ASX metals and mining shares have been one of the hottest stories of 2026.
The S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining (ASX: XMM) index is up an impressive 7% already in 3 weeks of trading this year.
For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up just 1% in that same period.
Here are 5 metals and mining shares off to hot starts in 2026.
Image source: Getty Images
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)
Whitehaven Coal is a large Australian independent thermal and metallurgical coal miner with mines in the Gunnedah Basin, New South Wales.
The coal miner has benefited from long-term global coal demand increases and strengthening coal prices this year.
Already in 2026, its share price has risen from $7.80 to almost $9 per share.
This is a 14.6% increase.
NICO Resources Ltd (ASX: NC1)
NICO Resources is a small-cap mineral exploration and development company.
It is engaged in exploring, developing, evaluating, acquiring, and exploiting mineral resource project opportunities.
It has been one of the hottest materials shares to start 2026, rising from $0.14 to $0.35 in that period.
That represents a rise of 150%.
Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX: VMM)
Viridis Mining & Minerals engages in mineral exploration primarily on a portfolio of coal assets in Indonesia.
Yesterday, its stock price rose by more than 7%.
Including this gain, it is now up 46% in 2026 and more than 330% in the last 12 months.
Investors have been reacting positively this year to the conditional Letter of Support ('LOS') for up to US$50 million from Export Finance Australia ('EFA').
Bell Potter believes this growth could continue.
The broker has a speculative buy rating and set a price target of $2.65 on these ASX mining shares.
That indicates a further upside of more than 42%.
Titan Minerals Ltd (ASX: TTM)
Titan Minerals shares jumped 5% yesterday to take its year to date gains to more than 30%.
There has been plenty of positive news out of the gold miner already this year.
Titan Minerals shares also jumped 7% on January 14 after a strong exploration update from its Dynasty Gold Project in Ecuador.
Titan Minerals Ltd. is a minerals exploration and production company, which focuses on medium-sized gold projects in South America.
It has enjoyed massive gains over the past year (like many other gold shares).
This gold mining company is up more than 180% in the last 12 months.
Benz Mining Corp (ASX: BNZ)
Benz Mining is a Canadian mining development company focused on advancing the Eastmain Gold Mine project in the James Bay Region, Quebec.
After yesterday's 4.4% rise, it has now increased more than 22% this year.
In the last 12 months it is up more than 400%.
