For the moment it’s just a rumor, but Vital Vegas is reporting that Metallica is in talks to hold a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas in the fall of 2026.
Vital Vegas: “Our sources say Metallica is ready to ink a deal for a Sphere residency. Our sources have been spot on with other Sphere news, and we even broke the story ‘Wizard of Oz’ would get a reboot there. Metallica would join an eclectic list of acts booked at Sphere, including U2, Dead & Company, Phish, Anyma, The Eagles, Kenny Chesney, Backstreet Boys and Zac Brown Band.”
Read the complete report here.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year. During the interview he talked about the making of his book The Collection: Kirk Hammett, Metallica’s enduring bond with their fans, and why the band has embraced high tech concert concepts in video games and in augmented reality.
When asked if he thinks we might see Metallica perform at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and if that’s something he would entertain, Kirk replies, “Oh, heck, yeah! That’s a great example of how venues are changing. 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.”
Sphere is a music and entertainment arena in Paradise, Nevada, east of the Las Vegas Strip. Designed by Populous, the project was announced by the Madison Square Garden Company in 2018, known then as the MSG Sphere. The venue, which seats 17,600 people and has total capacity of 20,000, is being marketed for its immersive video and audio capabilities, which include a 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen, speakers with beam forming and wave field synthesis technologies, and 4D physical effects. The venue’s exterior also features 580,000 sq ft of LED displays, making it the largest in the world. Sphere measures 366 feet high and 516 feet wide. The arena cost $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment venue built in the Las Vegas Valley.
