Last updated by Jemima Todd on Monday 12th October 2026

Metallica are showing few signs of slowing down. After bringing their M72 World Tour back to the UK and Europe in summer 2026, the band have started an ambitious residency at Sphere in Las Vegas and confirmed that M72 will continue with another 12 North American concerts in 2027.

For UK fans, that leaves one obvious question: could Metallica bring the tour back across the Atlantic in 2027?

No further UK dates have been announced at the time of writing. However, with Metallica's touring schedule now extending well into 2027, we look at their recent activity, the confirmed dates and whether another UK appearance could be possible.

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Are Metallica touring in 2027?

Yes. Metallica have officially confirmed that the M72 World Tour will continue in 2027.

In September 2026, the band announced 12 additional North American shows beginning in Vancouver on Saturday 8th May 2027, with Limp Bizkit and Avatar joining them as special guests.

The announcement extends a tour that first began in April 2023. According to Metallica, they had already played 99 M72shows across 26 countries by the time the latest dates were revealed. However, there is currently no new UK or European leg confirmed for 2027.

Metallica's return to the UK in 2026

Metallica's most recent UK concerts arrived as part of the European leg of the M72 World Tour in summer 2026.

The band performed at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Thursday 25th June before heading to Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday 28th June. They then completed their European run with two concerts at London Stadium on Friday 3rd and Sunday 5th July.

The London dates followed Metallica's established 'No Repeat Weekend' format, meaning fans attending both nights heard two completely different setlists. Different support acts also appeared across the two concerts, with Gojira and Knocked Loose supporting one night and Pantera and Avatar appearing on the other.

The scale of the UK shows demonstrated the continuing demand surrounding Metallica. Their Cardiff concert alone attracted more than 76,000 fans, which Metallica described as the largest concert ever held in the city at Principality Stadium.

Metallica begin their Las Vegas Sphere residency

Metallica's next chapter has taken the band somewhere entirely different.

On Thursday 1st October 2026, they began their Life Burns Faster residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, taking the M72concept into one of the world's most technologically advanced live venues.

The residency has grown to 24 performances following significant demand, with dates spanning October and November 2026 before Metallica return to Sphere for further shows between January and March 2027.

Metallica have retained the 'No Repeat Weekend' concept for the residency, giving fans different setlists across paired performances.

The opening show drew from across the band's catalogue, demonstrating that even after several years on the road, Metallica are continuing to develop the M72 live experience rather than bringing it to an immediate conclusion.

Could Metallica tour the UK again in 2027?

There are currently no confirmed Metallica UK tour dates for 2027. Any suggestion that the band will return to Britain next year should therefore be treated as speculation.

There are, however, some interesting reasons to keep watching.

Most significantly, M72 is no longer scheduled to finish in 2026. Metallica have explicitly extended the tour into 2027, with their newly announced North American dates beginning after the conclusion of the Las Vegas residency.

The band also have a recent history of extending M72. When their 2026 European concerts were announced, Metallica said they were "not ready to stop yet", adding another year to a tour that had already travelled extensively around the world.

That does not mean another European or UK leg is planned. Metallica's official 2027 FAQ states that all currently scheduled dates are included in the latest announcement. But with M72 continuing into 2027, further announcements would certainly be worth watching for.

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Where could Metallica play in the UK?

No UK venues have been announced for 2027, so naming potential stadiums at this stage would be speculative.

Recent history does give an indication of the scale of venues Metallica favour.

Their 2026 UK dates took place at:

  • Thursday 25th June 2026 – Hampden Park, Glasgow
  • Sunday 28th June 2026 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
  • Friday 3rd July 2026 – London Stadium, London
  • Sunday 5th July 2026 – London Stadium, London

All four were major stadium concerts, while the two London performances formed a 'No Repeat Weekend'.

If Metallica were to return to the UK in 2027, another stadium-scale production would therefore be consistent with the current M72 format. That remains an inference based on their recent touring activity rather than an indication of confirmed plans.

What have Metallica been doing away from the tour?

Touring has dominated Metallica's schedule, but 2026 has also brought activity away from the stage.

On Friday 26th June, the band released a newly remastered edition of their 1997 album ReLoad. The release included several formats, with an expanded edition and deluxe box set featuring demos, rough mixes, rarities and previously unreleased live material. ReLoad followed the remastered release of Load in 2025 and gave fans another opportunity to revisit a distinctive period in Metallica's catalogue.

Their most recent studio album remains 72 Seasons, released in 2023. The album provided the foundation for the M72 World Tour, although the band's live sets continue to cover music from throughout their career.

How long has the M72 World Tour been running?

The M72 World Tour began in April 2023 following the release of 72 Seasons.

Its distinctive in-the-round stage places the band at the centre of the stadium, with the Snake Pit incorporated into the middle of the stage to provide a 360-degree concert experience.

The tour has also become known for its 'No Repeat Weekend' format. In selected cities, Metallica perform twice but do not repeat a song across the two concerts, with different support acts appearing each night.

What began as a tour supporting 72 Seasons has consequently developed into a multi-year live project.

By September 2026, Metallica said they had played 99 M72 concerts across 26 countries. The decision to add another 12 North American shows means the tour will now continue for a fifth year in 2027.

Who is supporting Metallica in 2027?

Limp Bizkit and Avatar have been confirmed as special guests for Metallica's newly announced 2027 North American shows. Both acts have previously appeared as part of the wider M72 tour.

There are currently no 2027 UK concerts, meaning no UK support acts have been announced. Metallica's 2026 European dates featured several major names, including Pantera, Gojira, Knocked Loose and Avatar.

Should another European leg eventually be announced, fans will have to wait to discover which artists would join them.

Will Metallica release a new album?

Metallica have not announced a follow-up to 72 Seasons at the time of writing.

Their immediate plans remain focused on live performances, including Life Burns Faster at Sphere and the continuation of M72 in North America during 2027. The band have nevertheless remained active with catalogue releases. The remastered ReLoad arrived in June 2026, following the remastered edition of Load the previous year.

Until Metallica announce another studio project, any suggestion of a new album would remain speculation.

Could M72 continue even further?

Perhaps the most interesting question surrounding Metallica in 2027 is how long M72 can continue.

When Metallica announced the additional North American dates, they said they were "having so much fun on the road" that they wanted to keep the tour going. The announcement is significant as it suggests that the band's touring plans remain flexible even after four years ofM72.

However, there is no confirmation that another UK or European leg will follow. The safest conclusion for now is simply that Metallica are still actively extending the tour, making future announcements possible rather than inevitable.

For UK fans, Metallica's next move will be one to watch closely.

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Metallica have not announced UK concerts for 2027 at the time of writing. Fans can register their interest with Seat Unique to hear more about future VIP opportunities should further dates be confirmed. Metallica already have a substantial 2027 ahead of them, from their final scheduled Sphere performances in Las Vegas to another run of M72 concerts across North America.

Whether the band will then bring M72 back to the UK remains unknown.

After four UK stadium shows in 2026 and yet another extension of a world tour that began in 2023, however, British fans have good reason to keep a close eye on what Metallica announce next.

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