Rock history was rewritten today as two of the most iconic names in heavy music—Guns N’ Roses and Metallica—announced that they will join forces for an unprecedented 2026 stadium tour across North America and Europe. Dubbed “Legends Reloaded,” the tour promises to be nothing short of earth-shaking, uniting generations of fans under the banner of thunderous riffs, soaring anthems, and unrelenting rock ’n’ roll energy.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
For longtime fans, this announcement feels like destiny fulfilled. Guns N’ Roses and Metallica last shared a bill during the infamous 1992 co-headlining stadium tour, a chaotic, unforgettable run that went down in rock folklore for both its triumphs and its controversies. Decades later, both bands have evolved, endured, and reigned as cornerstones of rock history. Now, they return—not as rivals, but as unified giants—to deliver what is already being hailed as the most ambitious hard rock tour of all time.
“Rock and roll is about bringing people together, shaking the earth, and leaving everything on stage,” said Metallica’s James Hetfield in today’s press release. “To stand side by side with Guns N’ Roses again, three decades later, feels like closing a circle—and opening a whole new chapter.”
Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose echoed the sentiment: “The energy, the spirit, the fans—this is going to be bigger than anything we’ve ever done before. It’s not just a tour. It’s a celebration of everything hard rock stands for.”
Stadiums Will Tremble
The Legends Reloaded Tour is set to kick off in June 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before roaring through more than 30 cities across North America, including New York, Chicago, Toronto, and Mexico City. After dominating the U.S. and Canada, the spectacle will head to Europe in August, with stops planned in London’s Wembley Stadium, Berlin’s Olympiastadion, Paris’ Stade de France, and Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, among others.
Each night will feature full headline-length sets from both bands, complete with state-of-the-art production, pyrotechnics, and stage designs pushing the limits of live performance. Insiders describe plans for “collaborative moments” on stage, hinting at the possibility of Axl and Hetfield trading vocals or Slash and Kirk Hammett dueling in guitar-driven finales.
Fan Frenzy
Within hours of the announcement, fan forums and social media erupted in disbelief and joy. Hashtags like #LegendsReloaded, #GNFnRMetallica, and #RockHistory2026 immediately began trending worldwide. Some fans joked that ticket demand might “break the internet,” while others called the announcement “a once-in-a-lifetime event that no true rock fan can miss.”
Music journalist Carla Mendes summed it up best: “This isn’t just another tour. It’s the ultimate passing of the torch from one generation of hard rock to the next. Guns N’ Roses and Metallica sharing the stage in 2026 is as close as you get to a religious experience for rock fans.”
A Historic Legacy
Few bands can match the cultural weight of Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. Together, they’ve sold hundreds of millions of albums worldwide, defined the sound of hard rock and metal in the late 20th century, and influenced countless artists across genres. From Metallica’s thrash metal epics like Master of Puppets to Guns N’ Roses’ timeless rock anthems like Sweet Child O’ Mine and November Rain, their catalogs are not just music—they are milestones of modern culture.
Tickets and Beyond
Tickets for the Legends Reloaded Tour go on sale this November, with pre-sale opportunities available to fan club members and VIP packages offering exclusive access to soundchecks and memorabilia. Industry insiders are already predicting record-breaking demand, with some calling it “the fastest-selling rock tour in history.”
Beyond the music, both bands hinted at charitable initiatives tied to the tour. Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and Guns N’ Roses’ partnerships with global relief efforts will reportedly receive a portion of proceeds, ensuring that the tour’s legacy goes beyond the stage.
The Final Word
For fans old and new, Legends Reloaded is shaping up to be more than just a tour—it’s a once-in-a-generation event, a celebration of the enduring power of rock music, and a reminder that some legends never fade, they just reload.
Come summer 2026, the roar of guitars and the thunder of drums will unite continents. Guns N’ Roses and Metallica are back, side by side. And the world will never be the same.