The headline you shared — “Breaking: Judas Priest and Metallica Reunite for Earth‑Shaking 2026 Stadium Tour — The Biggest Hard Rock Event in History Set to Explode Across North America and Europe Next Summer” — isn’t accurate as –
Metallica has **officially announced** sixteen huge stadium shows across Europe and the UK from **May to July 2026** as part of their **M72 World Tour** ([rocknews.co.uk][1]).
* These include two‑night “No‑Repeat Weekend” runs (i.e. different setlists both nights) in **London**, **Dublin**, plus big stadium dates in **Athens**, **Bucharest**, **Frankfurt**, **Budapest**, **Glasgow**, **Cardiff**, and more ([overdrive.ie][2]).
* Support acts vary — **Gojira**, **Knocked Loose**, **Pantera**, and **Avatar** will rotate between nights ([overdrive.ie][2]).
* Fan‑club presales start **May 27, 2025**, with general tickets on **May 30, 2025** ([music-news.com][3]).
### **Judas Priest’s Activity**
* Judas Priest is actively working on new material. Recording may begin in **early 2026**, and they reportedly plan to tour **later that year**, though **no joint tour with Metallica** has been announced ([en.wikipedia.org][4]).
* A “final world tour” is rumored — tickets going on sale around late May 2025 — but nothing definitive has emerged online regarding dates or collaboration ([bitssport.com][5]).
* On Reddit, fans have speculated about potential Priest–Iron Maiden pairings, but there’s **no buzz** about Priest joining Metallica’s 2026 stadium run ([reddit.com][6]).
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## 🧩 Why the Headline is Misleading
* ✅ **Yes**: Metallica’s 2026 stadium leg is real and massive — 16 shows with top-tier support in major cities ([overdrive.ie][2]).
* ✅ **Yes**: Judas Priest may tour in 2026, likely tied to a new album ([en.wikipedia.org][4]).
* ❌ **No**: There is **no joint Metallica × Judas Priest stadium tour** announced, across North America or Europe — no credible sources confirm this.
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## 🎸 What Fans Can Expect in 2026
### **Metallica’s M72: A “Hard Rock Event” Without Priest**
* Bigger than ever — a multi‑year tour that started in April 2023, wrapping up mid‑2026 ([en.wikipedia.org][7]).
* Features fan‑favorite “No‑Repeat Weekend” shows with different setlists and rotating supports.
* Enhanced VIP experiences: Snake‑Pit access, travel packages, meet‑and‑greets, and the “I Disappear” tour pass ([rocknews.co.uk][1]).
### **Judas Priest’s Own Next Chapter**
* Likely to release new material, followed by a standalone 2026 world tour — perhaps Priest’s final “crusade” .
* Fans on Reddit are excited, reminiscing about Priest’s legendary stagecraft and hoping for one more run ([reddit.com][8]).
—
## 📝 Summary
* **Metallica**: CONFIRMED major 2026 stadium tour in Europe/UK with 16 dates and top support acts.
* **Judas Priest**: PLANNING tour in 2026, possibly with new album, but **no collaboration with Metallica announced**.
* The headline is thus **part fact, part rumor** — the bands each have massive plans, but a joint stadium tour remains **unsubstantiated**.
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## 🔮 Final Thoughts
Both bands are gearing up for career-defining moments in 2026. **Metallica’s M72 leg** is one of the biggest hard rock events planned, while **Judas Priest** seems set for their own epic run. However, any idea of a **combined Monster Tour** is **not validated by sources**.
If you’d like details on Metallica’s itinerary, tickets, presales, or Judas Priest’s upcoming album and solo tour—just say the word!
[1]: https://www.rocknews.co.uk/blog/2025/05/22/metallica-2026-tour-uk-europe/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Metallica Unleashes UK & European Tour Dates for 2026”
[2]: https://www.overdrive.ie/metallica-announce-crushing-line-up-for-2026-european-live-dates/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “METALLICA ANNOUNCE CRUSHING LINE UP FOR 2026 EUROPEAN LIVE DATES – Overdrive”
[3]: https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/181736/Metallica-announce-2026-UK-European-tour-including-two-dates-at-London-Stadium?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Metallica announce 2026 UK & European tour including two dates at London Stadium – Music News | Music-News.com”
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Judas Priest”
[5]: https://bitssport.com/judas-priest-announces-final-world-tour-dates-and-cities-revealed/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Judas Priest Announces Final World Tour: Dates and Cities Revealed | Bitssport”
[6]: https://www.reddit.com/r/judaspriest/comments/1jlwdk3?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Judas Priest Iron Maiden tour”
[7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M72_World_Tour?utm_source=chatgpt.com “M72 World Tour”
[8]: https://www.reddit.com/r/judaspriest/comments/1bkaknq?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Those Post-Concert Blues – Never Satisfied!”