Ghost was forced to cancel the first of three scheduled concerts in Mexico City after frontman Tobias Forge fell ill.
Just before the Swedish rock band was set to perform at Palacio De Los Deportes on Tuesday, September 23, the group issued a statement explaining that Forge, currently appearing onstage as the masked persona Papa V Perpetua, had come down with food poisoning and was unable to perform.
The statement confirmed that the other two Mexico City shows, set for September 24 and 25, would still take place as planned.
The band’s official statement read: “It is with deep regret that we must inform you the Ghost show tonight, September 23, has been cancelled. Tobias Forge is suffering from food poisoning, which makes it impossible for the band to perform. The concerts scheduled for September 24 and 25 will take place as planned.
“If you purchased your tickets online, your refund will be automatically processed to the card used for the purchase, according to the timelines set by your banking institution.
“If you purchased your tickets at Ticketmaster outlets, you may request your refund starting on September 26 at the same location where you made your purchase.”
The cancellation comes shortly after Ghost wrapped up the U.S. leg of their massive Skeletour world tour, which supported the group’s sixth studio album, Skeletá, released in April.
The Skeletour marked a new level of production for the band, featuring their most elaborate and cinematic stage design to date. Designed by Tobias Rylander and Forge, the tour’s visuals were more ambitious than anything the group had attempted before, combining gothic symbolism with the stark minimalism of brutalist architecture.
The stage design was inspired by brutalist cathedrals across Europe, creating a performance space that felt both sacred and imposing. It merged the ornate spiritual atmosphere of a cathedral with the raw power of a rock arena.
At the center of the stage hung the “Grucifix,” a massive reimagined crucifix based on Ghost’s iconic logo. This towering structure acted as both a striking visual centerpiece and a dynamic lighting rig, casting haunting, ethereal light across the performance area.
Rylander’s design also included sculptural facades on the lighting pods, mimicking the verticality and intricate textures of cathedral interiors. These details reinforced the band’s ongoing theme of blending the sacred and the profane, a core element of Ghost’s identity.
Despite the setback in Mexico City, the band remains on track to continue the tour later this week, with fans eager to see Forge return to the stage once he has recovered.
