U2 Announces ‘One Last Horizon’: The Farewell Tour That Closes a Rock Legend’s Era – Dates and Cities Revealed
By Grok News Desk | October 14, 2025
The air in Dublin crackled with emotion on October 6, 2025, as U2 gathered for a press conference that would etch itself into rock history. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.—the unbreakable quartet from Mount Temple Comprehensive School—stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces a mosaic of gratitude, nostalgia, and quiet resolve. “We’ve chased horizons together for 50 years,” Bono intoned, his voice steady but laced with the weight of finality. “This is ‘One Last Horizon’—our farewell tour. One last ride with you, the fans who’ve made every note matter.” With that, U2 unveiled plans for a 2026 world tour, a globe-spanning valediction timed to celebrate their half-century milestone since forming in 1976. It’s the end of an era for the band that redefined stadium rock, sold over 150 million albums, and turned concerts into communal calls for justice.
The announcement, live-streamed from the 3Arena—site of their intimate 2015 return—drew millions of viewers, crashing servers and igniting #OneLastHorizon as a global trend on X. Fans, from die-hards who camped for the 360° Tour’s claw-stage spectacles to newcomers discovering “With or Without You” on TikTok, flooded social media with tears and tickets-vows. “U2 didn’t just make music; they made movements,” tweeted @U2FanSince80, echoing a sentiment rippling through forums like Reddit’s r/U2. But beneath the euphoria lies a poignant ache: this is goodbye to the live alchemy that’s defined U2 since Boy in 1980.
Why now? Clayton, ever the grounded bassist, cited the band’s recent Sphere residency in Las Vegas—40 shows of immersive U2:UV magic that grossed $100 million—as a “perfect palate cleanser.” That 2023-2024 experiment, with its 360-degree LED visuals and setlists blending Achtung Baby deep cuts with anthems, proved U2 could still innovate at 65-plus. Yet, as Mullen Jr., sidelined by health issues during Sphere, rejoined rehearsals, the quartet confronted the calendar. “We’ve given everything to the road,” The Edge shared in a post-announcement interview with Rolling Stone. “From the Joshua Tree deserts to the Berlin Wall, it’s time to let these songs echo without us chasing the next dawn.” No new album accompanies the tour—though Clayton teased “a handful of fresh tracks” debuted live—but the focus is legacy: hits, rarities, and activism woven into every show.
The “One Last Horizon” itinerary, revealed in full at the conference, is a masterclass in closure, circling back to roots while hitting global nerve centers. Kicking off March 15, 2026, at Slane Castle, Ireland—the fog-shrouded meadow where 1985’s The Unforgettable Fire tour drew 60,000 amid biblical rain—the opener honors their ascent. “Slane’s where we became more than a band; we became a roar,” Bono reflected. From there, Europe claims the spring: London (Wembley Stadium, April 5-8), Paris (Stade de France, April 15-18), Berlin (Olympiastadion, April 25-27), Rome (Stadio Olimpico, May 5-7), and Madrid (Santiago Bernabéu, May 12-14). These aren’t mere stops; they’re pilgrimages. Wembley, host to the 1985 Live Aid set that fused “Bad” into a 12-minute transcendence, promises guest spots—rumors swirl of Bruce Springsteen joining for “Badlands.”
Summer shifts to North America, U2’s adopted heartland. Madison Square Garden in New York City (June 20-25) evokes the 1986 The Joshua Tree launch, where “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” first soared. Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium (July 10-15) nods to Hollywood highs, Chicago’s Soldier Field (July 25-28) to PopMart‘s 1997 spectacle, and Toronto’s Rogers Centre (August 5-7) to Canadian faithful. Mexico City’s Foro Sol (August 15-18) brings Latin fire, with sets tailored to include “Vertigo” en español. Fall veers to Asia and Oceania: Tokyo Dome (September 10-13), Sydney’s Accor Stadium (October 5-8), and Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium (October 15-17). The curtain falls December 12-15 at Dublin’s Croke Park, the GAA ground of 2009’s record 250,000-attendee run. “Home to say farewell—with our people, under those same skies,” Mullen Jr. said, eyes misting.
Production whispers elevate the spectacle: a horizon-inspired stage with rising LED “sunrises,” augmented reality for phone screens, and sustainable tech—solar-powered rigs, zero-waste venues—aligning with U2’s ONE Campaign ethos. Setlists, clocking 25 songs over 2.5 hours, mix eras: War’s fury (“Sunday Bloody Sunday”), The Joshua Tree’s soar (“Where the Streets Have No Name”), Achtung Baby‘s grit (“One”), and All That You Can’t Leave Behind’s hope (“Beautiful Day”). Rarities like “40” or “Acrobat” will rotate, with fan-voted deep cuts via the U2.com app. And activism? Each night ends with a “Horizon Pledge”—audience QR codes donating to causes from climate action to Ukraine aid.
Tickets drop January 10, 2026, via Ticketmaster and U2.com, with fan presales December 1. Prices start at $150, scaling to $1,000 VIPs with soundcheck access and Bono’s signed lyric books. Expect chaos—U2’s 360° Tour sold 7 million tickets; this could top it. Scalpers beware: dynamic pricing and blockchain anti-fraud tech aim to keep seats fair.
Reactions? Ecstatic devastation. On X, @BonoVoxFan posted a clip of the 1987 “I Will Follow” live, captioning, “One last time? Heartbroken but ready.” Billboard called it “rock’s most poetic exit,” projecting $500 million gross. Critics like The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis praise the timing: post-Sphere, pre-fatigue. Even skeptics, recalling Songs of Experience‘s 2017 tour dips, concede U2’s live prowess—raw, redemptive.
As rehearsals ramp in Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios, U2 reflects on a run that’s outlasted punk, grunge, and streaming. From October‘s prayerful roots to Songs of Innocence‘s iTunes surprise, they’ve been conscience and confessor. “Music’s our bridge,” The Edge muses. “This tour? The last span.” For a generation raised on Bono’s shades and Edge’s delay pedals, “One Last Horizon” isn’t just concerts—it’s communion. One last ride, indeed. Mark calendars, faithful: the horizon awaits.
Leave a Reply