U2 reunited with longtime collaborator Brian Eno at an intimate BBC concert in London’s Tate Modern, previewing songs from their forthcoming album Carnaval De Luz alongside classics from across their career.
The performance took place on 3 November in Tate Modern’s South Tank, before a specially invited audience of fans, students and artists. Details of the show emerged on 10 November, ahead of the album’s release this Friday, 13 November.
Music and visual art meet at Tate Modern
The band performed against a 360-degree presentation of Eno’s generative artwork 77 Million Paintings. Eno, whose production work helped shape U2’s most adventurous records, was in the audience before Bono invited him onstage during the closing performance of ‘With Or Without You’.
That distinction matters: this was not announced as a full U2-and-Eno joint concert. Rather, Eno’s art framed the performance, while his presence provided a fitting moment of recognition for their long creative partnership.
New songs alongside U2 favourites
The set opened with ‘The Unforgettable Fire’, played live for the first time since 2018, and included ‘Bad’, ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love)’, ‘One’ and ‘Beautiful Day’. U2 also debuted ‘Can’t Stop Us Now’ and ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ from Carnaval De Luz, and performed ‘COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?)’ from their earlier Easter Lily EP.
The band’s 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz, arrives on 13 November. Produced by Jacknife Lee, the 12-song record is their first full-length album of new material since 2017. According to U2’s official announcement, Eno contributed co-writing and synthesizers to ‘Go (Carnaval De Luz)’, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ and ‘Can’t Stop Us Now’.
That makes the Tate Modern setting more than an exercise in nostalgia. It brings together U2’s current songwriting and the experimental approach that has helped define some of their most significant work.
When can fans watch the U2 BBC concert?
The performance is due to air on BBC Two in late November as part of a dedicated evening of U2 programming. BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds will broadcast the concert on Monday 30 November, between 7pm and 9pm, accompanied by new interviews. The programmes are expected to be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds after broadcast.
U2 are also preparing for their 2027 stadium tour, which we covered when the band announced ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’, including London dates at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But for one evening in a London gallery, the scale was deliberately different: a small audience, new songs and the return of a creative partnership still capable of finding fresh ground.
Sources: NME’s report from the concert; U2’s official album announcement.
