The Self-Destruction Issue (VICE)

Taoist Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Presenting the summer 2026 edition of VICE magazine: The Self-Destruction Issue, 132 scintillating pages of lizard-brain chicanery inspired by a species that is constantly finding groundbreaking new ways to destroy itself.

We investigate a diabolical Miami cult, hang out with the Yakuza (Japanese mafia), chronicle the face-destroying antics of devout Taoists in Phuket (Buddhist Thailand's Vegetarian Festival as shown on the cover), expose a barely believable and growing armed response to a sex-pest problem within the Pokémon cosplay community, and shine a light on inventive new anti-conscription measures in Ukraine.

The issue stars such luminaries as Antoine D’Agata, Will Self, Bertie Brandes, Sean Thor Conroe, Elias Rønnenfelt, Opioid Crisis Lookbook, Simon Reynolds, Mattha Busby, Julie Poly, Nick Dove, Noelle Perdue, Giancarlo DiTrapano, and VICE's new columnists Biz Sherbert, Caia Hagel, and Emma Garland. Oh, and Chris Nieratko returns with his fabled SKINEMA column.

Pre-order the issue now through the links in bio. Or, better yet, why not subscribe? That way, there will never be any missing an issue.

 “Self-destruction has killed some of my best friends. It has also given me the greatest moments of my life and could’ve been the theme of every issue of VICE since its inception. Sometimes you just have to let bygones be bygones and give a set of catastrophically harmful behavioral patterns their dues.”

- Editor In Chief KEVIN LEE KHARAS

“I have channeled many decades of malignant energy caused by poor decision-making into this one unique publication. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed ruining everything good that ever happened to me.”

- Global Editorial Director BEN DITTO

• Death by dangerous skateboard trick (VICE)

Mayhem in Buddhist-Taoist Thailand

Cover shot by Kuaci Kontrasocial (Phuketstagram @vice). I kinda feel like you should s*ck a b*g of d*cks [sock a bag of ducks right in their beaky faces]. I’ve lived in Phuket for nearly 20 years, and the Vegetarian Festival (Taoism's Nine Emperor Gods Festival) isn’t self-destruction -- it’s their faith. Is the cover image amazing? Yes. Perhaps, though, send a better journalist next year who actually understands the spiritual side of this important festival.

• VICE • Summer 2026 Teaser (via Instagram); Eds., Wisdom Quarterly