Metallica, the iconic band in heavy metal, has unveiled an extensive tour across the UK and Europe for the summer of 2026. This tour promises to be a monumental event with an impressive lineup featuring Gojira, Knocked Loose, Pantera, and Avatar. A unique feature of this tour is the ‘no-repeat weekends’ concept, where Metallica will perform two shows at the same venue with distinct support acts and setlists, a format they have adopted since the release of their album 72 Seasons in 2023.
The tour tickets, including special two-night tickets for the ‘no-repeat weekends,’ will go on sale to the general public on May 30 at 10 am local time, with fan-club pre-sales starting on May 27 at 11 am local time. The tour marks Metallica’s return to Frankfurt, Germany, and Dublin, Ireland, after more than a decade. In the UK, the band will play in Cardiff, Edinburgh, and two shows at London Stadium, accommodating 80,000 fans.
The UK leg of the tour will follow Metallica’s appearance at Black Sabbath’s final show in Birmingham’s Villa Park on July 5. Currently, Metallica is thrilling fans across North America, with upcoming shows at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the European tour, the band will head to Australia, Asia, and the Middle East in November and December, culminating in a performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6.
Aside from the tour, Metallica is gearing up to re-release their sixth album, Load, in various box set packages, set to be available on June 13. Meanwhile, Gojira, the Grammy-winning band, is scheduled to perform at the Sabbath show and embark on a tour across Europe, headlining the UK’s Bloodstock Open Air festival in August before touring North America later in 2025.
Knocked Loose is set to tour Europe this summer, including a performance at the inaugural London edition of Outbreak festival, followed by shows across North America towards the end of the year. Avatar will grace the European festival circuit this summer, culminating in a headline show at Pepsi Center in Mexico City on Halloween. The band has additional live dates planned for early 2026 and is currently working on a new album.
The Metallica tour will kick off with a show at Athens Olympic Stadium, Greece, on May 9, and continue across various European cities before concluding with two nights at London Stadium on July 5. The lineup will alternate between Gojira and Knocked Loose and Pantera and Avatar as supporting acts at select stops, promising an unforgettable experience for heavy metal enthusiasts.
With Metallica leading the charge and an impressive roster of supporting acts, this tour is poised to be a highlight for heavy metal fans, offering a diverse range of performances and an electrifying atmosphere across iconic venues in the UK and Europe.
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