The symphonic metal world has been rocked by the news that NIGHTWISH and powerhouse vocalist FLOOR JANSEN have officially parted ways after 13 years together. Both the Finnish metal legends and their longtime Dutch frontwoman have released statements confirming the decision, bringing an extraordinary chapter in the band’s history to an end.
In one of the biggest and most unexpected developments in symphonic metal, NIGHTWISH have confirmed that Floor Jansen is no longer a member of the band.
The announcement was made on Thursday 15 October 2026, with both parties confirming that the separation was reached by mutual agreement.
Jansen, who first stepped in as NIGHTWISH’s touring vocalist in 2012 before becoming a permanent member in 2013, has been an essential part of the group’s identity for more than a decade.
Her extraordinary vocal range, commanding stage presence and ability to move effortlessly between operatic singing and powerful rock vocals helped introduce NIGHTWISH to an entirely new generation of metal fans.
However, both sides have now decided to pursue separate musical paths.
Importantly, NIGHTWISH have confirmed that the band will continue and enter the recording studio in 2027 to begin work on another album.
Meanwhile, Jansen will concentrate on her solo career, including her forthcoming album Hytress and an accompanying tour.
For fans who have followed the band’s journey over the past three decades, the announcement marks the end of one of NIGHTWISH’s most successful and celebrated eras.
💔 NIGHTWISH Confirm Floor Jansen’s Departure
NIGHTWISH announced the separation through their official social media channels, confirming that the decision had been reached following careful consideration.
The band stated:
“After careful consideration, we have, in mutual agreement, decided to part ways.”
The announcement explained that the separation was considered necessary for the future ambitions of both parties.
Despite the sadness surrounding the news, the statement emphasised mutual respect and goodwill.
The musicians acknowledged that their time together had represented an extraordinary musical journey, while making it clear that they would now pursue their creative ambitions independently.
Significantly, there was no suggestion in the announcement of a bitter dispute or public disagreement.
The band did not provide specific details about the circumstances that led to the decision.
As a result, any claims about behind-the-scenes tensions or personal disagreements should be treated as speculation unless confirmed by those involved.
🖤 FLOOR JANSEN Breaks Her Silence On Leaving NIGHTWISH
Following NIGHTWISH’s announcement, Floor Jansen released her own emotional statement addressing the end of her time with the band.
The vocalist acknowledged that leaving had been a difficult decision but expressed optimism about the future.
Her message began with the words:
“Endings create new beginnings”
Jansen went on to explain that she believes an exciting musical future lies ahead and invited fans to continue supporting her as she begins this new chapter.
She also thanked the NIGHTWISH audience for standing alongside her throughout the highs and lows of her musical and personal journey.
The statement confirmed that her solo career will now receive her complete attention, allowing her forthcoming album Hytress and its supporting tour to develop without competing commitments.
She concluded her farewell with a message of affection and respect.
For fans who have followed Jansen since her earliest performances with NIGHTWISH, the announcement is undoubtedly an emotional moment.
It is also clear that she intends to remain an active presence in the international rock and metal scene.
🎤 13 Years Of Extraordinary Performances
Floor Jansen’s journey with NIGHTWISH began under unusual circumstances.
In September 2012, the band parted ways with their then-vocalist Anette Olzon while touring North America.
Faced with the prospect of continuing without their lead singer, NIGHTWISH recruited Jansen, who was already widely respected for her work with AFTER FOREVER and REVAMP.
Her first concert with the band took place on 1 October 2012 at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle, Washington.
Despite the enormous challenge of joining an established band at such short notice, Jansen quickly demonstrated why she was considered one of symphonic metal’s most accomplished vocalists.
Her ability to interpret material from different periods of NIGHTWISH’s career impressed audiences.
She could tackle the operatic arrangements associated with original vocalist Tarja Turunen while also delivering the more contemporary melodic material recorded during Anette Olzon’s tenure.
The response from fans was overwhelmingly positive.
In October 2013, Jansen was officially announced as NIGHTWISH’s permanent lead vocalist.
What initially began as an emergency touring arrangement had developed into one of the most important partnerships in modern symphonic metal.
💿 Three Studio Albums That Defined An Era
During her time with NIGHTWISH, Floor Jansen recorded three studio albums, each exploring different aspects of the band’s increasingly ambitious musical identity.
🎶 Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
Jansen’s first studio album with NIGHTWISH arrived in March 2015.
Endless Forms Most Beautiful explored themes of evolution, science, nature and humanity’s place in the universe.
The album featured memorable songs including Élan, Shudder Before The Beautiful, My Walden and Alpenglow.
It also included the extraordinary 24-minute composition The Greatest Show On Earth.
The record demonstrated how naturally Jansen’s powerful voice fitted into the elaborate musical arrangements created by NIGHTWISH founder Tuomas Holopainen.
For many fans, it represented the beginning of a new golden era for the band.
🌍 Human. :II: Nature. (2020)
Released in April 2020, Human. :II: Nature. pushed NIGHTWISH further into progressive and orchestral territory.
The double album explored humanity’s relationship with nature, music, science and existence.
Songs such as Noise, Shoemaker, Harvest and Pan showcased the band’s increasingly sophisticated songwriting.
Jansen delivered some of her most ambitious vocal performances on the record, moving between intimate melodic passages and technically demanding arrangements.
The album reinforced NIGHTWISH’s position as one of symphonic metal’s most creative and musically ambitious groups.
⏳ Yesterwynde (2024)
Jansen’s final NIGHTWISH studio album arrived in September 2024.
Yesterwynde explored time, memory, history, mortality and the human experience.
Featuring songs including Perfume Of The Timeless, The Day Of… and An Ocean Of Strange Islands, the record continued the band’s exploration of elaborate orchestration and progressive metal.
Although it received considerable attention from fans, NIGHTWISH had already announced that they would not undertake a traditional touring campaign to promote the album.
With Jansen’s departure now confirmed, Yesterwynde stands as the final studio recording of her remarkable era with the group.
🔥 The Live Performances That Made Floor Jansen A Fan Favourite
For many NIGHTWISH fans, Jansen’s greatest achievements were not confined to the recording studio.
Her live performances became legendary within the symphonic metal community.
One of the most celebrated examples came during NIGHTWISH’s appearance at Wacken Open Air in 2013.
The performance, subsequently released as part of Showtime, Storytime, demonstrated the extraordinary chemistry between Jansen and her new bandmates.
Her interpretation of Ghost Love Score became particularly famous.
Originally recorded with Tarja Turunen, the song had already established itself as one of NIGHTWISH’s defining compositions.
Jansen’s powerful performance, culminating in a breathtaking vocal climax, introduced the track to another generation of listeners.
Other live favourites included Storytime, Ever Dream, Dark Chest Of Wonders, Last Ride Of The Day, The Poet And The Pendulum and The Greatest Show On Earth.
Her combination of vocal precision, emotional delivery and effortless stage confidence helped elevate NIGHTWISH’s already impressive concert reputation.
For countless fans, Floor Jansen became the voice they most closely associated with the band’s modern era.
⚡ NIGHTWISH Confirm They Will Continue Without Floor Jansen
Perhaps the most significant part of NIGHTWISH’s announcement concerns the band’s future.
Despite losing their longtime frontwoman, the Finnish metal legends have made it clear that they are not calling it a day.
NIGHTWISH intend to return to the studio in 2027 to record their eleventh studio album.
The announcement comes as the band celebrate their 30th anniversary.
Formed in 1996 by keyboardist and principal songwriter Tuomas Holopainen, NIGHTWISH have grown from a Finnish symphonic metal project into one of the most internationally successful bands in the genre.
However, the identity of their next vocalist remains unknown.
No replacement for Jansen has been officially announced, and there is currently no confirmed information about how NIGHTWISH intend to approach vocal duties on the forthcoming album.
Whether the band recruit another permanent singer or explore a different creative arrangement remains to be seen.
For now, the important news is that NIGHTWISH have confirmed their intention to continue making music.
🎸 NIGHTWISH’s History Of Vocalist Changes
Floor Jansen’s departure represents another major change in a band whose history has already included several high-profile lineup transitions.
Tarja Turunen – 1996 To 2005
Original vocalist Tarja Turunen played a defining role in creating NIGHTWISH’s signature symphonic metal sound.
Her operatic delivery helped distinguish the band from other metal acts during their formative years.
She appeared on landmark releases including Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child and Once.
Her departure in 2005 became one of the most widely discussed events in symphonic metal history.
Anette Olzon – 2007 To 2012
Swedish vocalist Anette Olzon joined NIGHTWISH in 2007, bringing a different vocal identity to the band.
She recorded two studio albums, Dark Passion Play and Imaginaerum.
Songs such as Amaranth, Bye Bye Beautiful, Storytime and I Want My Tears Back became important additions to NIGHTWISH’s catalogue.
Her departure in 2012 paved the way for Floor Jansen’s arrival.
Floor Jansen – 2013 To 2026
Jansen’s tenure became the band’s longest period with a permanent female lead vocalist.
Across three studio albums and numerous major performances, she helped establish a new chapter in NIGHTWISH’s international success.
Her departure now leaves the band facing another important musical transition.
🖤 What About NIGHTWISH’s Touring Hiatus?
NIGHTWISH have already been away from regular live performances for several years.
In April 2023, the band announced that they would not be touring for the foreseeable future.
The decision also meant that their 2024 album Yesterwynde would not receive a conventional live promotional tour.
The announcement surprised many fans, particularly given the band’s reputation for elaborate stage productions and major international performances.
Although NIGHTWISH have now confirmed plans for another album, they have not announced a return to touring.
Consequently, it remains unclear when audiences might next see the band perform live or who would front those performances.
The confirmation of studio activity in 2027 is encouraging for fans, but it should not be interpreted as confirmation of an upcoming tour.
🎤 FLOOR JANSEN Announces New Solo Album ‘Hytress’
While NIGHTWISH prepare for their next chapter, Floor Jansen is already looking towards an exciting year of solo music.
The Dutch vocalist will release her second solo studio album, Hytress, on 15 January 2027.
The album will follow her 2023 solo debut Paragon, which allowed Jansen to explore musical styles beyond the symphonic metal sound most closely associated with her work in NIGHTWISH.
Her solo material demonstrates a different side of her musical personality, combining powerful vocals with contemporary rock and melodic songwriting.
With NIGHTWISH no longer occupying a major part of her professional schedule, Jansen will now be able to concentrate fully on developing her own musical direction.
The singer has also announced touring plans for 2027, including European performances.
For UK fans, a London concert at Electric Brixton is scheduled for 16 January 2027.
The show will provide an early opportunity to experience material from Hytress live.
🎶 A Career That Began Long Before NIGHTWISH
Although Floor Jansen became internationally recognised through her work with NIGHTWISH, her musical career began many years earlier.
Born in the Netherlands in 1981, she developed an interest in music from an early age.
She joined Dutch symphonic metal pioneers AFTER FOREVER as a teenager and quickly established herself as an exceptional vocalist.
The band released several influential albums, including Prison Of Desire (2000), Decipher (2001), Invisible Circles (2004), Remagine (2005) and After Forever (2007).
Following AFTER FOREVER’s dissolution, Jansen formed REVAMP, releasing the albums ReVamp (2010) and Wild Card (2013).
Her music has consistently demonstrated an ability to move between powerful metal vocals, classical influences and emotional melodic performances.
That versatility became one of her greatest strengths during her years with NIGHTWISH.
And it will undoubtedly remain a central part of her solo career.
💔 What Does The Separation Mean For NIGHTWISH Fans?
There is no escaping the significance of this announcement.
For many fans, Floor Jansen represented the definitive modern voice of NIGHTWISH.
Her arrival in 2012 helped stabilise the band’s live performances during a difficult period, while her subsequent recordings contributed to some of their most ambitious work.
Her departure therefore raises understandable questions about the band’s musical future.
Can NIGHTWISH maintain their distinctive identity with another vocalist?
Will their next album feature a different approach to singing?
And could the announcement eventually lead to a return to live performances?
For now, those questions remain unanswered.
What has been confirmed is that both NIGHTWISH and Jansen intend to continue making music.
That means fans can look forward to two separate creative journeys emerging from a partnership that has helped shape modern symphonic metal.
🤘 THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT – The End Of An Extraordinary NIGHTWISH Era
Floor Jansen leaving NIGHTWISH after 13 years is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories in symphonic metal in 2026.
Her contribution to the band has been enormous.
From stepping into an incredibly demanding role at short notice in 2012 to becoming the voice behind three major studio albums, Jansen helped define a remarkable period in NIGHTWISH’s history.
Her performances of Ghost Love Score, Ever Dream and The Greatest Show On Earth will remain unforgettable moments for countless fans.
But while her departure brings sadness and uncertainty, it also marks the beginning of two new musical chapters.
NIGHTWISH are preparing to continue their extraordinary 30-year journey with another studio album in 2027.
Floor Jansen is turning her attention towards Hytress, her solo tour and the opportunity to build an independent musical legacy.
Importantly, both parties have expressed respect for one another, choosing to acknowledge their shared achievements while looking towards the future.
After more than a decade of spectacular performances, ambitious albums and unforgettable musical moments, the curtain has finally fallen on the Floor Jansen era of NIGHTWISH.
But the music will live on.
From everyone at The Riff Report Blog, thank you, Floor, for 13 incredible years of symphonic metal.
One extraordinary chapter has ended. Two new musical journeys are about to begin.
Thank you for the memories, Floor. 🖤🤘🔥
Stay tuned to The Riff Report Blog for further developments on NIGHTWISH’s next album, future vocalist announcements and Floor Jansen’s upcoming solo career.
