Debarup MukherjeeIt took four decades, but the titans of progressive metal finally touched down in the City of Joy. On Sunday, February 1, 2026, Dream Theater brought their mammoth 40th Anniversary Tour to the Aquatica Ground, marking their first-ever performance in Kolkata at Aquatica Ground.
For the thousands of fans clad in black tees—some of whom had traveled from across the Northeast and as far as Bangladesh—this wasn’t just a concert. It was a pilgrimage. And with the return of founding drummer Mike Portnoy to the throne, the night felt less like a gig and more like a family reunion.
The Atmosphere
The open-air vibe at Aquatica was electric long before the lights went down. The humid Kolkata air buzzed with debates over which “epic” they would play (“Octavarium or Count of Tuscany?”). When the lights finally dimmed and the cinematic “Prelude” (Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho score) began, the roar from the crowd was deafening—a release of years of pent-up anticipation.
The Performance
The band wasted no time, launching into the intricate fury of “Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper.” It was a statement of intent: We are 40 years in, and we haven’t lost a step.
Seeing Mike Portnoy back behind the kit was the highlight for many. His chemistry with John Petrucci (guitar) and John Myung (bass) is telepathic at this point. During the Scenes From a Memory segment—featuring “Overture 1928” and “Strange Déjà Vu”—the band was locked in tight, with Jordan Rudess delivering keyboard wizardry that made the complex time signatures look effortless.
A major surprise for the Kolkata crowd was the inclusion of “The Mirror,” a heavy, groove-laden track from Awake that saw the mosh pit open up early. James LaBrie’s vocals were strong, feeding off the crowd’s energy, especially during the emotional highs of “Hollow Years” (played in its demo version with the extended guitar solo).
The New & The Epic
The band didn’t just rely on nostalgia. They showcased tracks from their 2025 album Parasomnia, including the haunting “Night Terror.” But the true centerpiece of the evening was the title track of their 2005 opus, “Octavarium.” Witnessing this 24-minute masterpiece live is a rarity, and the Kolkata audience stood mesmerized as Rudess’s continuum fingerboard intro built into the full-band crescendo.
The Emotional Peak
If Octavarium was for the brain, the encore was for the heart. As the opening chords of “The Spirit Carries On” rang out, Aquatica turned into a galaxy of phone flashlights. Hearing thousands of Indian fans sing the line “If I die tomorrow, I’d be alright” in unison was a spine-chilling moment that clearly moved the band.
They closed the night with the song that started it all: “Pull Me Under.” The energy shifted from emotional to chaotic as the crowd jumped as one for the final time.
Missed the show? Check out our exclusive live footage of “The Spirit Carries On” and “Pull Me Under” on the Calling All Gigs YouTube channel.