METALLICA's monumental "M72" world tour will return to Europe in 2026 with a staggering lineup of support acts including GOJIRA, KNOCKED LOOSE, PANTERA, and AVATAR, the band confirmed this week. The European leg runs from May through July, bringing the same revolutionary in-the-round stadium production that has defined the M72 experience since its 2023 launch — with the stage positioned at midfield and the audience surrounding the band on all sides, eliminating the concept of a "bad seat" in the house.
The No Repeat Weekend format, which has become METALLICA's signature touring innovation, returns with double-header shows in Frankfurt, Budapest, Dublin, and London. Each night promises a completely different setlist spanning the band's 40-plus-year career, meaning fans who attend both nights will hear entirely different songs, different openers, and a different show experience. It is a format that has reinvigorated the concert-going experience for the band's massive global fanbase and set a new industry standard.
Of particular excitement are several One Night Only shows in cities METALLICA have not visited in years, sometimes decades. Athens marks their first Greek performance since 2010, Chorzów their first Polish stadium show since 2008, and Cardiff their first Welsh date since 1996 — a gap of thirty years. These rare appearances are expected to generate astronomical ticket demand and have already sparked massive online excitement among regional fanbases.
With the "Life Burns Faster" residency at the Las Vegas Sphere looming in October — making METALLICA the first metal band to perform at the revolutionary immersive venue — 2026 is shaping up as perhaps the biggest year in METALLICA's already legendary touring history. The combination of European stadiums, the Sphere, and potential South American dates later in the year paints a picture of a band showing no signs of slowing down as they approach their 45th anniversary.