U2 are rehearsing for a possible return to stadium stages, with Larry Mullen Jr. back behind the drums after neck and back surgery. The drummer recently joined the band for surprise performances in Dublin, but there is still no published tour itinerary or ticket announcement. For now, the news is about the four musicians playing together again, not dates fans can book.
Larry Mullen Jr. is back in the room
Mullen missed U2's Las Vegas Sphere residency while recovering from surgery in 2023. His appearance alongside Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton at recent Dublin shows was therefore more than a cameo: it brought the band's familiar lineup back to a live setting. The Sphere run was a striking chapter in the group's history, and it also belongs to a wider trend we explored in our piece on why pop icons are drawn to Vegas residencies.
Older songs, a new drummer's perspective
Rehearsing a large catalog after time away is not simply a matter of recreating old recordings. Mullen has spoken about approaching some familiar songs differently in rehearsal. That may give long-time listeners a fresh way into material they know by heart, though the band has not confirmed a setlist.
New music is part of the picture
U2's 12-track album Carnaval De Luz, produced by Jacknife Lee, is due November 13. The band has already shared the track “Silencio” and released the Days Of Ash and Easter Lily EPs earlier this year. Those songs give the group a substantial pool of recent material to draw from if a tour is announced. NME's September 29 report also notes that the musicians are considering how newer work might sit beside the older catalog.
The scale of any future production remains unknown. Stadium tours bring a different set of choices from residencies, from staging to travel, a subject we examined in our article about eco-friendly touring. Until U2 shares dates through its own channels, fans should treat venue lists and ticket claims circulating online as unconfirmed.
