Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has addressed the swirling rumors that the band could be headed for a groundbreaking residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas in fall 2026, once their massive M72 world tour wraps up with its final European dates next July.
During an August 7 appearance on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Trujillo said he hasn't actually been to the Sphere yet: "I haven't actually been there and checked it out yet. So, I like that. It's a mystery to me because everybody I know has, and they're just like, 'Oh my God, this is incredible.' And I love all that. I love the visual experience. You know, when we have talked about it, we've met, you know, had meetings about it. And I'm already thinking like, imagine this, imagine that, imagine, you know, because Metallica's music is so visual, you know.
Trujillo also touched on the endless possibilities Metallica could have with a Sphere show, saying: "I mean, imagine a song like 'Orion' and what you can do with that, you know what I mean? The possibilities are endless. So for me, it's again, like a dream come true. We'll see what happens. I know we're talking about it and hopefully this is gonna happen. You know, and the fact that Lars talked about it on Howard Stern yesterday is a great thing. It means that it's in the works.
"You know, we've been going through so much lately. There's been so much going on that, you know, sometimes, you'll have a meeting about that and then all of a sudden something else happens and then you're in that mode and in this mode and whatnot. But it's definitely something that we wanna do and we're excited about. And we'll just have to wait and see how and when and if we can do this. But you're right, no heavy rock band has done this, you know, and there's a lot of history with our music and a lot of, I think there's potential for a lot of visual stimulation on this. And I can't wait to be a part of it. So let's see what happens, yeah."
During an August 6 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich also addressed the swirling rumors that Metallica could take over the Las Vegas Sphere: "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."
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.
And as Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, possibly in the best terms we've heard yet: "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."
