𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫,”..𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬

𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫,”..𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬.

 

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global heavy metal community, two of the genre’s most legendary forces — Metallica and Judas Priest — have officially announced their long-rumored 2026 joint world tour. Aptly titled “Forged in Steel: The Tour,” this collaboration marks one of the most powerful alliances in heavy metal history, uniting generations of fans under the banner of pure, unfiltered rock power.

After months of speculation, teasers, and cryptic posts from both bands, the official announcement came via simultaneous livestreams on both groups’ social media channels. The moment the words “Forged in Steel” appeared on screen, fans erupted into a frenzy — a fitting reaction to what promises to be one of the most historic tours of the decade.

—

🔥 The Concept: “Forged in Steel”

The title “Forged in Steel” perfectly captures the essence of what this tour represents — strength, unity, endurance, and the timeless power of metal. Both Metallica and Judas Priest have long stood as titans in the music world, each carving their legacy in steel through decades of groundbreaking performances and anthems that shaped the very DNA of rock and metal.

Lars Ulrich of Metallica explained in the official press statement:

> “We’ve always seen Judas Priest as our mentors, our inspiration. They set the standard for what heavy metal could be — fast, fierce, and fearless. ‘Forged in Steel’ is more than a tour — it’s a celebration of the music that made us who we are.”

 

Rob Halford, the “Metal God” himself, added with a grin:

> “When two forces of metal come together, it’s not just a concert — it’s a crusade. Fans have wanted this for years, and we’re ready to raise hell across the world.”

 

—

🌍 Global Tour Dates and Cities

The “Forged in Steel: The Tour” will kick off in April 2026 in San Francisco, California, Metallica’s hometown, before heading across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia.
While the full list of dates will be unveiled next month, a few key stops have been teased:

San Francisco, CA – Levi’s Stadium

New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden

London, UK – Wembley Stadium

Berlin, Germany – Olympiastadion

São Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque

Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome

Sydney, Australia – Accor Stadium

Insiders close to both camps confirm that additional surprise shows — including smaller, intimate “metal club” performances — are being planned to honor each band’s early roots.

⚙️ Setlist Dreams: A Battle of Legends

If there’s one thing fans are buzzing about, it’s the setlist. Both Metallica and Judas Priest boast catalogs packed with metal masterpieces, and speculation is already running wild.

Metallica is expected to bring thunderous renditions of:

Enter Sandman

Master of Puppets

Nothing Else Matters

One

Fuel

Lux Æterna (from their 2023 album 72 Seasons)

Meanwhile, Judas Priest will bring their firestorm of classics like:

Breaking the Law

Painkiller

Living After Midnight

Electric Eye

Hell Bent for Leather

Firepower

But the real shocker? Both bands have hinted at a joint performance segment each night — a collaborative jam where Metallica and Priest share the stage for metal mashups and never-before-heard duets. Imagine James Hetfield and Rob Halford trading verses on The Sentinel or For Whom the Bell Tolls. Fans can barely contain themselves.

—

🛠️ The Stage Design: A Monument of Metal

The production team behind the tour promises a stage unlike anything ever seen. Designed by TAIT, the same creative company responsible for U2’s “360° Tour” and Beyoncé’s “Renaissance World Tour,” the stage will feature a massive steel cathedral aesthetic — complete with moving pyrotechnic panels, laser-lined arches, and a center “forge” that glows red-hot throughout the show.

Every performance will tell a visual story of metal’s evolution — from the molten roots of early Priest riffs to the thunderous modern precision of Metallica’s arena dominance. Expect flames, smoke, holograms, and mechanical dragons — yes, dragons — all symbolizing the “forging” of metal through time.

—

🤘 The Legacy: Two Eras, One Brotherhood

Metallica and Judas Priest share more than just a genre — they share a legacy built on rebellion, innovation, and endurance.

Judas Priest, formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969, are widely credited as pioneers of heavy metal’s twin-guitar sound and leather-and-studs aesthetic. Their groundbreaking albums — British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance, and Painkiller — redefined the genre forever.

Metallica, born in Los Angeles in 1981, took that foundation and built an empire. With over 125 million albums sold and countless sold-out tours, they are arguably the most influential heavy metal band of all time. From thrash anthems to ballads, their music transcends generations.

This tour isn’t just a collaboration — it’s a torch-passing event, a symbolic merging of two eras. It celebrates 50+ years of heavy metal’s past while charging headlong into its future.

—

💬 Fan Reactions: “The Ultimate Metal Dream”

Within minutes of the announcement, social media exploded. Hashtags like #ForgedInSteelTour, #MetallicaPriest2026, and #MetalGodsUnite trended globally.

Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with messages like:

> “I’ve waited my whole life for this. Metallica and Priest on one stage — it’s like witnessing the gods themselves.”
“If this doesn’t melt the Earth’s crust, nothing will.”
“I don’t care where it is — I’m traveling across continents to see this.”

 

Metal magazines like Kerrang! and Rolling Stone have already labeled the tour “a once-in-a-lifetime moment in rock history.”

—

🎟️ Ticket Information & Pre-Sale

Tickets for “Forged in Steel: The Tour” go on sale December 6, 2025, via Metallica.com, JudasPriest.com, and major ticketing platforms. A special “Steel Circle VIP Package” will include:

Front-row seats

Exclusive tour merchandise

A limited-edition forged steel laminate

Backstage meet-and-greet with both bands

Signed memorabilia and photo ops inside “The Forge Room” exhibit

Members of both fan clubs — Fifth Member (Metallica) and Priesthood (Judas Priest) — will receive early access to pre-sale tickets 48 hours in advance.

—

⚡ The Message: Unity in Metal

In a time when music genres often clash and evolve rapidly, “Forged in Steel” stands as a powerful statement — that heavy metal remains unbreakable, immortal, and united.

As James Hetfield said in the final line of the announcement:

> “Metal isn’t just sound. It’s blood, sweat, and fire — and in 2026, we’re bringing it all.”

 

And with that, the world braces for impact.

Metallica x Judas Priest: Forged in Steel — The Tour 2026
Coming to stadiums worldwide. Prepare for the storm.