U2:UV

U2 is performing a residency in Las Vegas in late 2023, the show will be called U2:UV. It is described as "Achtung Baby live at The Sphere." Promo for the shows listed "Coming to MSG Sphere Fall 2023". Press information was posted online, and quickly taken down, and reposted after a short 15 second ad for the residency aired at the end of the game.

In August 2022, Billboard first shared news of a U2 residency at the new MSG Sphere being built in Las Vegas. It is believed that U2 had just agreed to the residency as the news of the dates leaked. The new venue, located in Las Vegas, is part of the Venetian properties, and is being built and managed by MSG Entertainment.

U2 were initially rumoured to play non-consecutive weeks at the venue, and subsequent rumours published in the Las Vegas Review have shared that the band will be playing on Friday and Saturday nights. The Las Vegas Review Journal guessed that the opening dates are September 29 and 30, 2023. Our own sources have said there have been some recent changes to the initial schedule, and the residency in general, and we do not have information on final dates at this time. On February 9, reps for the MSG Sphere announced that the venue will be open in September 2023. The U2Community account on Twitter posted a picture of the Vegas skyline, with an image of a baby on February 10, 2023, with a link to U2XSphere.com.

The band are expected to play approximately 10 shows between September and December. Room for additional shows is possible. The announcement after the Super Bowl came with confirmation via press release that Larry Mullen Jr. will not be performing, and the band will welcome drummer Bram van den Berg to play these shows on stage. Bono, Edge and Adam shared, "It's going to take all we've got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right."

The title of the residency was initially rumoured to be SOS Baby. When announced it had been called U2:UV. "UV" likely refers to "Ultra Violet", one of the songs on the album being celebrated, Achtung Baby.

In the Fall Bono shared with Brendon O'Connor, "I hope it would be ready. I can’t announce Vegas, you’d have to shoot me. But if it happens, I can promise you it won’t be like anything you’ve ever seen in Las Vegas or anywhere ever. It is the most extraordinary…If it comes off, it’s grand madness by 100. It would centre around Achtung Baby, which we feel we need to really honor. But it will also, but we have to have the new songs out don’t we?” Asked if there would be a residence, Bono replies, “There’s no place yet, big enough. If we can build one for our audience. But it will be, for us to go, it have to be like no one has ever gone before. That sounds a bit Star Trek. Part Star Trek, part traveling salesman. I’ve got some books…"

A press release from U2 sent on February 10, 2023, shares the band will be participating in a Super Bowl commercial on Sunday night, and "Something is coming..." A preview of the commercial was posted to U2's social media accounts earlier in the day. A longer 4-minute version of the ad was made available via YouTube on the band's account.

U2:UV (Las Vegas Residency)

  • Dates have not yet been announced. We'll have them here as soon as they are announced.

Related News: U2 x Sphere