The band has started rehearsal work for a not-yet-announced stadium run. Larry Mullen Jr. has rejoined live shows after neck and back surgery and says he may limit his stage time; new album Carnaval De Luz arrives November 13.
U2 have begun rehearsals for a forthcoming stadium tour that has not been formally announced.
Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. has returned to live performance after neck and back surgery in 2023 but says he may play shorter sets.
Carnaval De Luz, produced by Jacknife Lee, is due November 13 and includes guest contributions such as Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocal.
# What's happening
U2 are back in rehearsal for a new stadium tour. The band's core members — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. — have been working through material ahead of an announcement for large-scale dates.
Mullen missed parts of the band's previous engagements after undergoing neck and back surgery in 2023. He has since resumed playing at surprise shows and returned to rehearsals. He told Rolling Stone that he's adapting how he plays older material and was pleasantly surprised by how those reinterpretations sounded in rehearsal. He remains cautious about his recovery and evening-after-night touring. "Even if I can't play for two and a half hours, if I can play for an hour, that's enough," he said.
Bono expressed concern for the group's wellbeing and singled out Mullen's fitness as a priority. The band is making practical decisions around how much Mullen will be expected to play on the road.
# What the setlists may include
The new material comes on the heels of two six-track EPs released earlier this year, Days Of Ash and Easter Lily. A new album, Carnaval De Luz, produced by Jacknife Lee, is scheduled for release on November 13. The record has been described as addressing themes of spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance.
# Notable songs and guest contributions
# Recent live activity and promotional moves
# Timeline and next steps
More details about the stadium tour — dates, routing and ticket on-sale information — are expected to be announced soon. The band is actively rehearsing and testing how the new songs and older catalogue work together in a live setting that will need to accommodate Mullen's current physical limits.
# What this means for fans
Expect a mix of new material and reworked classics. Fans should watch for two types of shows: the large stadium scale and potentially smaller, intimate performances intended to present the new songs in a different setting. Ticketing and full itinerary are pending the band's formal announcement.
# Quick facts
The band recently began rehearsals for their first tour since 2019. U2 Plotting New Stadium Tour Alex Young
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