U2: 2027 MusiCares Persons Of The Year
• MusiCares® has named U2 — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. — as the 2027 MusiCares Persons of the Year. One of the most acclaimed bands in modern music, U2 will be honored for their groundbreaking body of work and decades of using their reach, resources and music to support people and the fight for justice around the world. The 36th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at a new location, the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 5, 2027, two nights before the 2027 Grammys® across the street at Crypto. com Arena.
“We are honored to celebrate and recognize U2 as this year’s MusiCares Persons of the Year,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy® and MusiCares. “Their impact goes far beyond the stage. Not only has their music defined generations, but they’ve been equally exemplary in their dedication to humanitarian work and using their platform for good. We are so excited to come together to honor their collective artistry and commitment to giving back on this special night.”
Celebrating 50 years together as a band after meeting in their Dublin high school in 1976, U2 has won 22 Grammy® awards and sold more than 170 million albums worldwide, building a career that has spanned generations of recorded music and live performances. Alongside their music, the four members have established and supported a wide range of philanthropic and humanitarian campaigns.
MusiCares previously honored Bono as the 2003 MusiCares Person of the Year for his impact through both music and activism. The 2027 recognition tells a broader story: one of four bandmates who, together and through causes personal to each of them, have spent decades putting the platform of U2 in service of others. From expanding access to music and supporting people in recovery to responding to humanitarian crises and campaigning against injustice, their work reflects a shared belief in using their music and the spotlight of their success to bring about change.
In a joint statement, U2 said, “We are huge fans of MusiCares and the lifelines they provide across the incredible pool of talent that is the music industry. We’ve been recording and touring for 50 years because of that pool, from producers and engineers to carpenters and riggers. ‘Persons of the Year’ couldn’t be a better title as it’s the people we’ve been so fortunate to work with, and of course our indomitable audience, that have given us the opportunity to keep making music and keep rocking the boat on things we really care about. It’s such an honour, and we’re very excited to be in the front row of our first ever U2 gig…we know we’re gonna be outplayed.”
For the first time, MusiCares will open the tribute concert portion to a broader audience, giving more fans the opportunity to celebrate and honor the band. Individual theater seats and gala dinner tables are now available for purchase at musicares.org/personoftheyear. For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, please visit musicares.org or email personoftheyear@musicares.org. [Photo Credit: Olaf Heine]
