We already knew Megadeth’s self-titled final album would be one of the biggest metal albums of 2026, and it turns out Dave Mustaine’s last notes with his long-running thrash force have resonated with the rest of the music world, too — as Megadeth just debuted at the top of the Billboard 200.
This marks the group’s first time at the top of the Billboard’s all-genre album chart — though Megadeth had made it to #2 with 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, and hit #3 with both 2016’s Dystopia and 2022’s The Sick, the Dying…and the Dead.
“After 40 years of delivering Megadeth music, playing shows around the world, I have nothing but gratitude at this moment. Finding out that our last Megadeth record is also our first #1 only further validates my will to go out on top,” Mustaine said in a statement with gratitude, adding, “Thank you to my family, (guitarist) Teemu Mantasaari, (bassist) James LoMenzo and (drummer) Dirk Verbueren, and (Megadeth producer) Chris Rakestraw, all our fans for making this possible, without you Megadeth would not be as successful as we are.”
In addition to topping the U.S album charts, Megadeth secured #1 placements in Australia and Austria; #2 in Finland, Sweden and Belgium; #3 in both the U.K. and Germany; #4 in the Netherlands; and #5 in Italy and New Zealand.
In related news, Megadeth are set to begin a headlining Canadian tour with Anthrax and Exodus later this month, and will then support their final album on a summer run with Iron Maiden and Anthrax.