Megadeth Announces First UK Headlining Tour Since 2015 for 2027
Megadeth announced a 2027 European tour that includes the band's first headlining dates in the United Kingdom since November 2015. The Grammy‑winning thrash metal veterans will kick off the UK leg on March 9, 2027, at The O2 in Belfast and will continue through March 19, 2027, with stops in London, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham and Leeds before heading to mainland Europe. Supporting acts Black Label Society and Testament will join the tour, and a Live Nation pre‑sale for UK tickets begins at 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, August 6, with general sales opening at 10 a.m. on August 7. Formed in 1983 by singer‑guitarist Dave Mustaine, who remains the sole constant member, Megadeth has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. Their fifth album, "Countdown to Extinction" (1992), reached number two on the US Billboard 200, and the band earned a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2017 with the single "Dystopia." In 2023, their song "We'll Be Back" received a Grammy nomination but lost to Ozzy Osbourne's "Degradation Rules." The group is currently on a farewell run that began earlier this year with North and Latin American dates. Mustaine, now 64, announced the band's impending retirement last summer, stating, "Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years." He later revealed that radial neuropathy, a condition causing wrist drop, also influenced the decision, as it makes playing guitar painful. In January 2027, Megadeth released their final studio album, a self‑titled record on BLKIIBLK, which received positive reviews, including a four‑star rating from Metal Hammer's Dom Lawson, and became the band's first US chart‑topper. The album's bonus track is a cover of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning," a song co‑written by Mustaine before his 1983 dismissal from Metallica. The 2027 European itinerary continues after the UK shows with performances in Paris (March 21), Brussels (March 23), Dusseldorf (March 25), Copenhagen (March 27), Oslo (March 28), Hamburg (March 30), Berlin (April 1), Krakow (April 2), Munich (April 4), Bern (April 5), Milan (April 6), Lyon (April 8), Barcelona (April 10), Madrid (April 12) and Lisbon (April 13). The tour marks Megadeth's return to the UK headline stage after a 12‑year gap; the last UK run in November 2015 concluded with a co‑headlining show at Wembley Arena alongside Lamb of God, with Children of Bodom and Sylosis as supporting acts. Since then, the band has remained a frequent presence on UK festivals, headlining Bloodstock Open Air in 2017 and 2023 and supporting Five Finger Death Punch in arena dates last autumn. Rumors have surfaced that Megadeth may release a greatest‑hits compilation titled "Fast Hits" on August 21, 2027, after a listing appeared on the Walmart website. The band has not confirmed the release. Fans can anticipate a final chapter of Megadeth's career, with the 2027 tour serving as both a celebration of their four‑decade legacy and a farewell to live audiences worldwide.
Megadeth on stage during 2027 European tour
