Music of the Spheres World Tour

The Music of the Spheres World Tour is the ongoing eighth concert tour undertaken by British rock band Coldplay. It is being staged to promote their ninth and tenth studio albums, Music of the Spheres (2021) and Moon Music (2024), respectively. The tour began at San José's Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on 18 March 2022 and is scheduled to end at London's Wembley Stadium on 8 September 2025. It is the band's return to live performances after the COVID-19 pandemic. They had not toured their previous record, Everyday Life (2019), because of environmental concerns. Prior to the tour, they spent two years developing strategies that aimed to reduce CO2 emissions by 50%, compared to the Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–17).
Coldplay announced the tour on 14 October 2021, a day before the release of Music of the Spheres. Similar to the Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011–12), the concerts make extensive use of pyrotechnics and confetti. However, they were adapted to minimise the group's carbon footprint. Other ideas included crafting the first mobile rechargeable show battery in the world with BMW and planting a tree for every ticket sold. Emissions were cut by 59% over the first two years of the tour, leading Time to rank Coldplay among the most influential climate action leaders. Pollstar stated that they ushered in "a new era of sustainable touring".
With a global cultural impact, the Music of the Spheres World Tour has grossed $1.20 billion in revenue from 10.9 million tickets across 184 dates, making it the most attended tour of all time and the first by a band to collect over $1 billion. They set various records while carrying out the tour. The shows received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised Coldplay's stage presence, musicianship, versatility and joyfulness, as well as the show's production value. A concert film, Music of the Spheres: Live at River Plate, was made available in 2023, featuring their performances in Buenos Aires.
After the release of Coldplay's eighth album, Everyday Life (2019), lead singer and pianist Chris Martin said they would not tour until their sets were environmentally friendly, which led the record to be promoted with small charity concerts and a performance at the Amman Citadel in Jordan, broadcast by YouTube. On 14 October 2021, a day before Music of the Spheres was made available, the group posted on social media they would be returning to live shows following the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was accompanied by a detailed 12 steps plan, which was developed in two years with environmental experts and set out how Coldplay would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% compared to A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–17). To celebrate the album's release, they inaugurated Climate Pledge Arena on 22 October 2021. The event was broadcast by Amazon Prime Video and later followed by a performance at Expo 2020, while the concert run began in Costa Rica due to the country's renewable-energy-sourced power grid.
A team of sustainability experts was commissioned to investigate Coldplay's carbon footprint and study how to reduce it. Alongside BMW, the band also developed the first ever mobile rechargeable show battery, which was made from recyclable BMW i3 batteries and powered concerts by using renewable resources such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, solar power and kinetic energy. Unavoidable emissions were offset according to Oxford's principles. They claimed a tree would be planted for every ticket sold through a global reforestation agreement with One Tree Planted as well. For transportation, the tour was routed to reduce air travel, ground freight used electric vehicles or biofuel and the band embarked on commercial flights whenever possible. In all of them, commercial and charter, an additional charge was paid to provide airplanes with Neste's sustainable aviation fuel, made from waste and residues such as used cooking oil.
The stages were built "from a combination of lightweight, low-carbon and re-usable materials including recycled steel", being also customized to incorporate low-energy displays, lasers, lighting set-ups and a PA system that consumed 50% less power, helping to reduce environmental noise outside. Similarly, delay towers had wind-turbines and unused seats had solar blankets.
For special effects, Coldplay used biodegradable confetti adapted to require less compressed gas for ignition, while pyrotechnics had new formulas to reduce or eliminate harmful chemicals and mitigate the explosive charge. Xylobands were substituted by PixMob wristbands made from 100% compostable materials and the band pledged to decrease their production by collecting, sterilising and recharging them after every show. To minimise food waste, they had crew catering menus that offered plant-based and meat-free options as the standard, sourced products from suppliers adept to regenerative agriculture techniques, supported the development of synthetic, lab-grown cultured meals, donated surplus to local food banks and composted organic waste such as vegetable peelings and scraps. The band also worked with venues to establish recycling programs, replace single-use water bottles with alternatives such as the Ball aluminium cups, include refill stations, introduce aerated taps, lower flushing toilets and reduce water pressure.
Coldplay partnered with SAP to develop a free mobile application for the tour which calculated the total carbon footprint generated by concert goers and encouraged them to take environmentally friendly travel options. Fans who committed to the effort were given a discount code on their merchandise store. Partners and vendors were carefully selected to provide high quality products made from natural fibres and re-usable materials, which were then packaged in recycled paper, card or compostable bags. Additionally, the band incorporated kinetic floors and stationary bicycles to venues to power the C-stage and further interact with attendees. They provided bass-delivering vests from SubPac and two sign language interpreters for concert goers with hearing loss as well, while guests who are blind or have low vision were offered a designated platform and touch tours before each show. In May 2022, the band announced Infinity Tickets, a limited set of $20 admissions for fans who could not afford standard prices.
In May 2022, The Times revealed Coldplay donated over £2.1 million to environmental causes through J Van Mars Foundation during the previous year. Aside from teaming up with One Tree Planted, the band continued their cooperation with ClientEarth, to which they have been patrons since 2010. Support to the Ocean Cleanup was declared as well, as they sponsored two watercrafts to collect plastic from polluted rivers before it reaches the sea in Malaysia. Other organizations endorsed by Coldplay include Global Citizen, The Food Forest Project, Sea Shepherd UK, Project Seagrass, Seafields, My Trees Trust, Farm Under the Radar, Project Quercus, Sustainable Food Trust, Global Tech Advocates, Knowledge Pele, Climeworks, Cleaner Seas Group, Conservation Collective and the Devon Environment Foundation, which have all assisted them to reach the tour's goal. Additionally, Imperial College London's Grantham Institute helped the band to study and publish their progress. In 2022, DHL announced they were partnering with Coldplay to provide expertise in sustainable logistics and transport solutions, while the following year saw an alliance with AIA Vitality in Indonesia.
American singer H.E.R. was the band's most frequent supporting act, opening for them in San José (with Mish Catt), Santo Domingo (with La Marimba), and Buenos Aires (with Zoe Gotusso) in 2022. During the first run across the United States, she was paired with a new act in each stop, those included Leila Pari (Dallas), Alaina Castillo (Houston), Kacy Hill (Glendale), Bobby Gonz (Santa Clara), Drama (Chicago), Shaed (Landover), Bea Miller (East Rutherford), Lizzy McAlpine (Philadelphia), Mariah the Scientist (Atlanta), and Gigi (Tampa). However, for the second leg in the continent, she was accompanied by 070 Shake and Gonz in all performances.
H.E.R. also took part in many dates from the first European batch, although occasionally replaced by London Grammar. They collaborated with Alli Neumann in Frankfurt and Berlin; Mery Spolsky in Warsaw; Gaumar and Lous and the Yakuza in Saint-Denis; and Nina Nesbitt in Glasgow. The former was additionally invited to the Brussels concerts, while the secondary openers at Wembley Stadium were Griff, Ibibio Sound Machine and Laura Mvula. Mexico had exclusively national supporters in the initial shows (Carla Morrison and DannyLux). Still in 2022, Camila Cabello played in Lima (with Andrea Martinez), Bogotá (with Mabiland), and Santiago (with Princesa Alba). Chvrches then followed Elana Dara (São Paulo) and Clara x Sofia (Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro) in 2023.
For the second European run, they held shows after Hinds (Barcelona), Ona Mafalda (Barcelona), Porij (Manchester), Hana Lili (Cardiff), Laila al Habash (Naples) and Mara Sattei (Milan), while Griff joined Bárbara Bandeira in Coimbra; Caroline Alves in Zürich; Oh Land in Copenhagen; Luciia in Gothenburg; and Zoë Tauran in Amsterdam. A few months later, Coldplay announced the openers for Tokyo (Yoasobi), Kaohsiung (Accusefive), Jakarta (Rahmania Astrini), Kuala Lumpur (Bunga), Bocaue (Jikamarie), Singapore (Jasmine Sokko, Rriley, Jinan Laetitia) and Bangkok (Valentina Ploy). Oceania had eight guests: Thelma Plum, Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, Adrian Dzvuke, King Ibis, Ayra Starr, Emmanuel Kelly and Shone. Meanwhile, the third European round saw Maisie Peters, Janelle Monáe and Maggie Rogers teaming up with Antonia Kaouri (Athens), Emaa (Bucharest), Solére (Budapest), Alma (Helsinki), Ronisia (Décines-Charpieu), Rose Villain (Rome), Wees (Düsseldorf), Wilhelmine (Munich), Oska (Vienna) and Aby Coulibaly (Dublin).
Martin mentioned that the concert was divided into four acts because it is "a journey traveling outwards into the unknown to then come home having learned something new. This is represented both visually and with what songs fit into what act". Following the support performances, two guest speakers (usually from the visited country) greet the attendees and introduce a video with Coldplay's sustainability efforts. It runs for about three minutes and features "Light Through the Veins" by Jon Hopkins as its soundtrack. Once the short film ends, the band are welcomed and "Flying", a score written by John Williams for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), is played. This marks the beginning of Act I – Planets, which is about "knowing there's a bigger magic out there somewhere and choosing to go and look for it". The screens exhibit a live feed of each group member emerging from under or near the stage. After they wave to the audience, "Flying" is transitioned into "Music of the Spheres" and Martin stays on the B-stage, while bassist Guy Berryman, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion head to the main one. The wristbands emit red lights, leading to "Higher Power".
Following the song, Martin makes his way to the main stage for "Adventure of a Lifetime" and giant colourful balls are thrown to the public. Coldplay then transition into "Paradise", which features an extended introduction and outro based on a call-and-repeat exchange with the crowd. An excerpt of "Oceans" can be heard and "The Scientist" begins; Martin thanks the audience for their time in the local language and incorporates covers into the performance on select occasions. This is followed by a sped-up, backwards version of the song, played as the band head to the B-stage again. "Viva la Vida" marks the transition to Act II – Moons, a segment about struggle, since life can be a difficult experience at times. After the night is continued with either "Hymn for the Weekend" or "Something Just Like This", they reach a section which often changes: "Let Somebody Go" might have a guest appearance, be followed by "بنی آدم" ("Bani Adam"), or accompanied by "Politik".
His bandmates rest on the main stage and only return for "In My Place", which is occasionally exchanged with "Orphans", "A Head Full of Dreams" or "Charlie Brown". To finish "Yellow", the public are asked to dedicate the last chorus to those who are seated on the back of the venue. Giant red hearts are created across the venue with the wristbands to mark the beginning of Act III – Stars. This section was inspired by meeting free aliens and represents "loving oneself and therefore being able to love others of all creeds and colours". Martin is joined by Angel Moon for "Human Heart" and the puppet makes the vocals from We Are King.
Conversely, flashing white lights and green lasers are used in "People of the Pride" and "Clocks", respectively. Following the two songs, a secondary act known as the Lightclub kicks off with "Infinity Sign" being played while Martin, Berryman, Buckland and Champion are wearing custom alien helmets. Depending on which song was performed earlier, the transition leads to either "Something Just Like This" or "Hymn for the Weekend" (Seeb Remix). Both of them are carried out in American Sign Language. After the first option, the concert is continued by "Midnight", but if the second is chosen, "Aeterna" is reproduced instead.
Once this segment ends, Coldplay head back to the main stage for "My Universe" (featuring holographic images of BTS members on the screens) and "A Sky Full of Stars" (stopped before the chorus and restarted after Martin tells the audience to put their phones away). "Sunrise", which includes Louis Armstrong's speech from "What a Wonderful World", is responsible for starting Act IV – Home, when you wrap up a journey "knowing/loving yourself a bit more" and capable to see all beings as beautiful. During this interlude, the band walk to the C-stage, where they usually perform tracks from Parachutes (2000), covers or invite a local guest. This section then sees Martin thanking the tour's crew, introducing his bandmates by name and asking the public to raise their arms to send love out into the world, triggering multiple fireworks. After two or three songs, Coldplay return to the main stage for "Humankind", "Fix You" and "Biutyful". The latter features the Weirdos, a puppet group led by Angel Moon. When the final blast of confetti gets launched, the phrase "Believe in Love" appears on the central screen, end credits are exhibited on the remaining ones, and the band bid farewell as "A Wave" is played in the background.
The show went through several modifications as the tour continued. Prior to the Bogotá dates, "Paradise" did not include an extended introduction and outro, "Charlie Brown" was a permanent track on the set list, and "Sunrise" was used to close Act II rather than open Act IV. Starting from São Paulo, "Let Somebody Go" was replaced by the Songbook, where Martin invites a fan to the stage for a piano session. Singapore later marked the beginning of the Jumbotron Song at the C-stage, which consists of improvising lyrics about attendees on the screens. To accommodate Moon Music (2024), "Biutyful" gave way to "Feelslikeimfallinginlove" in Budapest, "Humankind" was cut down in order to fit "Good Feelings" next to "Fix You" in Rome, and "We Pray" was permanently added after "Clocks" in Dublin.
Coldplay broke numerous attendance, gross and demand records around the world. Billboard ranked them as the most successful group of the year in 2022 ($342.1 million from 3.8 million tickets), 2023 ($342.5 million from 3.2 million tickets), and 2024 ($400.9 million from 3 million tickets). The first European leg sold over a million admissions in a single day. Extra dates were scheduled at venues including Stade de France and King Baudouin Stadium, where the band performed a record-breaking four times. The achievement was later reproduced at Estadio Nacional de Chile, while their Estadio River Plate visit reached the 10-show milestone. By making $49.7 million from 626,841 entries in Buenos Aires, they earned the highest gross and attendance for a boxscore report in Latin American history. Over the course of March 2023, Coldplay became the act with most concerts in a row at the Couto Pereira (2), Nilton Santos (3) and Morumbi (6) stadiums. Revenue at the latter surpassed $40.1 million, an unprecedented figure in Brazil.
The second run around Europe shifted 1.4 million tickets in a day, marking the fastest sales by a group at the time. It was also the quickest in general since Robbie Williams' Close Encounters Tour, which previously established the record in 2005. More than 812,000 users vied for admissions in the United Kingdom, overloading and crashing the British Ticketmaster website. News outlets registered extensive online queues in Portugal (450,000), Spain (350,000), Italy (700,000), and the Netherlands (700,000) as well. As a result, Coldplay set new records at the Cidade de Coimbra, Lluís Companys, and San Siro stadiums.
Following dates continued to be met with high demand, surpassing 1.7 million people in Indonesia, 400,000 in Malaysia, and 365,000 in Australia, and 1 million in Singapore, where the group held a six-night residency. SM Tickets was forced to pause internet sales in the Philippines due to a server crash. In Taiwan, entries sold out in three minutes for the first concert and six for the second, both of which were unprecedented among Western musicians. Held on 15 November 2023, the show at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium generated $13.9 million, the most by an individual engagement in Southeast Asia.
In the ensuing months, Coldplay broke the record for consecutive performances at Arena Națională (2), Merkur Spiel-Arena (3), Eden Park (3), Helsinki Olympic Stadium (4), and Ernst-Happel-Stadion (4). Over 200,000 buyers sought Auckland tickets, while Vienna drew 600,000 potential attendees. Queues to watch the group live at DY Patil Stadium attracted 13 million users across India. The Narendra Modi Stadium concerts had the largest indoor turnouts of the 21st century as well. In September 2024, they moved 800,000 entries in a day for the third British leg, which includes 10 dates at Wembley Stadium. The third North American run additionally surpassed 700,000 tickets sold over a single morning. Coldplay grossed $1.20 billion from 10.9 million admissions in 184 reported shows, securing the most attended tour of all time and the first by a band to earn $1 billion. Regionally, the Music of the Spheres World Tour achieved the highest revenue and turnout in European and Latin American history.
The tour received widespread acclaim from music critics worldwide. Andrew Chamings from San Francisco Chronicle said that despite his "cynicism, Coldplay's show was a joyous, bright, cathartic post-pandemic triumph". Writing for Houston Press, Marco Torres called it "a beautiful dream, with balloons flying around, confetti bursting from air cannons and lasers shooting from the stage through the smoke" as the group performed. Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Mac Engel claimed that Martin showed all of the skills that make him one of the top performers of his generation and made Cotton Bowl feel intimate with a powerful set. In her review for Chicago Sun-Times, Selena Fragassi credited the concerts with setting the bar for what tours could be like in the future. Similarly, Christopher A. Daniel from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution praised the production values as "reminiscent of the art rock foundation paved by bands like Genesis, Kraftwerk and Pink Floyd", adding that Coldplay are set to become a "must-see legendary act". Furthermore, Philip Cosores of Uproxx mentioned "there is no wasted energy, with every bit of the set time used to create memories and impact the audience". He then concluded that if environmental concerns become the norm for touring, the band's status as an essential contemporary artist "will take on greater meaning than just the legacy of their music". In a more mixed review, Ed Masley told The Arizona Republic that their use of the Weirdos during segments of the performance felt awkward, while "Biutyful" did not worked well as a closer.
Regioactive's Torsten Reitz declared that they were "full of energy and much more powerful than on record", mastering both upbeat and quiet moments. Marine Pineau wrote that Coldplay lived up to their reputation as a live act and lauded the band for their showmanship in her review for Virgin Radio. Alexis Petridis from The Guardian praised the tour for being a "genuinely immersive" experience which gave depth to its namesake album through an inventive approach, rating the residency at Wembley Stadium with five stars. Kate Solomon of The Times considered it a "triumphant homecoming", awarded Coldplay four stars and commended their musicianship. The Telegraph's Neil McCormick hailed them as "modern masters" of stadium entertainment and granted the same score. Writing a five-star piece for NME, Hannah Mylrea stated that the band offered a masterclass in how a massive pop show can be done. Wilson Ledo from CNN Portugal noted the concert had a lasting euphoria and praised how Martin interacted with the public. In his Muzikalia evaluation, Pau Clot upheld that Coldplay "cannot be matched by anyone on this planet today". Göteborgs-Posten's Johan Lindqvista highlighted the stage presence of the group and concluded they are "more than special effects". Mark Beaumont of The Independent called their Glastonbury Festival set "the spectacle of a lifetime". On the other hand, Rolling Stone UK's Will Richards said the middle section was "drawn-out" and had more potential. Vicky Jessop from The Standard described it as "wildly uneven".
Felipe Branco Cruz from Veja affirmed that Coldplay "reinvented the concept of arena rock" with their performance set Rock in Rio, turning the public into protagonists of the show rather than mere spectators and consequently carrying on the legacy of spectacles "which transcend music" that was established by groups such as Pink Floyd, Queen and U2. Writing for UOL, Yolanda Reis said it is "undeniable" they are "true showmen" and defined the concert as "unforgettable". Ana Raquel Lelles praised them for keeping the audience excited despite the rainstorm in her review for Estado de Minas. Roberto Medina, the founder and president of the festival, commented that "there has only been one moment like tonight, Freddie Mercury in 1985. It was incredible, it was memorable".
El Comercio's Juan Carlos Fangacio Arakaki stated the band were "impeccable" in Lima, delivering a complete, diverse and well distributed set list which they "learned to master to perfection". Pablo Figueroa from CNN Chile mentioned that their Santiago performance was one of the best music events in the country since its transition to democracy.
Marcelo Fernández Bitar theorised on Clarín that Martin's charisma and his bandmates' consistency might be the reason behind their touring success, with the shows in Buenos Aires confirming the passion evoked by their songs. An editorial by Infobae praised Coldplay for being versatile and "perfectly synchronised" in a concert ranging "from the most subtle to the most grandiloquent". In his review for La Nación, Mauro Apicella opined that the group are at the forefront of technological use for stadiums and have works which "became classics", despite the criticism they faced throughout their career. Omelete's Caio Coletti described Berryman's bass as "irresistibly propulsive" and noted Martin's uncoordinated dancing was already his trademark at that point, while Champion proved to be a good backing vocalist by guiding the "Viva la Vida" chants. He also commended them for giving a highly sensorial performance and understanding that the night of the show "is all about entertaining the fans and finding new ways to elevate their experience".
Barks' Saori Yoshiba considered the tour a "captivating mixture of depth and intensity" which allowed her to "fully feel the power of music and the energy of a live performance". Writing for CNN Indonesia, Muhammad Feraldi Hifzurahman revealed that while the statement feels exaggerated at first, Coldplay "really deserve to be called a musical experience that must be tried at least once in your life". Conversely, his review included only four stars out of five because the organisers of the venue failed to manage the crowd. Sam Mead from The Music stated that "over two decades in, this is the band at their best — hard-hitting, punchy grooves". As per Caleb Runciman of The West Australian, they have delivered the greatest event of Optus Stadium history and a set that "felt like a concert, theatre production, and light show all in one". He commended the musical prowess of the group as well, rating them with five stars. Rolling Stone Australia's Poppy Reid defended that Coldplay solidified their status among the most visionary live acts in rock music and seamlessly "blended their hits with visual wonders" on their performances. However, Rosamund Brennan of The Guardian Australia questioned the engagement of the audience with some of the new works from the band. In a review for the Manila Bulletin, Gregorio Larrazabal lauded the inclusion of national guests as "a cultural confluence".
On 17 July 2022, the band launched an audio transmission from Stade de France on the tour app, titled Live in Paris. The third show at Estadio River Plate, held on 28 October, was part of Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires, a theatrical event directed by Paul Dugdale. It spanned a record-breaking 81 countries and grossed over $8.4 million. Coldplay released the director's cut version on 19 April 2023, under the name Music of the Spheres: Live at River Plate. Inspired by Neapolitan life and the performances at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Tutto Passa – A Tribute to Napoli was made available on 23 May 2024, with Stillz curating the footage. The group's tenth studio album, Moon Music, became available on 4 October. Numerous songs and videos from the record were produced on tour, using locations such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Grafton Street, and Marina Bay. Coldplay also joined Disney+ Hotstar for Live in Ahmedabad, attracting over 8.3 million streamers on 26 January 2025.
According to Pollstar's Eric Renner Brown, Coldplay have ushered into "a new era of sustainable touring" with the Music of the Spheres World Tour. Their efforts were considered unprecedented for a stadium concert run, since the band reduced CO2 emissions by 59% in their first two years of activity, planted 9 million trees in forest reserves, and had their methods adopted by Live Nation to provide green options to more artists. Furthermore, they were listed among the most influential climate action leaders in the world by Time. As the tour became a leading topic of news coverage in visited regions, it was also considered a media phenomenon. Mark Beaumont from The Times stated that the band regained public respect and credibility, which prompted a shift in attitude towards them.
Due to its high demand, the tour caused ticket speculation to rise in numerous regions, including Portugal, Italy, and Malaysia. In the latter country, investigation of those cases inspired new legislation for future shows. Similarly, the government of Indonesia decided to make their event permit process more flexible after Coldplay could not schedule enough dates to meet demand. Media outlets commented that ticketless fans gathered outside venues to hear the group perform in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona and Kaohsiung. Concerts were noted for boosting local economies as well, drawing comparisons to winning a lottery prize. Additionally, the band experienced a resurgence on the music charts, as their discography saw major gains in sales. To endorse local non-profits, they partnered with Global Citizen and the Love Button Global Movement.
This set list was taken from the 3 July 2022 concert in Frankfurt, Germany. It does not represent all shows throughout the tour.
The band performed covers, received guests, invited fans and improvised songs specifically for the occasion on numerous dates, skipping to the rest of the show otherwise:
Covers
Guests
Songbook debuts
Improvisations
Credits adapted from the band's official tour book, which was released "In loving memory of Ben Farrey and Steve Strange".
Credits taken from Projection, Lights & Staging News, with product quantities being represented between parenthesis whenever possible.
Cities
Others