Floor Jansen Leaves Nightwish After 13 Years

It is the end of an era in metal: on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Nightwish and their Dutch singer Floor Jansen announced they are parting ways after more than a decade together. Both sides called it a mutual decision and wished each other well — but for fans who have watched Jansen front the Finnish symphonic metal giants since 2013, it still lands like a thunderclap.

The news broke in matching statements posted by the band and by Jansen herself on social media. Nightwish confirmed the split, stressed that the band will continue, and revealed plans to enter the studio in 2027 for a new album. Jansen, meanwhile, said her solo career will now get all of her attention, pointing fans toward her upcoming solo album Hytress and its tour.

Here is what we know about the split, how it unfolded, and what it means for one of the biggest Dutch voices in rock music.

What Nightwish and Floor Jansen said

Nightwish's statement was short and formal: after careful consideration, the band wrote, they and Jansen had decided in mutual agreement to part ways — a step the band described as necessary and important for their future ambitions. They added that this marks the end of a great voyage, but that Nightwish will continue and will head into the studio next year to record a new album, all while the band celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Jansen's own message was warmer and more personal. She called the decision a hard one, said endings create new beginnings, and thanked fans for their support through what she called the rollercoasters of life. She invited fans to follow her into her solo chapter, noting that her full attention now goes to her new album Hytress, due in 2027, and the tour that comes with it.

Neither statement gave a detailed reason for the split, and no replacement vocalist has been announced.

Thirteen years that changed the band

Jansen joined Nightwish in an emergency. In October 2012, then-singer Anette Olzon left the band in the middle of a North American tour, and Jansen — already well known in the Netherlands as the frontwoman of After Forever — was called in as the live replacement. She had to learn the full set at breakneck speed and was on stage with the band in Seattle within days.

She never left. In October 2013 she was confirmed as a permanent member, and over the next thirteen years she became the defining voice of modern Nightwish. She recorded three studio albums with them: Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015), Human. :II: Nature. (2020), and Yesterwynde (2024). Her range — she can switch from operatic heights to rock grit in a single phrase — let the band revisit songs from the Tarja Turunen era and the Olzon years alike, while shaping a sound that was unmistakably hers.

It is worth remembering how central she had become: back in 2021, Nightwish founder Tuomas Holopainen said in an interview that the band would end if Jansen ever left. That was five years ago, and clearly things have shifted since — but the quote shows just how much the band's identity was tied to her.

Jansen's reach goes well beyond the metal world, which is why this is such big Dutch music news: she coached on The Voice of Holland, her solo debut Paragon (2023) hit the top of the Dutch charts, and she has become one of the most recognizable Dutch singers internationally.

What happens to Nightwish now?

The band was emphatic that this is not the end of Nightwish. Alongside the split announcement came a concrete plan: the band will enter the studio in 2027 to record a new album. Original members Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen remain, along with Troy Donockley, Kai Hahto, and Jukka Koskinen.

The big open question is who takes the microphone. Nightwish has changed singers twice before — from Tarja Turunen to Olzon, then to Jansen — and each change reshaped the band's sound. The band gave no hint about a successor, and speculation will run hot in the coming weeks.

There is also the anniversary context: Nightwish are marking 30 years as a band in 2026, with a celebration compilation, The Greatest 30 Years On Earth, arriving in December. The timing suggests the band wants to close one chapter and open the next on their own terms.

Fan reaction: shock, but not panic

Within hours of the announcement, fan forums and metal media were flooded with reactions. The mood is mostly stunned but respectful — both statements were gracious, there is no hint of a feud, and fans seem to accept the mutual-agreement framing. Many pointed out that Jansen's solo ambitions were an open secret: Hytress was already announced for January 2027, and a tour was on the way.

If anything, the split may end up being the story that defines the next year in Dutch celebrity news — a homegrown star stepping out of one of the world's biggest metal bands to bet everything on herself. That takes nerve, and it is exactly the kind of move that made fans love her in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Floor Jansen leave Nightwish?

Neither side gave a detailed reason. Both the band and Jansen described the split as a mutual decision taken after careful consideration, saying they need to pursue their future ambitions separately. Jansen emphasized that her solo career — including her new album Hytress and its tour — will now get her full attention.

Is Nightwish breaking up?

No. The band explicitly said Nightwish will continue, and announced plans to enter the studio in 2027 to record a new album. The band is also celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026 with a compilation release in December.

Who will replace Floor Jansen as Nightwish's singer?

No replacement has been announced. Nightwish has replaced its singer twice before (Tarja Turunen in 2005, Anette Olzon in 2012), and each change brought a new musical direction. Expect the band to take its time with this decision.

How long was Floor Jansen in Nightwish?

Jansen joined as a live replacement in October 2012 and became a permanent member in October 2013 — just over 13 years in total. She recorded three studio albums with the band: Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015), Human. :II: Nature. (2020), and Yesterwynde (2024).

About the Author

Sidra Salman is the founder of Dutch Stars Daily, where she writes practical, research-backed coverage of Dutch celebrities, music, and entertainment. Every story is checked against multiple sources and written in plain English for readers who want the news fast and straight.