Metallica in Dublin FAQ: Setlist, timings, tickets, transport, and more... 

The metal monsters play two completely different gigs at the Aviva over the next few days. Here's what you need to know 

Metallica return to Ireland for two concerts in Dublin this weekend. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

When and where are the Metallica gigs?

Metallica bring their M72 world tour to the  Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday and Sunday, June 19 and 21. It’s their first time playing the capital since 2009 - though they did headline Slane Castle in 2019.

What time should you arrive?

Gates open at 5pm. Organisers say the show kicks off around 6pm, with the first of the support acts. Metallica will likely take to the stage between 8.30pm and 9pm.  

Who is supporting?

Friday: Pantera and Avatar.

Sunday: Gojira and Knocked Loose.

Ticket information

As of Wednesday, both one-day and two-day tickets were still available on Ticketmaster. Official one-day tickets are running over €190, while two-day resale tickets start from around €150. On-field standing tickets are going for €260 and up.

There will be two box offices located on Shelbourne Road and on Herbert Road - please see map.

Organisers advise downloading your tickets to your phone ahead of the event. Screenshots will not work as barcodes are live and updating regularly.

2-Day Ticket provides access to both Metallica performances.

Mobile tickets will automatically refresh in your Ticketmaster MyAccount for each event.

Any hard copy tickets, be sure to keep them safe — you'll need the same ticket for both nights.

It is not possible to transfer a single-day from a 2-Day Ticket. Any transfer must include both tickets to both shows. Limits apply.

Entering the stadium: 

You must enter through whichever gate is detailed on your ticket. Your ticket background colour is your dedicated route.

BLUE ROUTE (West Stand Upper & Pitch Standing) Enter via Shelbourne Road 

ORANGE ROUTE (West Stand Lower) Enter via Lansdowne Lane 

GREEN ROUTE (South Stand & Pitch Standing) Enter via Lansdowne Road 

PURPLE ROUTE (East Stand) Enter via Herbert Road / Tritonville Road 

RED ROUTE (North Stand & Pitch Standing) Enter via Bath Avenue

What will the weather be like?

Even metal fans want to know whether to prepare for hail or shine. Friday is looking like a wet day in Dublin with showers likely, especially earlier on. It should ease off by the evening and have dried up by the time the first strains of Ennio Morricone’s The Ecstasy of Gold signals that the main show is about to begin. Temperatures are likely to be in the high teens across the day - and it’ll be even hotter in the moshpit. Sunday looks like it should be dry all day.

 Metallica on stage in Berlin during the current tour.   (Photo by Rainer Keuenhof/Redferns)

What is the M72 tour?

Named for their 2023 album 72 Seasons, it kicked off in Amsterdam in April 2023 and the band have played to over 4 million fans since then. There are two USPs to the show:

1) No Repeat Weekenders - completely different setlists and support each night. Frankfurt, Budapest, and London Stadium (home to West Ham) are the only other spots on their European tour getting the same treatment this summer;

2) In-the-round stage: The band play on a huge circular stage in the middle of the pitch with an exclusive/VIP Snake Pit in the centre.  

Fun fact: In July 2025, after the main stage at Tomorrowland festival in Belgium caught fire and was destroyed just days before the event, Metallica stepped in and lent parts of their M72 tour stage (which was in storage in Austria after the European leg) to help rebuild it.

How to get to and from the gig?

Irish Rail is putting on some extra late services to help fans get home after the shows. On both Friday and Sunday, there’ll be a 12.40am departure from Dublin Heuston to Cork, with a connection through to Limerick Colbert. There's also an 11.45pm train from Connolly Station to Belfast.

The Aviva is within easy walking distance of Dublin city centre - it’s about 40 minutes’ walk from O’Connell Bridge.  

DART: Lansdowne Road station is basically at the stadium.

Bus: Multiple routes; check Dublin Bus site/app.

Taxi: Drop-offs at suggested locations such as Pembroke Road/Northumberland Road or Tritonville Road/Herbert Road. Best to book ahead - and note that post-gig demand will be high.

Metallica's 'in-the-round' stage. 

So what will the setlist be?

Metallica’s No Repeat Weekend means the two nights will have completely different setlists. If you’re only going to one show, you’ll definitely miss out on some favourites. We’re predicting Friday kicks off with Creeping Death and Sunday closes with Enter Sandman, but expect a killer mix both nights. Big anthems like Master of Puppets and Fade to Black through mid-era hits such as Wherever I May Roam and newer tracks like Lux Æterna. 

The loudest singalong of the weekend will almost certainly be their cover of Thin Lizzy’s Whiskey in the Jar. And don’t forget the Kirk and Rob ‘doodle’ section,which features a different cover every night - predictions for Dublin? (They played The Wild Rover, ManUNkind, and Orion at Slane in 2019).

 We’re not expecting to hear much from 2003’s St Anger, however; it’s the album that almost broke them and is the subject of one of the best music documentaries of all time, Some Kind of Monster.

What’s next for Metallica?

After the London Stadium shows on July 3/5, they’re bringing the No Repeat Weekenders to Sphere in Las Vegas in October and January-March. Tickets are already sold out.