric guitarists in history sharing one stage — supported by three world-class musicians and joined by one of modern prog-metal’s most innovative bands — the “Surfing With The Hydra” tour promises to be one of 2026’s most unforgettable live music events.
SATCHVAI 2026 North American Tour Dates with ANIMALS AS LEADERS
April
01 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
02 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
04 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
05 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
07 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Terrace Theater
08 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
10 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre
11 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
14 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
16 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
17 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park
18 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
20 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
22 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
24 – Clearwater, FL – Baycare Sound
25 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
26 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
27 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
29 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
30 – Durham, NC – DPAC
May
02 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
03 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
05 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater
07 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
08 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
09 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
10 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
12 – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall
13 – Toronto, ON – Meridian Hall
15 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
16 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
17 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre
20 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
21 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
22 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater
23 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
27 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center
28 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
29 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
30 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap