Metallica Add Two “Intimate” Connecticut Dates to Close Out 2026
In a year dominated by the Sphere, Metallica just carved out two nights for something a little more old school.
The band announced today that they'll play a pair of shows at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on November 19 and 21, 2026. The two concerts will be Metallica's only U.S. dates of 2026 outside of their massive Las Vegas Sphere residency. The shows also celebrate the Mohegan Sun Arena's 25th anniversary.
At roughly 10,000 capacity, the Mohegan Sun Arena qualifies as “intimate” by Metallica's current standards. This is a band that spends most of its time filling European football stadiums and, starting October 1, taking over the most technologically advanced concert venue ever built. Playing a mid-size arena in southeastern Connecticut feels almost like a house show by comparison.
True to form, Metallica is keeping the No Repeat Weekend format alive for the two nights. Crossover thrash legends Suicidal Tendencies will open the first night on November 19, while Spiritbox takes the support slot on November 21. The Suicidal Tendencies connection runs deep for the Metallica camp. Bassist Robert Trujillo spent years playing with the band before joining Metallica in 2003, and his son Tye Trujillo now holds down that same bass slot in the group's current lineup. Spiritbox, meanwhile, represents the newer guard of heavy music and has been on a steep upward trajectory since their 2021 debut.
“Just as we're getting ready to head out on the road for the first shows of '26, we've added two more gigs to the calendar to wrap up the year,” the band said in a statement.
Metallica's 2026 touring begins May 9 in Athens, Greece, with European and U.K. dates running through early July. After a roughly three month break, they'll launch the “Life Burns Faster” residency at the Sphere on October 1. That residency comprises 24 total shows stretching into early 2027, continuing the No Repeat Weekend tradition where no songs are played twice across paired Thursday and Saturday performances.
The Mohegan Sun dates will close the book on 2026 and give East Coast fans a rare chance to see Metallica in a setting where the back row still feels like it's in the building. Tickets go on sale April 10 at 10 AM ET, with Fifth Members getting presale access starting April 8 at 10 AM ET via Ticketmaster.
After four decades and change, Metallica still knows how to make a 10,000 seat arena feel like a gift.
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