Metallica is back: Budapest to host two jaw-dropping shows in 2026
After an eight-year break, Metallica is set to make a powerful return to Hungary in the summer of 2026. The legendary heavy metal band will perform two shows at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest as part of their ongoing M72 World Tour — and Budapest is among only a handful of European cities privileged to host them for two nights.
Metallica in Hungary
This upcoming Budapest concert will mark Metallica’s seventh performance in Hungary. Their last show was in April 2018, when they played to a sold-out crowd at the Budapest Arena.
11 September 1988 – MTK Stadium, Budapest. The first Metallica concert in Hungary, the opening stop of the …And Justice For All… world tour. Several songs were played live for the first time, including “Blackened,” “Eye of the Beholder,” “One,” and the title track. The opening act was the Hungarian band Pokolgép. Interestingly, the band members met a group of fans from Hódmezővásárhely at the Halászbástya and jokingly said that Jason (the bass guitarist) was resting at the hotel because he was hungover from European beer. James Hetfield, drunk, tried to buy the sword of one of the Hungarian kings at a museum.
One of their most legendary local appearances took place in 1993 at the Kisstadion, a show still remembered by longtime fans for its raw intensity and unforgettable energy. In 2010, the band headlined the Sziget Festival, performing Enter Sandman as a thunderstorm rolled over the city — a moment fans describe as “electrifying in every sense.”
About the band
Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, Metallica has become one of the most influential and commercially successful bands in rock history. The group has released 11 studio albums, with their most recent, 72 Seasons, arriving in 2023. They’ve sold more than 125 million records worldwide and earned 10 Grammy Awards.
Current band members:
- James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
- Lars Ulrich – drums
- Robert Trujillo – bass (joined in 2003)
Some of their most iconic songs include Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, One, The Unforgiven, The Day That Never Comes, and The Memory Remains.
The 2026 tour also continues the band’s charitable mission through their All Within My Hands Foundation, with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting local community organisations in each tour city.
Two unique shows – “No Repeat Weekend” comes to Hungary
The European leg of Metallica’s 2026 tour kicked off on 9 May in Athens, with 16 concerts planned across the continent. Apart from Budapest, only Frankfurt, Dublin, and London will see the band play two different setlists on separate nights, featuring entirely different support acts as well.
The Budapest dates are now confirmed:
- Thursday, 11 June, 2026
- Saturday, 13 June, 2026
This special “No Repeat Weekend” format ensures that each night offers a completely different experience. On 11 June, fans can expect performances by Pantera and Avatar as opening acts, while Gojira and Knocked Loose will warm up the stage on 13 June.
Venue and ticket prices
The concerts will take place at the Puskás Aréna, Hungary’s largest stadium, offering a wide range of ticket categories from standard seating to premium VIP experiences:
- Seated tickets: HUF 51,100 – HUF 98,100 (EUR 127 – 243)
- Standing tickets: HUF 89,100 (EUR 221)
- Enhanced experience packages: from HUF 179,000 to HUF 1,300,000 (EUR 444 to 3225) (includes early entry, exclusive merchandise, VIP access, and more)
When do tickets go on sale?
Ticket sales will roll out in several phases on the Live Nation website:
- 27 May, 9:00 AM – Legacy fan club presale
- 27 May 27, 11:00 AM – Fifth Member presale
- 29 May 29, 10:00 AM – Live Nation presale for registered users
- 30 May 30, 10:00 AM – General public sale opens
Metallica’s 2026 Budapest shows promise to be more than just concerts — they’re immersive musical events spanning two unforgettable nights. With distinct setlists, world-class support acts, and a production worthy of rock royalty, this will be a once-in-a-decade experience for fans in Hungary.
Read here for more programme guide in Hungary
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