The Las Vegas Sphere is still turning heads with eye-catching visuals
The Las Vegas Sphere has already secured its place as of the best displays off the Strip with its eye-catching visuals.
From the moment U2 burst onto their turntable-styled stage in September 2023, the Las Vegas Sphere transformed live entertainment.
Since then, the 17,600-capacity venue nestled near the Venetian Resort and Wynn Las Vegas just off the Las Vegas Strip has enticed sell-out crowds for residencies from Phish, Dead & Company and the Eagles, the latter two of which are still continuing.
But the groundbreaking Sphere, with an exosphere broadcasting continuous imagery ranging from eyeballs to ugly Christmas sweaters to signature emoji mascot Orbi, is maximizing its technological abilities with not only live music, but filmed feats as well.
“Postcard from Earth,” directed by Darren Aronofsky, and U2’s gripping concert movie “V-U2,” play almost daily (prices start at roughly $100 for each) and the Sphere has two additional film projects on deck: “The Wizard of Oz” will be transformed into an immersive experience that retains the heart of the original film and opens Aug. 28, while “From the Edge,” due in 2026, explores extreme sports with athletes including rock climber Alex Honnold, freediver Alenka Artnik and surfer Kai Lenny.
Who will play the Sphere in 2025?
Here’s a look at the current concert lineup rotating through the Sphere. Ticket prices and availability vary; visit thesphere.com for more information.
Eagles
Dates: Friday-Saturday; April 11-12; Sept. 5-6; Sept. 12-13
Time: 8:30 p.m.
What to expect: Anchored by founding member Don Henley, the band also includes long-timers Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit along with Deacon Frey (son of the late Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey), honorary Eagle Vince Gill and Chris Holt (who recently replaced veteran sidesman Steuart Smith after a diagnosis of Parkinsonism).
A trip through the California rockers’ deep treasure chest of songs begins with a beguiling ride through the “Hotel California” that is both lovely and eerie. For two hours, the Eagles roll through chestnuts including “One of These Nights,” Gill showcase “Take it To the Limit,” a caffeinated “Life in the Fast Lane” and ingrained hits from Henley (“The Boys of Summer”) and Walsh (“Life’s Been Good”).
Dead & Company
Dates: April 17-19; April 24-26; May 9-11; May 15-17
Time: 7:30 p.m.
What to expect: Changing setlists are a hallmark of Dead shows and the more than three dozen they’ve played at the Sphere since May 2024 have followed that 60-year blueprint. With John Mayer (who is co-creative director of the shows) and Bob Weir helming the crew of psychedelic pioneers, Dead & Company bring fans through two sets of stunning, vibrant imagery. The backstage passes that digitally paper the entirety of the Sphere walls and the trip from Haight-Asbury to space are particularly captivating.
The band, which also features Mickey Hart, Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge and Bill Kreutzmann, have dutifully popped surprise jams into the concerts, especially with their second round of dates that began in late March. But “Brown-Eyed Women,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “China Cat Sunflower” and Sugaree” are among the frequent inclusions.
Kenny Chesney
Dates: May 22, 24-25; May 28; May 30-31; June 4; June 6-7; June 11; June 13-14; June 18; June 20-21
Time: 8 p.m.
What to expect: As both the first country artist and first solo musician to play the Sphere, Chesney will have a blank tablet to craft his inaugural appearances. Though well-regarded for his high-octane stadium romps usually focused on his indefatigable performance style, Chesney has stated that the technological possibilities at the venue intrigued him – and also prompted him to sign on for a residency without having seen a live Sphere show.
But after seeing the “V-U2” film at the venue and how the setting “took what they were doing and multiplied it by another dimension,” Chesney tells USA TODAY he quickly jumped to a point where “the dreaming begins” for his own production.
Backstreet Boys
Dates: July 11-13; July 18-20; July 25-27; Aug. 1-3; Aug. 8-10; Aug. 15-17
Time: 8 p.m.
What to expect: Another first for the Sphere in 2025 is the debut of its first pop act, the ’90s quintet whose popularity has aged well and with a multigenerational fan base. Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, AJ McLean and Howie Dorough are complementing their Sphere debut with a rerelease of their smash 1999 album, “Millennium,” which spawned the hits “Larger Than Life,” “I Want it That Way” and “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.” Aptly, “Millennium 2.0” – with remasters of the original dozen tracks, demos, live versions and the new song “Hey!” – lands the same day as their Sphere kickoff.
As the group told USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa, the Vegas shows will showcase all of “Millennium,” along with what McLean called the band’s “personal favorites and the greatest hits.”
UNITY
Dates: Aug. 29-31; Sept. 19-20; Sept. 26-27; Oct. 17-18 (general public on sale Monday; presales currently available)
Time: 11:15 p.m.
What to expect: The elite technology that powers the Sphere makes for an obvious marriage with electronic dance music, as showcased over New Year’s with Anyma “The End of Genesys.” Coming this summer is the pairing of EDM’s biggest festival curators, Tomorrowland and Insomniac, with UNITY, which is billed as an immersive performance.
Dance music, orchestral arrangements, cinematic sweeps and mesmerizing beats will utilize the venue’s pristine sound system. Each show will include a one-hour finale commandeered by a surprise guest DJ – a popular staple in Las Vegas.
