Metallica Announce Intimate NYC Show, Address Las Vegas Sphere Rumors

As Metallica announce one of their most intimate gigs to date, the group have addressed rumors their celebrated live show will be heading to the Las Vegas Sphere.

While metal icons Metallica are currently gearing up to embark upon the home stretch of their 2025 touring plans with shows in Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the group have announced a special one-off show in New York later this month.

Taking place on Aug. 28 at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on Long Island, the 250-capacity venue makes the show one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ most intimate to date. 

Presented by SiriusXM to celebrate the launch of the Maximum Metallica channel the following day, tickets are being distributed via contests by both the band and Sirius XM.

Per Brooklyn Vegan, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to Howard Stern on Wednesday (Aug. 6) to discuss the upcoming gig, where the co-founding percussionist also addressed current rumors that the band may be bringing their show to Las Vegas venue Sphere as one of its famed residencies.

According to a recent report by Vital Vegas, unnamed sources have pointed towards a potential residency from Metallica at the Sphere in fall 2026. However, Ulrich stated he was unable to confirm these rumors due to there being “nothing to confirm.”

“But I’m not going to deny it, because we’re all such fans of this venue,” he explained. “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.”

Officially known as Sphere at the Venetian Resort, the immersive venue officially opened its doors in September 2023, with U2 launching a 40-date run of shows at the venue. Since then, the likes of Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, and Kenny Chesney have all performed residencies, with the Zac Brown Band set to appear following the completion of the Backstreet Boys’ current run of shows.

“I was there seeing U2 the first night, when they took that stage, I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it,” Ulrich told Stern. “I was there, like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away, and felt that was the beginning of another chapter in live performances.”

“I’m not going to bulls–t you, I would f–king 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 f–king love to do it.”

Metallica will wrap their 2025 touring plans with tours of Australia and New Zealand in November, followed by dates in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Their current M72 World Tour will wrap in July 2026 following dates in Europe and the U.K..