U2 Offers Free Concert in Mexico’s Zócalo: Celebrating a Love for the City
Trending on Billboard
The Irish rock band U2 has returned to Mexico City this week, filming a music video for their single “Street of Dreams.” During their visit, Clara Brugada, the head of government for the capital, officially invited the group to perform at the iconic Zócalo, Mexico’s main public square.
On Tuesday, May 13, Brugada met with the band members in the city’s Historic Center. She presented the invitation in person, as captured in a video posted on her social media, which shows Bono receiving the document.
“This is an invitation for you to play in our wonderful square, which is the Zócalo,” Brugada stated in Spanish during the meeting. “You are welcome, and we would love it very much.”
Bono highlighted the band’s desire to launch their next world tour in Mexico City, a city that holds significant meaning for the band. “We’re working on it,” he remarked. “In our dreams, we could start our tour here.” He added, “We love the city.”
The Zócalo is an emblematic site rich in history, where politics, culture, and social movements converge. It is reputed to be the second-largest public square globally, following Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Notably, Colombian artist Shakira set a record in March for the largest audience at a free concert there, attracting 400,000 attendees.
The gathering between Brugada and U2 took place at the Casino Metropolitano. According to a city government spokesperson, Brugada gifted each band member a figure of an axolotl, a native Mexican amphibian.
Following the meeting, Brugada shared her excitement on social media, stating, “Welcoming U2 to our capital is a celebration of music, connection and the excitement that is felt in every corner of this city. We are a city open to the world, vibrant and full of stories that are shared from the stage to the streets.”
The band continued filming “Street of Dreams” the following day, a track set to feature on their upcoming album expected later this year. On the previous day, the quartet performed atop a graffiti-adorned school bus in the Historic Center, showcasing the new song with choruses in Spanish. This performance also marked the return of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. after a lengthy hiatus due to health issues.
U2 shoots the music video for “Street of Dreams” on May 12, 2026 in Mexico City.
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Mexico has a special significance for U2, as it has been the setting for some of their most memorable performances, including the concert documented in the 1997 video Popmart: Live From Mexico City.
The band’s last performance in Mexico City occurred during the 30th-anniversary tour of their acclaimed album The Joshua Tree in October 2017, shortly after a devastating earthquake struck central Mexico.
