The Irish rock legends performed at Mount Temple Comprehensive and on Dublin’s Grafton Street as they unveiled their 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz.

U2 returned to the Dublin school where the band formed for a special concert celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. performed for approximately 1,000 students and staff in the schoolyard of Mount Temple Comprehensive on Friday, Sept. 25.

The homecoming marked 50 years since Mullen placed a handwritten notice on the school’s noticeboard seeking musicians to form a band. That invitation brought together the teenagers who would eventually become U2.

The anniversary performance featured songs spanning the band’s career, including “I Will Follow,” “Vertigo,” “Beautiful Day,” debut single “Out of Control” and “With or Without You.”

U2 also performed “Silencio,” taken from the band’s newly announced 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz. For “One,” the group was accompanied by 32 young string musicians from Music Generation, with one representing each county on the island of Ireland.

Later that evening, U2 continued the celebrations with a surprise performance from the balcony of Bewley’s on Grafton Street, drawing thousands of fans to the centre of Dublin.

The two performances followed the announcement of Carnaval De Luz, U2’s first album of new material in nine years. Produced by longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee, the 12-track record will be released through Island Records on Nov. 13.

The album explores spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance while combining echoes of U2’s more experimental work with tightly structured songwriting.

Its roots extend to the two six-track EPs the band surprise-released earlier this year, Days of Ash and Easter Lily. Together with Carnaval De Luz, the releases will bring U2’s total number of new songs issued during its 50th anniversary year to 24.

“Silencio,” a two-minute-and-35-second burst of surf-punk energy, is available now. The accompanying music video was filmed in Mexico City and directed by Mexican-American duo Cliqua, comprising Pasqual Gutiérrez and Raúl “RJ” Sanchez. It follows “Street of Dreams,” the first song released from the album in July.

Carnaval De Luz also features contributions from several notable collaborators. Brian Eno co-wrote and played synthesisers on three tracks, while Martin Garrix co-wrote “Glorify.” Daniel Lanois plays pedal steel on “Torn,” and Ryan Tedder provided additional production on “Silencio.”

“Torn,” the album’s closing track, is a duet between Bono and Dolly Parton and features what has been described as the late country music legend’s final recorded vocal performance. The song was co-written by U2, Parton and Johnny McDaid.

“It’s a messy, provocative, sacred collection of songs,” The Edge says, adding that it features “the first-ever use of flat-wound strings on a U2 recording.”

The album will be available digitally and in standard and limited-edition CD, vinyl and box-set formats.

Carnaval De Luz will be released on Nov. 13, 2026. “Silencio” is available now.