Metallica Returns to Sphere for Second Las Vegas Weekend

Metallica returns to Sphere in Las Vegas this week for the second weekend of its "Life Burns Faster" residency. The band plays Thursday, October 8, and Saturday, October 10. Both shows are sold out, according to the band's official tour page.

The 24-show residency opened on October 1 and runs through March 13, 2027. Every remaining Sphere date on the page is also marked sold out. The second weekend also brings two new setlists under the band's No Repeat Weekend format.

Metallica's Sphere Opening Setlist and Live Recording

Metallica opened the residency on October 1 with "Battery." Next came "Creeping Death" and "Now That We're Dead," with "Master of Puppets" closing the night. The set also included "Nothing Else Matters," "Ride the Lightning," and "Seek & Destroy." Guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo performed a duet mid-show.

The 16-item setlist spanned the band's catalog, from 1983's "Kill 'Em All" to 2023's "72 Seasons." Metallica has already released the October 1 show as a two-CD live set, available on its online store. A bundle covering both opening weekend shows is also available.

No Repeat Weekends and Sphere's Immersive Production

Each Thursday-Saturday pair follows Metallica's No Repeat Weekend format. No song repeats across the two nights. The approach began with the band's M72 World Tour in 2023. Fans attending both October 8 and October 10 will hear two different sets.

The show uses Sphere's wraparound LED display, Sphere Immersive Sound, and multisensory 4D technology.

Live Nation produces the residency, which is presented by inKind. Drummer Lars Ulrich traced the idea for the residency back to U2's opening of Sphere in 2023. In a statement, he called the venue "completely uncharted territory." "This residency gives us another chance to reinvent how we interact with our fans," he said.

Remaining Dates, Sphere's Lineup, and Vegas Tourism

Six more October shows follow this weekend, running through October 31. The residency continues on November 5 and 7, then resumes on January 28 and 30, 2027. Six February dates and four March dates complete the 24-show run. Away from Las Vegas, the band also plays Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut on November 19 and 21. A North American stadium tour kicks off May 8, 2027, at BC Place in Vancouver.

Sphere's calendar stays busy beyond Metallica. John Mayer will play six nights at Sphere in April 2027. Meanwhile, "The Wizard of Oz at Sphere" recently passed $500 million in ticket sales.

The residency arrives during a soft stretch for Las Vegas tourism. Nevada's August figures showed Las Vegas visitation slipping even as statewide gaming win rose 3.14%.