Guitar World – The Annual 2026

Summary

Megadeth's end opens Guitar World The Annual 2026 on page 6, and the digital annual carries The guitar albums of 1986 on 18 plus a Joe Perry gear guide on 40.

The Annual 2026 is a best-of collection rather than a monthly, running features on The end of Megadeth on 6, Keith Richards on 56, Eagles on 62 and The return of Rush on 72. Gear takes the middle: The pedals they can't live without on 82 and The greatest gear of the 21st century on 96. Columns close the book with Joe Bonamassa on 118 through Corey Congilio on 128.

There is no month and no issue number on the digital edition, so the annual stands as a 2026 collection. For a player who wants band interviews and a 1986 album retrospective in one file, the features and the 1986 page are the reason to read.

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Content Guide

▸ Features
p.6 · The end of Megadeth
The annual opens with the end of Megadeth, naming the band and the close of its run. It sets the tone for a best-of collection. Play one Megadeth record named here before you read the last interview.

p.18 · The guitar albums of 1986
The retrospective runs the guitar records of 1986, naming the albums and the players on them. It covers a single year in full. Pick one 1986 album from this list and listen to it end to end.

p.40 · The Joe Perry gear guide
The gear guide covers Joe Perry's equipment, naming the guitars and the amps he uses. It addresses the sound through the gear. Set one amp like Perry's named here and play a riff through it.

p.56 · Keith Richards
The Keith Richards feature covers the guitarist, naming his guitars and the tunings he works in. It addresses a style built on open tuning. Try one open tuning named here on your own guitar.

p.62 · Eagles
The Eagles feature covers the band's guitar work, naming the players and the songs. It addresses the harmony guitar approach. Learn one Eagles harmony part using the voicing named here.

p.72 · The return of Rush
The Rush feature covers the band's return, naming the players and the material. It addresses a comeback rather than a history. Play one Rush part named here with the band's return in mind.

▸ Gear
p.82 · The pedals they can't live without
The pedal page names the effects players rely on, listing the units and the reason each one stays on a board. It covers working setups. Put one pedal named here first in your chain and hear the change.

p.96 · The greatest gear of the 21st century
The gear round-up names the instruments and gear rated from this century, with the picks and why. It covers two decades of kit. Compare one pick here to the guitar you own now.

▸ Columns
p.118 · Tales from Nerdville (Joe Bonamassa)
Joe Bonamassa opens the columns with his own page, naming the gear and the stories he tells. It is a regular voice rather than a feature. Read one Bonamassa story here and check the gear he names.

p.124 · Follow the Groove (Cory Wong)
Cory Wong's column covers groove playing, naming the parts and the feel he works on. It addresses rhythm over lead. Play one groove pattern from this column at a slow tempo first.

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Editor's Take

The strongest pages are the band interviews — Megadeth on 6, Keith Richards on 56 and The return of Rush on 72 — because they name real people and real endings rather than praising gear, and The guitar albums of 1986 on 18 is a genuine retrospective. The Joe Perry gear guide on 40 is specifiable. The weakness is the back third: the six columns from 118 to 128 are short regulars, and the annual has no month and no issue number, which makes it hard to file. It suits a rock player who wants band stories and a 1986 list, not someone learning technique.

Strengths
• Megadeth close is a real ending story
• 1986 albums page is a full retrospective
• Joe Perry gear guide names the amps
• Keith Richards covers open tunings

Weaknesses
• Six columns are short regulars
• No month or issue number to file by

Verdict: Recommended — band features and the 1986 list carry the annual.