Heavy-metal titans Metallica are believed to have finalized plans for a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, according to multiple sources familiar with the band’s schedule. The agreement is said to be locked in for a substantial run of shows later this year, marking a historic first for a metal act at the high-tech venue.
Insiders familiar with the band’s itinerary report that Metallica has signed for between 12 and 16 performances at the Sphere, tentatively scheduled to take place between October and December 2026. The deal, sources say, was finalized months ago, though neither Metallica nor Sphere officials have publicly confirmed the lineup or dates yet.
The residency would follow the band’s current “M72” World Tour, which is expected to finish its European leg on July 5 in London. That timing would give Metallica — comprised of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo — a summer break before ramping up a specialized Sphere production.
If the residency goes forward as reported, Metallica will become the first heavy metal band to hold a residency at the Sphere, the massively immersive venue featuring cutting-edge visuals and audio technology on the Las Vegas Strip. It would add to the venue’s growing roster of major acts and offer fans a unique, fixed-location experience unlike traditional touring.
Metallica are already etched into Las Vegas music lore: they were the first metal band to play Allegiant Stadium in 2022, and their return to the city in a residency format would mark their latest major commitment to the region’s live-music scene.
Sphere representatives have so far declined to comment on any artist engagements that have not been officially announced, maintaining a policy of only speaking to confirmed shows. And while there’s been no formal word from Metallica either, the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich has previously acknowledged interest in the Sphere, saying he wouldn’t deny rumors because the members are “all such fans of this venue.”
One additional public signal of direction came from James Dolan, Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, who was asked in August whether Metallica could be a future headliner at the venue. His response — “I’m not going to dissuade that one” — was taken as the closest available hint toward the band’s eventual residency.
The planned Las Vegas run would coincide with the 40th anniversary of Master of Puppets — the seminal Metallica album that became their first gold-certified release and helped define their dominance in heavy metal. The timing underscores not just a residency but a celebration of the band’s enduring legacy as they approach five decades of influence.
