Korn: an electrifying show packed with hit after hit at Paris Bercy—here’s our report

The walls of Bercy shook on Friday, October 23, 2026, as Korn made their long-awaited return to the capital, nearly 10 years after their last indoor concert in Paris. For around 90 minutes, the American nu metal band, fronted by the iconic Jonathan Davis, tore through hit after hit, from “It’s On” to “Freak on a Leash,” including the powerhouse “Got the Life” — all to a fever-pitch atmosphere. We were there, and here’s our report.

It’s been more than 30 years since the Bakersfield band first got us fired up. A leading act on the nu metal scene, Korn burst onto the music scene in 1994 with a particularly memorable self-titled debut album. Metalheads discovered a sound unlike anything they had heard before, blending the aggression of metal, the heaviness of grunge and the groove of hip-hop and funk. And then there’s the unmistakable voice of the band’s charismatic frontman, Jonathan Davis.

More than 30 years after forming in California, Korn is still at the forefront. This fall, the American band is touring the UK and Europe as part of a new tour, ahead of a new album.

As expected, the Paris Bercy venue was packed to capacity on Friday, October 23, 2026. In the aisles of the Paris venue, young and old proudly wore T-shirts bearing the group’s image.

Before Jonathan Davis and the others take the stage, the crowd at Paris Bercy gets warmed up by two support acts. Unfortunately, we arrive too late to catch American duo Youth Code, but we discover the overflowing, infectious energy of British band Architects during a 45-minute set. A great warm-up to kick off the festivities.

Korn, an essential band on the nu metal scene that has lost none of its fervor

At around 9:35 p.m., the venue lights go out. A 10-second countdown begins. The shadows of the members of Korn appear on a white curtain, which conceals the stage and was set up during the changeover. When it finally starts to drop, the fans begin to scream. Without missing a beat, Jonathan Davis and his bandmates kick things off with the song "It’s On!", from the excellent "Follow The Leader".

For this new tour, there’s no monumental set like those some artists put on, and no pyrotechnics either. Korn instead opts for plenty of lights and meticulously crafted videos, including a suspended, motorized LED panel that moves throughout the show. “The Nubian Queen,” Jonathan Davis’s iconic microphone stand, designed in 2001 by Swiss artist H.R. Giger, also known as the creator of Alien, is on stage.

Jonathan Davis, sporting a black leather kilt for the occasion, follows up with “Here to Stay,” then “Reward the Scars,” a recent track written for the video game “Diablo IV.” The energy rises another notch as the first notes of the powerful “Got the Life” ring out. After the exhilarating “Rotting in Vain,” the singer addresses the crowd, marking the 30th anniversary of “Life Is Peachy,” released exactly on October 15, 1996. Jonathan Davis also takes the opportunity to thank his fans for their unwavering loyalty over all these years. Unsurprisingly, warm applause fills the Parisian venue. At that very moment, Korn launches into “Twist,” a song that gives fans the pleasure of hearing its frontman’s guttural, cathartic vocals once again.

Not one to stand still behind his microphone stand, Jonathan Davis tends to move from one side of the stage to the other, his body movements conveying the intensity of the emotions and trauma he channels through his music. Jonathan Davis also repeatedly clutches his microphone stand, at times bending double, as he does during “Here to Stay” and “Blind.”

While Jonahan Davis commands all the attention with his undeniable presence, the other members of Korn are far from being mere spectators. Quite the contrary. As drummer Ray Luzier has fun tossing his sticks into the air, bassist Roberto "Ra" Díaz impresses with his punchy, aggressive playing style. As for Brian Welch, aka "Head", and James Shaffer, aka "Munky", the legendary guitarists whose faces are hidden behind imposing, long dreadlocks, they bring the heavy stuff too.

Unfortunately for fans seated at the back of the venue, there’s no stage-side video screen. Instead, dark visuals are projected, often with themes of death. It’s worth remembering that Jonathan Davis worked in a morgue before pursuing music. Between the lighting and the meticulously crafted videos, Korn takes great care over the look of its show without losing sight of what live music is all about: stirring emotions.

Hit after hit, bagpipes and an electrifying encore

This Friday night at Bercy, the crowd is especially fired up. In the stands where we’re sitting, spectators are on their feet, bodies moving frantically. On the floor, fans are beside themselves with excitement, loving every song. Some paper cups fly through the air, while several fans stage-dive and join in the mosh pits. Circle pits also form as the set goes on.

The musical journey continues with a slew of other powerful tracks, such as “A.D.I.D.A.S.,” “Shoots and Ladders,” introduced, as ever, by Jonathan’s bagpipes, “Coming Undone,” “Make Me Bad,” and “Chi” and “Kill You,” which the band had not played for several tours. Clearly moved by the energy coming from the crowd, Jonathan Davis tells the audience “merci” in French, before giving them the finger to introduce the powerful, high-octane “Y’All Want a Single.”

It’s around 10:42 p.m. when Korn leave the stage. But they’re soon back for an undeniably euphoric encore. To close the show, the California band passionately rips through four standout tracks from their discography: “Falling Away From Me” (1999), “Blind” (1994), “Twisted Transistor” (2005), and, last but not least, “Freak on a Leash” (1998).

In the end, Korn gave us a vigorous, exhilarating trip back in time, with liberating songs and happy memories, all packed into a set lasting around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Far too short for our liking. We would have loved the concert to go on for another few dozen minutes so we could hear other essential tracks by the band, such as “Somebody Someone,” “No Place to Hide” and “Need To.” But as with any concert, the setlist makes some people happy and leaves others disappointed. One thing is certain: Korn had the crowd at Paris Bercy sweating on Friday night and delivered a powerful, especially welcome musical escape, with a razor-sharp, exhilarating show.

Korn at Paris Bercy, the setlist

It's On!
Here to Stay
Reward the Scars
Got The Life
Rotting in Vain
Twist
Chi
Kill You
A.D.I.D.A.S.
Shoots and Ladders
Coming Undone
Did My Time
Make Me Bad
Y'All Want a Single

Encore :

Falling Away From Me
Blind
Twisted Transistor
Freak On A Leash