Metallica are reportedly in talks for a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere.
The futuristic state-of-the-art venue opened in 2023 and has since hosted residencies from the likes of U2, Phish, The Eagles and the Backstreet Boys. It was also recently confirmed that a new Sphere venue will be constructed in Abu Dhabi.
Now, it has been reported that Metallica may be the next to announce a stint at the Sphere. Local publication Vital Vegas said the band are “ready to ink a deal for a Sphere residency” in the city.
The site suggests that the heavy metal icons “could play Sphere in the fall of 2026”, following their ‘M72’ world tour, concluding, “but specifics haven’t been confirmed or announced yet.”
In April, Kirk Hammett said the band would love the chance to play the Sphere, saying it was a “great example of how venues are changing”. He added: “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.”
The metal icons will be playing a string of stadium shows in the UK and Europe in 2026, including dates in Dublin, Glasgow, Cardiff and London. Opening sets will come from Gojira, Pantera, Knocked Loose and Avatar. See the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
In a four-star review of Metallica’s ‘M72’ tour opener in Amsterdam, NME wrote: “Metallica have always been a gateway band for heavy music, but there’s a renewed excitement around them now. Tonight’s surprising, ambitious and giddy gig matches that energy at every turn.”
U2 were the first band to play at the Sphere. NME give their performance a glowing five-star review, sharing that it “truly takes your breath away”.
“They pull off a dazzling series of technological tricks right from the outset as whirring drones whizz past the audience while everything from giant helicopters, falling letters, widescreen desert landscapes and even a projection of the Sphere itself come hurtling towards the audience,” it read.
The Sphere recently made headlines when Beyoncé removed images of the venue from the visuals of her ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour after being hit with a cease-and-desist from the owners.
In other Metallica news, the band appeared at Black Sabbath’s ‘Back To The Beginning’ farewell show last month, playing Sabbath’s ‘Hole In The Sky’ and ‘Johnny Blade’. The band paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died last month (July 22), only weeks after the concert, and they attended his funeral last week.
Metallica also provided new parts for Tomorrowland’s main stage last month, after the original was destroyed during a fire, which broke out less than 48 hours before the dance festival in Boom, Belgium, was set to kick off.
Elsewhere, they forced the US government to withdraw a social media video that made use of ‘Enter Sandman’ without authorisation.
NEWS
Ice Spice has released her new single “Pretty Privilege,” marking a noticeable shift from her signature New York drill-inspired sound. But the change in style isn’t the only thing that’s getting people talking. Fans are once again speculating about the rumored tension between her and Cardi B, a topic that first gained attention when a snippet of the track appeared online.
For those who missed it, Cardi B had previously gone on a rant that included jabs at Ice Spice and her manager. Not long after, Spice previewed “Pretty Privilege,” which featured the lyric, “She might talk s**t on the ’Gram, but she won’t talk it to my face.” That line quickly sparked debate among listeners, with many believing it was aimed at the AM I THE DRAMA? rapper.
This added fuel to speculation that a rivalry might be brewing. During the phone call in question, Cardi B criticized Ice Spice while speaking to her manager, James Rosemond Jr. She later apologized for her remarks about Latto and claimed that Rosemond Jr. was responsible for leaking their private conversation.
Now that the full version of “Pretty Privilege” has been released, Complex reports that other theories have emerged. Some fans believe the song might actually target Brooklyn rapper Stunna Sandy, whom Spice was said to call out in her earlier track “Baddie Baddie.” On that record, she rapped, “I know that she wants to be me / But she is not doing it well,” leading to renewed discussions about hidden disses.
While talk of a feud between Cardi B and Ice Spice isn’t new, both artists have publicly denied having issues in the past. Even so, online chatter continues to shape how fans perceive their relationship. Aside from that controversial phone call, there’s no real evidence to suggest they’re actually on bad terms.
Still, as speculation keeps circulating, the story might take new turns. Whether it’s genuine tension or just fan-driven drama, it’s clear that the Internet has played a big role in keeping the conversation alive. For now, Cardi and Ice Spice don’t seem particularly close, but time will tell if the rumors fade or resurface once again.
