During an August 6 appearance on The Howard Stern Show (via Blabbermouth), Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich addressed the swirling rumors that Metallica could take over the Las Vegas Sphere for a potential fall 2026 residency following the conclusion of their massive M72 World Tour.
Ulrich played coy but didn’t shut down the speculation: “I’m not going to confirm anything, because there’s nothing to confirm. But I’m not going to deny it, because we’re all such fans of this venue. All of our managers and our production people have been there and looked at it. It’s something that we’re considering, [but] nothing is etched in stone or green-lit. It’s something that we’re looking at at some point when the 2026 tour is done.”
He went on to explain that he saw U2‘s opening night at The Sphere in 2023 and was “completely blown away” by the venue’s scale and immersive production: “I would fucking love to do it, let there be no question about it. It’s not signed, sealed and delivered, but speaking to me and asking my opinion, I would fucking love to do it.”
Could Metallica Also Play the 2026 Super Bowl?
When Howard Stern asked about the possibility of performing at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show — set to take place in San Francisco, Metallica‘s longtime hometown — Ulrich didn’t hesitate: “Fuck yeah — of course we would. First of all, we would do it. Second of all, to do it in San Francisco would be a dream come true and would be the right fit. We haven’t been approached… Ultimately it’s not our decision.”
The Sphere: A New Era of Live Music
Opened in 2023, the Las Vegas Sphere is the world’s largest spherical structure — 366 feet tall, 516 feet wide — and a technological marvel. Its exterior is fully wrapped in a programmable LED display visible from miles away. Inside, a 16K resolution wraparound screen and Sphere Immersive Sound powered by HOLOPLOT create one of the most advanced live concert experiences on the planet.
The venue has already hosted groundbreaking residencies from U2, Phish, Dead & Company, and The Eagles. U2‘s U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere run sold over 700,000 tickets across 40 sold-out dates, blending massive visuals, 4D effects, and pristine audio into one of the most talked-about concert events in recent memory.
Why Metallica at the Sphere Makes Sense
Metallica remain one of the most globally successful and technically ambitious live acts in rock history. They’ve already performed on all seven continents — famously completing the feat in 2013 with their Freeze ‘Em All concert in Antarctica. Bringing their M72-level production to the Sphere’s cutting-edge environment could create an immersive metal experience unlike anything fans have ever seen.
And as Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year: “Oh, heck, yeah! That’s a great example of how venues are changing. That’s using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to A.I. and making it a crazy experience.”
While nothing is confirmed, sources speaking to Vital Vegas suggest talks are “close to being finalized.” Whether or not the deal comes together, it’s clear Metallica are intrigued — and the thought of a fall 2026 Las Vegas Sphere residency followed by a San Francisco Super Bowl halftime show could make that year one of the band’s most iconic yet.
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