U2 will launch their return to stadiums on February 23, 2027, kicking off a world tour in Mexico City alongside upcoming support act Beck and previewing material from their 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz, arriving November 13.
The band announced the first six dates of their upcoming itinerary, marking their first stadium outings since The Joshua Tree Tour concluded in December 2019. Billed as Carnaval De Luz presents: The Greatest Show on Earth, the tour takes its title from the project’s third single, released alongside the tour announcement.
Stadium Dates Across Latin America and Ticket Presales
The initial six-date run is confined to three Latin American cities. U2 will play two-night stands at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Estádio MorumBIS in São Paulo, and Estadio River Plate in Buenos Aires. Beck will support all six performances during this Latin American leg. Live Nation Global Touring is producing the outing, which the band describes as a performance spectacle embracing human connection and intimacy at a grand scale, drawing from a set list spanning their entire catalogue. The group celebrated their 50th anniversary on September 25 with a gig at their former school, Mount Temple, and a surprise performance on Dublin’s Grafton Street. Additional 2027 dates for Europe and North America are set to be announced in the coming weeks, along with plans for an Irish homecoming.
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2027 | Mexico City, Mexico | Estadio GNP Seguros |
| February 26, 2027 | Mexico City, Mexico | Estadio GNP Seguros |
| March 10, 2027 | São Paulo, Brazil | Estádio MorumBIS |
| March 12, 2027 | São Paulo, Brazil | Estádio MorumBIS |
| March 23, 2027 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Estadio River Plate |
| March 25, 2027 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Estadio River Plate |
Tickets will be available first through a U2.com subscriber presale starting Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. local time, divided into specific fan groups including Feedback and The Hype. General ticket sales begin on Thursday, October 22, for São Paulo and Buenos Aires, and Friday, October 23, for Mexico City.
Carnaval De Luz and the Return of Larry Mullen Jr.
The upcoming tour supports Carnaval De Luz, the band’s 16th studio album and first collection of new material in nine years. Recorded by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., the album follows a period where mixes for previous records ping-ponged between numerous producers, leading the group toward a more back-to-basics approach. The album features a track listing consisting of Go (Carnaval De Luz)
, “La Reina”, Street Of Dreams
, The Mirror Maker (Rosalía)
, “Superficiality”, If The World Is At War We Better Not Be
, “Silencio”, The Greatest Show On Earth
, “Glorify”, Midnight Sunshine
, Can’t Stop Us Now
, and Torn (Feat. Dolly Parton)
. Available formats for the release include Limited Edition Deluxe Vinyl and CD Boxsets, various limited-edition colored and bespoke vinyl variants, standard CD, standard vinyl, and digital download. The record also features the final recorded vocal performance from Dolly Parton on its closing track, “Torn,” co-written by the band, Parton, and Johnny McDaid. Earlier in the year, the band released two EPs entitled Days of Ash and Easter Lily.
Mullen told Rolling Stone Magazine that he will assess his fitness on a night-by-night basis as he manages his return to live performance, noting that even an hour on stage is enough if he cannot play for two and a half hours. Mullen originally formed the band after placing a note on his school noticeboard at Mount Temple Comprehensive in Dublin, where his parents facilitated early rehearsals by moving their kitchen table into the back garden.
The Single and Visuals Behind the New Era
Co-written by U2 and Brian Eno, the new single The Greatest Show on Earth
joins “Silencio” and Street of Dreams
as a preview of the upcoming album. The track’s accompanying music video was directed by Anton Corbijn and filmed in the Californian desert, satirizing the band as a religious cult where women do all the heavy lifting. The song itself is described as a story of lovers fighting to keep faith in each other and faith itself.
“The Greatest Show on Earth”? Now that’s a throwdown. It’s a dare, to ourselves as much as anyone, to try and have the best night of anybody’s life. A bit of showman, a bit of shaman, a riot of colour, unreasonable guitar, bass and drums, and tunes you can hold onto. Because if people are gonna show up, we certainly are.
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.
Additional dates for Europe and North America are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, alongside plans for an Irish homecoming performance.