KISS Expands Ace Frehley Tribute At Vegas KRUISE

KISS has unveiled the full slate of events for this year’s KISS Kruise: Land-Locked in Vegas, fleshing out what promises to be the band’s only live appearance of 2026.

Set for Nov. 13-15 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, the resort takeover will feature two unmasked KISS performances — one acoustic and one electric — alongside a weekend of fan events, guest performances and interactive experiences. A tribute to late guitarist Ace Frehley had already been announced, but it has now been confirmed that surviving members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer will participate in it.

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They’ll each perform a personally selected Frehley song, backed by the Ace Frehley Band and joined by additional guest artists. According to organizers, the set will span every era of Frehley’s career and include surprise collaborations. The musician, who died in 2025, looms large over the band’s classic 1970s era.

“Another year of the KISS Kruise experience and the best one yet is on the way,” Stanley says “Everything we’ve learned at sea and on land over the past years is going into making this the ultimate weekend with us. No ship?!? No problem! What’s so awesome about KISS Kruise: Land-Locked is that it’s a full-scale resort takeover created to give us all 100% of what we’ve come to love and expect. We can’t wait to be back together with the KISS Army and Navy from around the world for more killer performances, incredible artists, events and exclusive experiences you won’t find anywhere else.”

Beyond the music, the weekend leans heavily into fan immersion. Programming includes a panel titled “The Future of KISS,” Q&A sessions with guests including Psycho Circus drummer Kevin Valentine, Simmons’ private KISS memorabilia showcase, Stanley’s “KISS Cook Off,” Singer’s drum competition and Q&A,Thayer’s wine tasting and live band karaoke, plus museum exhibits, archival displays, exclusive merchandise and themed nights celebrating different eras of the band’s history.

The music lineup extends well beyond KISS, with performances from Night Ranger, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Slaughter, Faster Pussycat, Keel, Enuff Z’Nuff and Kuarantine, as well as appearances by Tommy London, School of Rock and the Rock and Roll Over KISS Tribute Band.

Festivities actually begin a day early with a Nov. 12 kickoff party featuring Enuff Z’Nuff, the Ace Frehley Band performing KISS’ 1976 classic Rock and Roll Over in its entirety, Beasto Blanco and additional artists still to be announced.

This spring, Simmons and Stanley provided the first details about KISS’ post-farewell tour transformation into digital avatars, which will eventually anchor a live experience akin to ABBA’s Voyage in London. Stanley told Pollstar to expect “all the classics through the years and some surprises,” while Simmons broke the news that the show will feature newly penned KISS songs.

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