Megadeth has achieved their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart in the band’s 40 year history. Their latest release, a self-titled album which is said to be the band’s final studio release debuted at the top of the charts for Feb. 7th 2026. Megadeth originally appeared on the Billboard charts for the first time back in 1986 and has appeared 23 times throughout their career.
Before this week’s No. 1 the Megadeth had climbed as high as No. 2 back in 1992 with their landmark album “Countdown to Extinction.”
The new self-titled album was released on January 23rd 2026, one day after Mr. Mustaine released a documentary film “Megadeth: Behind the Mask” in movie theaters.
The album sold 73,000 equivalient units in the U.S. during the week of it’s release (Jan. 23 – 29th). According to Billboard, this would mark the band’s best week ever measured by units earned, since the charts began ranking units back in Dec. 2014. The album did well mostly due to pure album sales which are physical and digital copies of the album, that totaled 69,000. That is apparently the biggest sales week for ANY Megadeth record since 1999’s Risk which opened with 74,000 sold. Megadeth’s 73,000 units number also marks the lowest sum to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since last May, when SZA’s album SOS returned to No. 1 with 52,000 units.
Megadeth’s first album to chart on the Billboard 200 was Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? on Oct. 25th 1986. The album debuted at No. 118 and peaked at 76. Their first appearance in the top 40 with 1988’s So Far, So Good… So What! in 1988. Countdown to Extinction in 1992 was their first top 10. They would go on to have 9 entrances in the Top 10.
Megadeth’s appearance at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 also brings hard rock back to the top of the chart for the first time since last May when Sleep Token topped the chart with their “Even in Arcadia”.
Congrats to Dave Mustaine & Co. for their chart topping debut.
(Source: Billboard.com)
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