Will Metallica Close the M72 World Tour at Sphere Las Vegas in 2026?

^{Rock on, Metallica fans! The hard rock and metal band may end their 2026 tour with a bang at the Las Vegas Sphere. (Photo: Esther Moreno / Alamy)}

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Sphere has become the premier concert venue in the city and may be hosting one of the biggest hard rock bands in history.  Metallica has mounted one of the biggest concert tours in recent history going into 2026. If the rumors are true, Metallica may close out their massive M72 World Tour by bringing it to Las Vegas’ best concert venue. 

Rumors of a Groundbreaking Performance

Metallica’s M72 World Tour, which began in April 2023, is scheduled through July 2026 with additional dates in London. Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich and several outlets have suggested that Metallica will conclude this epic experience by coming to the Las Vegas Sphere.  If the venue can make an agreement with the band on show dates, it would mark for a monumental first hard rock/metal show.

Since its opening in 2023, the Sphere has hosted a wide variety of entertainers like Dead & Company, Phish, Kenny Chesney, Backstreet Boys, and the Eagles. The first visitor to the venue was U2, with a record-shattering 40-date residency and $2 million in revenue per show. That U2 residency would help the Sphere set records for its first full year of concerts that concluded in 2024, drawing in $420.5 million in revenues. U2 would also etch their names into the history books as one of the biggest residencies in the history of the Entertainment Capital of the World. 

Additionally, the Sphere has leveraged its 4D sensory technology and immersive sound system for films and screenings like Darren Aronofsky's Postcards from Earth documentary and a massively ramped-up version of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Can the Sphere Withstand the ‘Metal Militia?’

While the Sphere has hosted pop, rock, and jam bands, it has yet to host a metal show. Metallica, one of the progenitors of thrash metal, is known for an aggressive and LOUD live presence. The band's heavy rocker vibes would bring the Sphere's entertainment lineup into uncharted territory, something that might worry Sphere technicians. 

Back in May 2025, Metallica and their fans at Virginia Tech quite literally rocked Lane Stadium. The university has adopted the Metallica song “Enter Sandman” as a de facto fight song, so the crowd was hyped in anticipation of hearing the tune from the actual band. Once the initial notes of the song hit the air, the fans went berserk, setting off earthquake monitors on the nearby campus.

The intensity of this showing begs the question: can the technology and the infrastructure of the Sphere truly withstand the assault of the ‘Metal Militia?’ 

Rock concerts can hit decibel levels of 120 dB, enough to damage hearing and put heavy strain on the infrastructure of a concert venue. Furthermore, constant exposure to such high-decibel sounds can result in damage to the venue’s very infrastructure.  Hosting Metallica would be a test unlike any that the Sphere has faced before.

Windfall for Casinos and Hotels in Las Vegas

If Metallica closes out their M72 World Tour at the Sphere in 2026, the hotels and casinos that surround the venue would enjoy a nice windfall with the increase in traffic.

The Venetian, being the closest to the venue, would stand to benefit the most from the event. The resort has already begun offering several VIP packages to potential customers tied to Sphere events. The current Wizard of Oz movie presentation has brought out a Venetian VIP package that asks, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

Nothing is set in stone yet, but the rumor mill can sometimes be the best way to learn what might come in Las Vegas. The chance that Metallica takes the stage at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2026 is certainly worth keeping an eye on.