Sphere Entertainment Expands Immersive Venue Concept Globally

After opening the first Sphere in Las Vegas, the company plans new locations in Maryland and the UAE.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:39pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of the reflective, metallic exterior of a large, spherical entertainment venue, the surface glittering under dramatic studio lighting to create a sense of futuristic glamour and spectacle.The gleaming, high-tech exterior of the Sphere venue in Las Vegas signals the cutting-edge entertainment experiences awaiting audiences at this and future locations.National Harbor Today

Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the state-of-the-art Sphere venue in Las Vegas, is expanding its immersive entertainment concept to new locations around the world. In addition to the original Vegas Sphere, the company is moving forward with plans for a smaller Sphere in National Harbor, Maryland, as well as an identical large-scale Sphere in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, set to open in 2030.

Why it matters

The Sphere venues represent a new frontier in live entertainment, utilizing cutting-edge audiovisual technology to provide audiences with a fully immersive experience. As Sphere Entertainment aims to bring this innovative concept to more cities globally, it signals a shift towards more technologically advanced and experiential forms of live events and attractions.

The details

The original Sphere in Las Vegas, which opened in 2023, features a massive spherical structure with a 170,000-square-foot LED screen that wraps around the interior to create a fully immersive environment. The upcoming Sphere in National Harbor will be a smaller 6,000-seat version, but will still incorporate the same high-tech LED screens and immersive sound technology. Meanwhile, the planned Sphere in Abu Dhabi will be identical in scale to the Las Vegas original, set to open sometime in 2030.

  • The Las Vegas Sphere opened in 2023 after several years of construction.
  • Plans for a London Sphere were rejected by the city's mayor in 2023.
  • Sphere Entertainment announced plans for the Abu Dhabi Sphere in 2024, with a target opening date of 2030.
  • The National Harbor Sphere in Maryland is scheduled to open in the coming years.

The players

Sphere Entertainment

The company behind the Sphere venues, previously known as the Madison Square Garden Company.

James L. Dolan

CEO of Sphere Entertainment, who has championed the company's global expansion plans for the Sphere concept.

Sadiq Khan

The Mayor of London, who rejected the proposal for a Sphere venue in the city due to concerns over its impact on local residents.

Wes Moore

The Governor of Maryland, who praised the Sphere project in National Harbor as a major economic development for the state.

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What they’re saying

“Every aspect of Sphere was designed to transport audiences to new places, both real and imagined, and The Sphere Experience is where that vision comes together in its most integrated form.”

— James L. Dolan, CEO, Sphere Entertainment

“We believe a large-scale, next-generation venue will not only become a premier destination, but also drive growth in London's overall music and entertainment market, benefiting artists and fans, and serving as a long-term investment in the future of this incredible city.”

— James L. Dolan, CEO, Sphere Entertainment

“This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George's County history — proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

What’s next

Sphere Entertainment is expected to continue exploring opportunities to open additional Sphere venues in other 'forward-looking cities' around the world, as the company aims to build a 'global network of venues' showcasing its immersive entertainment concept.

The takeaway

The expansion of Sphere Entertainment's innovative venue model demonstrates the growing demand for more technologically advanced and experiential live entertainment experiences, as the company seeks to bring its cutting-edge audiovisual capabilities to audiences in major markets across the globe.