As the band celebrates its 50th year, U2 members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. will be honored by MusiCares as the 2027 Persons of the Year at a benefit gala on February 5, 2027 in Los Angeles.
One of the most acclaimed bands in modern music, the 22-time Grammy winners will be honored not only for their groundbreaking body of work but also for decades of using their reach, resources and music to support people and the fight for justice around the world.
“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 five decades together as a band after meeting in their Dublin high school in 1976, U2 has sold more than 170 million albums worldwide and built a career spanning 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, serving as activists for peace, justice and human rights from their earliest days.
“We are huge fans of MusiCares and the lifelines they provide across the incredible pool of talent that is the music industry,” the band members said in a statement. “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.”
The statement ends with a quip alluding to the tradition of MusiCares’ honorees being feted by fellow artists who perform their songs at the gala: “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.”
The band members campaigned against apartheid in South Africa before they had a record deal, and in 2005 received Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award. U2 provided early and ongoing philanthropic funding for Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education program, whose mission is to empower young people across the island of Ireland to realize their full potential through access to high-quality lessons in how to play, sing and create music.
In addition to their joint efforts, U2 members have led their own impact efforts that represent distinct areas of focus for each member. Bono co-founded sister organizations ONE and (RED) to pressure governments and businesses be more involved in combatting AIDS and extreme poverty. He also played a key role in persuading President Bush to create PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief), which has saved 26 million lives to date.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, The Edge co-founded Music Rising to replace instruments and equipment for musicians, schools and music programs affected by disaster. Adam Clayton has spoken openly about recovery and supported efforts focused on addiction and mental health, including Ireland’s Walk in My Shoes initiative. Larry Mullen Jr. has brought attention to dyslexia and learning differences through his involvement as a producer of the documentary Left Behind.
“Throughout their career, U2 has demonstrated the extraordinary power of music to bring people together, draw attention to urgent needs and inspire action,” said Theresa Wolters, executive director of MusiCares. “Bono, The Edge, Adam, and Larry have each found meaningful ways to put their voices and resources to work for others, while together U2 has supported causes spanning global health, disaster response, addiction recovery, mental health, and access to music education.”
“What resonates so strongly with MusiCares is their belief that success in music comes with an opportunity to care for the people around you. We are proud to recognize artists that have spent decades pairing extraordinary artistry with a genuine sense of service.”
U2 joins a distinguished list of MusiCares honorees including Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, the Grateful Dead, Jon Bon Jovi, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan.
The U2 honor marks the first time in the 35-year history of Person/s of the Year MusiCares has celebrated both an individual artist and their band. The organization previously honored Bono as the 2003 MusiCares Person of the Year and Adam Clayton received the MusiCares Stevie Ray Vaughan Award in 2017.
The 36th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at a new location, Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, February 5, 2027 on its traditional date of two nights before the 2027 Grammys at Crypto.com Arena. For the first time, MusiCares will open the tribute concert portion to a broader audience. Individual theater seats and gala dinner tables are available for purchase HERE.
Founded by the Grammy Organization, MusiCares provides a safety net to the music community through comprehensive financial assistance and preventive services across mental health, addiction recovery, health care, basic living needs and disaster relief.
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