METALLICA & AC/DC Confirm 2026 Co-Headlining Tour — Dates, Cities, and Explosive Setlist Teasers Revealed
In what promises to be one of the most electrifying collaborations in rock history, Metallica and AC/DC have officially announced their 2026 Co-Headlining World Tour, a monumental event that’s already sending shockwaves across the global music scene. After weeks of rumors and cryptic teasers shared by both legendary bands, the news was confirmed early Friday morning, unveiling a sprawling list of dates, cities, and early setlist hints that have fans around the world bracing for an unforgettable year of rock and roll supremacy.
The tour, dubbed “Thunder & Fire: The 2026 World Tour,” will kick off in Los Angeles, California, on March 8, 2026, and will stretch across five continents, hitting over 50 major cities, including London, Tokyo, Sydney, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, and New York City. Both bands have hinted that this tour will be unlike anything fans have ever seen before — blending the raw, unrelenting power of Metallica’s thrash metal anthems with the timeless high-voltage rock energy of AC/DC.
According to organizers, the stage production will be a “multi-sensory battlefield,” combining massive pyrotechnics, synchronized light shows, and dual performance zones, allowing both bands to perform separately and together throughout the night. Each concert is expected to run over three hours, with unique collaborations, classic medleys, and rotating setlists designed to surprise fans in every city.
Teasers of the setlist have already ignited fan speculation. Metallica is expected to open with “Fuel,” “Master of Puppets,” “Enter Sandman,” and “Lux Æterna,” while AC/DC will bring back timeless hits like “Back in Black,” “Thunderstruck,” “Highway to Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.” The grand finale, according to insiders, will feature both bands joining forces for an epic, never-before-seen performance of “For Those About to Rock” fused with Metallica’s “Seek & Destroy.”
Frontmen James Hetfield and Brian Johnson expressed their excitement in a joint statement, saying:
“This tour isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about the future of rock. We’re bringing two generations of fans together for one explosive ride. The energy will be pure, loud, and unstoppable.”
Tickets for the “Thunder & Fire” tour go on pre-sale in December 2025, with general sales opening in January 2026. VIP packages — featuring backstage access, exclusive merch, and soundcheck experiences — are expected to sell out almost instantly.
Industry insiders are calling this the biggest rock tour of the decade, a symbolic passing of the torch and a reaffirmation that hard rock is still alive and roaring in the modern era. As both Metallica and AC/DC prepare to dominate stages across the globe, fans can only imagine the monumental sound, spectacle, and sheer adrenaline that await.
Brace yourselves — 2026 is about to become the loudest year in music history.
