Metallica have addressed fans’ frustration in attempting to purchase tickets for their upcoming Las Vegas Sphere residency.
The metal icons announced their stint at the high-tech venue last month, initially confirming a run of eight dates between October 1 and October 31.
They went on to add further dates by bringing the total number of shows to 24, including a pair of shows on November 5 and 7, as well as January 28 and 30, February 4, 6, 18, 20, 25 and 27 and March 4, 6, 11 and 13 in 2027.
The shows come in pairs, with two-night, no-repeat packages available for the “full weekend experience”. The band have committed to not playing any repeat songs across each pair of shows, as they did throughout their ‘M72 World Tour’. Any remaining tickets are available here.
Following fans’ frustration over the ticket sales process, the band shared a statement yesterday (March 10) on Instagram saying: “Wow! What a week. We are so appreciative and grateful to all of you for the incredible response to our upcoming Life Burns Faster residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. We are completely and utterly blown away and cannot believe that we will have 24 amazing nights on stage there, all thanks to you and a record-breaking week. At this point in time, we will not be adding additional shows, but we are hoping to offer more in the future.”
Addressing the ticketing process, they added: “In the meantime, we hear you loud and clear that the ticket-buying process was often frustrating and not always smooth. We’re working with our partners to improve this experience and offer some remedies for the next time around.”
Metallica went on: “We are looking forward to a very exciting 2026, starting off with seeing many of you in Europe this spring and summer as the M72 tour hits the road again in May. Before we know it, we’ll be exploring new frontiers along with fans from around the world in Las Vegas, and we can’t wait!”
The group’s upcoming Sphere takeover will boast “live staples and surprises spanning the Metallica catalogue enhanced by the venue’s immersive technologies that will allow fans to experience the sound and fury of the band’s live performance in new experiential dimensions”.
Ticketholders will hear Metallica perform with Sphere Immersive Sound, and enjoy “multi-sensory 4D technology” at the gigs. The shows are due to “present a wholly unique and entirely new Metallica experience for all who attend”.
Sphere’s impressive technology includes the world’s highest resolution LED display that wraps up, over and around the audience.
The band are following U2, Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles and the Backstreet Boys in hosting a residency at the Sphere.
Last spring, Kirk Hammett spoke about the possibility of playing the arena, saying it was a “great example of how venues are changing”. He continued: “That’s using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to AI and making it a crazy experience.”
Lars Ulrich later revealed that the group were considering the Sphere, explaining that he would “fucking love to do it”. Robert Trujillo, meanwhile, said the “possibilities are endless” at the venue. “No heavy rock band has done this,” he added.
Before heading to Las Vegas, Metallica will embark on a UK and European tour later this year. This includes two nights at the London Stadium in July, following dates in Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff. Find any remaining tickets here (UK and Ireland).
Hammett revealed last year that he had 767 new riffs for Metallica’s “next album”. Their 11th and latest full-length effort, ’72 Seasons’, arrived in 2023.