Metallica Unleashes M72 World Tour’s 2026 Europe and UK Onslaught: 16 Stadiums, No-Repeat Thrash, and Epic Supports…
In a move that’s already sending shockwaves through the metal community, Metallica has confirmed the extension of their juggernaut M72 World Tour into 2026, with a blistering 16-show European and UK leg spanning nine countries from May 9 to July 5. This isn’t just another tour—it’s a continent-spanning metal apocalypse, featuring the band’s signature “No Repeat Weekend” format, where back-to-back nights in select cities deliver entirely different setlists and support acts, ensuring zero filler for die-hard fans. Produced by Live Nation, the run promises the full M72 spectacle: a massive in-the-round stage with a central “Snake Pit” for 360-degree immersion, pyrotechnics that could level a small nation, and sound levels calibrated to rattle your soul.
Kicking off in the sun-baked cradle of democracy, the tour launches on May 9 at Athens’ Olympic Stadium in Greece—a single-night barnburner supported by Gojira and Knocked Loose, whose eco-thrash fury and hardcore intensity will prime the crowd for Metallica’s onslaught of classics like “Master of Puppets” and deep cuts from their storied catalog. Four days later, on May 13, it’s Bucharest’s Arena Națională in Romania, another standalone gig blending Eastern European passion with the band’s unyielding precision. The momentum builds to May 19 at Poland’s Chorzów’s Stadion Śląski, where 55,000 fans are expected to chant along to “Seek & Destroy” under the Silesian sky.
Germany gets the No Repeat treatment starting May 22 and 24 at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park, marking Metallica’s return to the venue since 2009’s World Magnetic Tour. Night one features Gojira and Knocked Loose; night two swaps in Pantera’s groove-metal revival and Avatar’s theatrical savagery. Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo’s Pantera reincarnation has been a tour highlight, channeling Dimebag Darrell’s spirit with blistering riffs that echo the ’90s heyday. From there, it’s May 27 at Zurich’s Stadion Letzigrund in Switzerland—a Swiss precision pit stop—followed by May 30 at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where the Iron Curtain’s ghosts will headbang to “One.”
June heats up with Italy’s Bologna on June 3 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a one-off that could see Hetfield crooning “Nothing Else Matters” amid Renaissance echoes. Then, Hungary’s Budapest welcomes the No Repeat double-dip on June 11 and 13 at Puskás Aréna: Pantera and Avatar on the 11th, Gojira and Knocked Loose flipping the script on the 13th. This marks a triumphant return for Metallica, absent from Budapest since the early 2010s.
The UK and Ireland invasion begins in earnest on June 19 and 21 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium—Metallica’s first Irish shows since 2010, igniting a No Repeat frenzy with Pantera/Avatar on Friday and Gojira/Knocked Loose on Sunday. Celtic metalheads, prepare for “Battery” to hit like a Guinness-fueled thunderbolt. Scotland follows on June 25 at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, a historic fortress where 52,000 will roar through a set heavy on “Ride the Lightning” vibes, backed by Gojira and Knocked Loose. Wales gets its long-overdue fix on June 28 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium—Metallica’s first Welsh gig in 30 years since 1996’s Load tour—another Gojira/Knocked Loose assault promising rugby-ruck energy.
The leg crescendos with a doubleheader at London’s London Stadium on July 3 and 5: Gojira and Knocked Loose on the 3rd, Pantera and Avatar closing the books on the 5th. This East End colossus, home to Olympic glory and West Ham hammers, will host over 120,000 thrashers across two nights of unpredictability—will it be “Fade to Black” or a rare “St. Anger” gem? London’s No Repeat tradition has become legendary, with past tours seeing setlists veer from thrash anthems to ballads, keeping scalpers guessing and fans rabid.
Beyond the riffs and roars, the M72 Tour’s ethos shines through its All Within My Hands foundation. Since 2017, the band’s nonprofit has funneled over $20 million into global causes: $11.4 million bolstering career education via the Metallica Scholars Initiative, $7.4 million fighting hunger, and $4.7 million in disaster relief. A slice of every ticket sold on this leg will fuel local charities, from Athens’ youth programs to London’s food banks—proving metal’s mosh pit extends to real-world impact.
Tickets? Fan Club presales for two-day bundles kicked off May 27, 2025, with general onsale hitting May 30 at 10 a.m. local time via Metallica.com and Ticketmaster. Single-day passes followed on July 25, 2025, but expect scalper prices to soar—London’s already fetching £200+ resale. Enhanced Experiences abound: Snake Pit access for £150, meet-and-greets up to £500, or the “I Disappear” pass at £1,352 for the full run. Travel packages bundle hotels and shuttles for multi-city marathons.
Critics can’t get enough. Billboard dubbed M72 “life-affirming,” while Kerrang! hailed it “triumphant.” At 62, James Hetfield’s gravel growl remains venomous; Lars Ulrich’s kit pounds like a prizefighter; Kirk Hammett’s solos shred timelines; and Robert Trujillo’s bass locks it all in. Four decades in, Metallica isn’t touring—they’re conquering.
This 2026 leg isn’t just dates on a calendar; it’s a metal odyssey across borders, blending nostalgia with innovation. From Athens’ ancient stones to London’s urban roar, expect sold-out stadiums, viral setlist debates, and a generation headbanging into the future. Metallica: still the thrash titans, forever unbowed. Who’s moshing with us?