Metallica reportedly eyeing groundbreaking Las Vegas Sphere residency for 2026
Heavy metal titans Metallica are reportedly in talks to bring their thunderous sound to Las Vegas’s revolutionary Sphere venue, potentially becoming the first hard rock act to perform at the $2.3 billion entertainment marvel.
Deal appears imminent for fall 2026
According to local Las Vegas publication Vital Vegas, sources close to the venue indicate that Metallica is “ready to ink a deal for a Sphere residency.” While official confirmation remains pending, the report suggests the legendary band could take the stage in fall 2026, following the conclusion of their current M72 World Tour.
“We’re hearing Metallica could play Sphere in the fall of 2026, but specifics haven’t been confirmed or announced yet,” Vital Vegas reported, adding that even the rumor alone has fans buzzing with excitement.
The timing would align perfectly with the band’s tour schedule, as their European leg of the M72 World Tour wraps up in July 2026, leaving their calendar open for a Las Vegas engagement.
Band members express enthusiasm
The possibility of a Sphere residency isn’t entirely surprising given guitarist Kirk Hammett’s recent comments about the venue. In an April interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hammett enthusiastically endorsed the idea of performing at the futuristic venue.
“Oh, heck, yeah! That’s a great example of how venues are changing,” Hammett said. “That’s using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to AI and making it a crazy experience.”
Metallica, featuring James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich (both 61), Kirk Hammett (62), and Robert Trujillo (60), has consistently pushed the boundaries of live performance, including their current use of a circular stage setup for the M72 tour that allows audiences to surround the band on all sides.
The Sphere’s revolutionary technology
The Sphere, which opened in September 2023, represents a quantum leap in live entertainment technology. Standing 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, it’s the largest spherical structure in the world and features unprecedented audio-visual capabilities:
- A 160,000-square-foot interior LED screen with 16K resolution that wraps completely around the audience
- The Exosphere exterior featuring 580,000 square feet of programmable LED displays visible from miles away
- An advanced Sphere Immersive Sound system with 1,586 permanent loudspeaker modules and beam-forming technology
- Environmental effects including haptic seats, temperature changes, wind, and scent
- Capacity for 17,600 seated guests with a total capacity of 20,000
Following in prestigious footsteps
If the deal materializes, Metallica would join an exclusive roster of artists who have performed residencies at the venue. U2 christened the Sphere with a groundbreaking 40-show run from September 2023 to March 2024, playing to over 700,000 fans and setting a new standard for immersive concerts.
Other acts that have embraced the Sphere’s unique capabilities include Phish, Dead & Company, The Eagles, Kenny Chesney, Backstreet Boys, and electronic artist Anyma. The venue has also hosted immersive films like Darren Aronofsky’s “Postcard from Earth” and “V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film.”
Financial implications and ticket expectations
While ticket prices haven’t been announced, Sphere events have ranged from $49 for “The Sphere Experience” to over $1,000 for premium concert seats. U2’s residency tickets started around $250 and reached into four figures for prime locations.
The Sphere has already proven to be a massive commercial success, grossing $420.5 million from 1.3 million tickets in 2024 alone—the highest annual gross of any venue in Billboard Boxscore history. Sphere Entertainment executives have hinted at price increases for future events as demand continues to outpace supply.
A new era for heavy metal
A Metallica residency would mark a significant milestone as the first heavy metal act to perform at the Sphere. The band’s aggressive sound and elaborate stage productions seem perfectly suited to the venue’s immersive capabilities, potentially creating an unprecedented sensory experience for metalheads.
The band has already shown interest in cutting-edge performance technology, having recently partnered with Apple for a free immersive Vision Pro concert experience. Their history of innovation, combined with the Sphere’s revolutionary features, could result in a residency that redefines what a metal concert can be.
For now, fans will have to wait for official confirmation from Metallica or Sphere Entertainment. But if the reports prove accurate, fall 2026 could see Las Vegas transformed into the heavy metal capital of the world, at least temporarily, as thousands of fans descend on the desert to experience Metallica like never before.
Image Sources: https://www.nme.com/news/music/metallica-reportedly-in-talks-for-las-vegas-sphere-residency-3882519
Category: Culture, Nightlife
Subcategory: Entertainment
Date: 08/04/2025
