U2 release Brian Eno collaboration and announce six 2027 stadium shows
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
U2 have released ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’, a new single from their forthcoming album, and confirmed the first dates of a 2027 world stadium tour. The announcements add to the build-up for ‘Carnaval De Luz’, due on 13 November, and signal the band’s return to full-scale concerts after their Las Vegas Sphere residency ended in early 2024.
The co-written track features Brian Eno and has an Anton Corbijn-directed video filmed in the Californian desert. The six announced shows are in Mexico City, São Paulo and Buenos Aires in February and March, with Beck supporting; more dates for the UK, Europe and North America are expected. General ticket sales begin on 22 October, following a U2.com subscriber pre-sale on 19 October.
- U2 release a new single ahead of their 16th album.
- Six 2027 stadium shows are confirmed in three South American cities.
- Beck will support, with more tour dates expected.
New here? Start with this
U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976, with Bono as singer, the Edge on guitar, Adam Clayton on bass and Larry Mullen Jr on drums. They became one of the world’s best-known bands through albums such as The Joshua Tree and long-running international tours.
The band’s 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz, is due in November. Its latest single was co-written with Brian Eno, a British musician and producer who has worked with U2 on several albums. U2’s 2027 stadium tour will be their first full-scale concert run since their Las Vegas Sphere residency, a series of shows at the immersive venue that ended in 2024.
Full account
U2 have released ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’, a new single from their forthcoming 16th studio album, ‘Carnaval De Luz’, due on 13 November. Co-written with Brian Eno, the expansive track is presented as a story about lovers trying to retain faith in one another and in faith itself. Its lyrics move between intimacy and cosmic imagery, while The Edge’s prominent guitar gives the song a broad, dramatic scale.
The single arrives with a black-and-white video directed by Anton Corbijn and filmed in the Californian desert. The video satirises the band as a religious cult, with women doing the group’s heavy lifting. The release follows the album’s earlier singles, ‘Silencio’ and ‘Street Of Dreams’. U2 have described the title as a challenge to themselves to deliver a memorable live night, with showmanship, colour, forceful playing and songs audiences can hold on to.
The band have also announced the first six dates of a stadium tour billed as ‘Carnaval De Luz presents: The Greatest Show On Earth’. The Latin American leg begins in Mexico City on 23 February 2027, followed by two shows in São Paulo in March and two in Buenos Aires later that month. Beck is named as support for these opening concerts. Further dates in Europe and North America are expected to be announced in the coming weeks; the band’s live return to Ireland is also in development.
The tour will be U2’s first full-scale run of concerts since their Sphere residency in Las Vegas ended in early 2024. The band were reported to be rehearsing for the stadium shows last month, with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. returning to the stage after surgery. The announcement signals a return to large venues, while leaving the eventual scale and itinerary of the 2027 tour open.
Where outlets differ
The reports agree on the six Latin American dates and Beck’s support, but differ on the Buenos Aires dates: Source 1 gives 23 and 26 March, while Source 2 gives 23 and 25 March.
Source 2 specifies that the tour is Live Nation-produced and says it will continue through 2027 ‘and beyond’; Source 1 does not include those details.
Ticket information is described differently: Source 1 says general sale begins at 10am local time on 22 October and subscriber presale at the same time on 19 October. Source 2 says the presale starts Monday at 10am local time and remaining tickets become available on 22 October at U2.com.
More coverage
- Variety — U2 Announces ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ Global Stadium Tour for 2027, Kicking Off in Latin America
- Stereogum — U2 Share “The Greatest Show On Earth,” Announce First 2027 Tour Dates
Art Culture Entertainment Music
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by NME as “U2 share epic new single ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ and first dates of 2027 world tour”.