Las Vegas Sphere’s “The Wizard of Oz” Sells More Than 4 Million Tickets: A New Show in 2027 and Abu Dhabi Completion by Late 2029

At Sphere, the spherical venue in Las Vegas, “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” an immersive experience that reworks the 1939 film for the venue’s LED screen, continues its run. On September 25, 2026, operator Sphere Entertainment Co. announced that cumulative ticket sales since the August 28, 2025 opening had exceeded 4 million. In June, the company announced that it expects to launch a new show based on the film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 2027. In May, it chose Yas Island as the site of its second venue, to be built in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on the company’s press materials and quarterly results and the official website of its production studio, Sphere Studios, this article covers the lineup of immersive films, the venue’s specifications, the number of performances and revenue, and expansion beyond Las Vegas.

Sphere is a venue that displays images on LEDs rather than projecting them. Inside, images are shown on an LED screen that wraps around the audience, from overhead to all sides. The exterior is also covered in LEDs, called the “Exosphere.” In Japan, an example of using a building’s walls as a canvas for moving images is the projection mapping on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building; show times and other details are covered in our guide to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building projection mapping “TOKYO Night & Light”.

Now showing: “The Wizard of Oz,” a 4D experience of about 75 minutes

Sphere calls the original immersive productions made for the venue “Sphere Experiences.” As of October 25, the only film experience in the official website’s show listings is “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.” It runs about 75 minutes and is recommended for ages 6 and up. Sphere Studios produced it in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery, Google and Magnopus, and explains that it reworked the 1939 classic using AI, its proprietary sound system and 4D effects.

According to a June 10, 2025 announcement, the film was expanded to fill the 160,000-square-foot (about 14,900 m²) interior screen, with vibrating seats, environmental effects and scents added. It is performed several times a day, and tickets started at $104 at the time of the announcement. The show page on the official website says the story can be experienced through 16K 360-degree imagery, vibrations, scents and 167,000 speakers. The company says it is the first time Sphere has produced a 4D experience on this scale.

From September 25, 2026, the 4D effects were expanded. According to the announcement, flying monkey animatronics, scene-specific scents, scented apples, fireworks and an effect called “Glinda Glitter” were added. According to the August 31 announcement, tickets are on sale through early 2027. From Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1, Halloween-themed events are being held, and visitors are encouraged to come in costume.

Figures for the 4D effects in the first year have also been published. According to the August 6 announcement, more than 675,000 apples were dropped, butterflies flew more than 8,000 times, more than 6,500 pounds (about 2.9 t) of leaves were blown, and the flying monkeys took flight more than 3,200 times.

Ticket sales over time

The cumulative results announced by the company are as follows.

• As of December 1, 2025: More than 1.5 million tickets, nearly $200 million in revenue

• As of January 19, 2026: More than 2 million tickets, more than $260 million in revenue

• March 2026: Reached 500 performances

• June 16, 2026 announcement: More than 3 million tickets, more than $400 million in revenue

• August 6, 2026 announcement: More than 850 performances, more than 3.6 million visitors, more than $450 million in revenue

• September 25, 2026 announcement: More than 4 million tickets, more than $500 million in revenue

“Postcard from Earth”: The first show after opening is no longer listed

The first Sphere Experience after the venue opened in 2023 was “Postcard from Earth,” directed by Darren Aronofsky. On October 5, 2023, the company announced its premiere for the next day, explaining that the film depicts a journey across all seven continents. According to Sphere Studios, it was shot with the studio’s own camera system, “Big Sky.”

According to the financial results, the Sphere Experiences in July–September 2025 were three titles, “Postcard from Earth,” the U2 concert film “V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film” and “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” for a total of 220 performances. In the following October–December quarter, only “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” was performed, 245 times, and it has remained the only title since, with 209 performances in January–March 2026 and 220 in April–June. “Postcard from Earth” is also absent from the official website’s show listings as of October 25. The company’s press materials do not say when its run ended.

New shows and special performances: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 2027

The next Sphere Experience announced is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere,” revealed by Sphere Studios on June 16, 2026. It will rework the 1975 film with Sphere Studios’ technology. Produced under a special arrangement with Primary Wave Music and 20th Century Studios, it is expected to open in 2027. As of October 25, the opening date and creative team had not been announced.

Apart from the film experiences, limited-run shows using Sphere’s visuals and sound have also been announced. On September 14, 2026, the company announced “Oprah Winfrey’s AHA,” a two-hour show featuring Oprah Winfrey on stage, to be held only on the weekend of Friday, April 2 to Sunday, April 4, 2027. Presented by Live Nation, it will use the venue’s LED screen and the “Sphere Immersive Sound” system.

Concert residencies also continue. The schedule in the official website’s show listings is as follows.

• Metallica: Thursday, October 1, 2026 – Saturday, March 13, 2027

• Eagles: Friday, November 13, 2026 – Saturday, January 23, 2027

• Backstreet Boys: Saturday, December 26, 2026 – Saturday, January 2, 2027

• John Mayer: Thursday, April 8 – Saturday, June 12, 2027

• Carín León: Wednesday, September 15 – Saturday, September 18, 2027

On the technical side, on September 23, 2026, the company announced a multiyear partnership with video technology company Disguise. Sphere uses Disguise media servers and software to process, synchronize and play back video in real time.

Venue specifications: A 16K×16K LED screen and an exterior of about 580,000 square feet

Sphere opened on September 29, 2023, with the first of U2’s 25-show residency as its inaugural performance. According to the quarterly report, the venue holds up to 20,000 people. The interior screen has a resolution of 16K×16K, and the company describes it as the world’s highest-resolution LED screen, wrapping around the audience from overhead to all sides. It covers 160,000 square feet (about 14,900 m²), which Sphere Studios describes as “more than three acres.”

Of the seats, 10,000 are haptic seats that transmit vibrations (October 2023 announcement). At opening, the company explained that it had a haptic system using deep, infrasonic vibrations. The Sphere Immersive Sound system uses HOLOPLOT technology; a 2023 announcement said beamforming technology allows different sounds to be delivered to specific locations simultaneously. Sphere Studios says sound is output from 167,000 speakers using 67-channel mixing technology.

The exterior Exosphere covers about 580,000 square feet (about 53,900 m²) with fully programmable LEDs. According to a 2023 announcement, about 1.2 million LED “pucks” are spaced 8 inches (about 20 cm) apart, each containing 48 LEDs. Sphere Studios calls it the world’s largest LED screen. It is also used as an advertising medium; in April–June 2026, revenue from sponsorships, Exosphere advertising and suite licensing rose by $10.5 million year on year, which the company attributes mainly to higher Exosphere advertising revenue.

The first artist to show work on the Exosphere was Refik Anadol, who founded the AI art museum DATALAND in Los Angeles. According to the company’s August 31, 2023 announcement, his work “Machine Hallucinations: Sphere” was shown for four months from September 1. It consisted of chapters including imagery based on a collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and material drawn from more than 300 million publicly available photos of plants and animals. Sphere Studios also creates “Sphere of Fear,” which decorates the Exosphere with spooky characters and more every Halloween.

Content is produced at Sphere Studios in Burbank, California. According to the quarterly report, it has a 68,000-square-foot development facility and the 28,000-square-foot “Big Dome,” which houses a quarter-scale version of the venue’s interior screen. Filming uses “Big Sky,” a proprietary camera system capable of shooting in 18K.

Venue: Sphere (255 Sands Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169, USA)
Opened: September 29, 2023
Capacity: Up to 20,000
Now showing: “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” (about 75 minutes, ages 6 and up)
Next film experience: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere” (expected to open in 2027)
Operator: Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR)
Official website: https://www.thesphere.com/

Financial results: Sphere segment revenue up 29% in April–June

In its financial results, the company reports the venue business as the “Sphere segment.” Key figures for the most recent quarter, April–June 2026 (results announced July 30), are as follows.

• Sphere segment revenue: $226.4 million (up $50.8 million, or 29%, year on year)

• Sphere segment operating loss: $69.6 million (an improvement of $13.9 million year on year)

• Sphere segment adjusted operating income: $39.9 million (up $15.0 million, or 60%, year on year)

• Sphere Experience performances: 220 of “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” (versus 215 of “Postcard from Earth” and “V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film” combined a year earlier)

• Company-wide revenue: $313.6 million (up $31.0 million, or 11%, year on year)

According to the company, Sphere Experience revenue rose by $53.8 million, mainly due to higher per-show revenue for “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.” Event-related revenue fell by $11.7 million, mainly because there were two fewer branded events than a year earlier, partly offset by higher concert revenue. There were six more residency shows than a year earlier.

In January–March, the Sphere segment posted revenue of $266.0 million (up 69%) and adjusted operating income of $74.3 million, with 209 performances of “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.” In October–December 2025, revenue was $274.2 million and adjusted operating income $89.4 million, with 245 performances. Results for July–September 2026 had not been announced as of October 25.

In the April–June announcement, Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said the results reflected continued execution in Las Vegas and that the company is advancing its long-term vision of building a global network of Sphere venues.

Expansion beyond Las Vegas: Abu Dhabi expected to be completed by late 2029

The second venue will be built in Abu Dhabi. On October 15, 2024, the company and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced plans to make Abu Dhabi the location of the next Sphere. According to the announcement, DCT Abu Dhabi will bear the construction costs and pay the company an upfront franchise fee for the right to build the venue using its designs, technology and intellectual property. The company will provide services related to development, construction and pre-opening, and expects to receive annual fees for content and other items it licenses after opening. The venue was to be similar in scale to the 20,000-capacity Las Vegas Sphere.

On May 14, 2026, the company announced that the site had been chosen: land on Yas Island between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. It will hold up to 20,000 people, and DCT Abu Dhabi will invest $1.7 billion in the construction phase. Completion is expected by the end of 2029, making it the first Sphere outside the United States. Plans call for three types of programming: Sphere Experiences, concert residencies, and major and branded events. As of October 25, no opening date had been announced.

In the United States, there is also a plan for National Harbor, Maryland. On January 18, 2026, the company, the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County and Peterson Companies announced their intention to build a Sphere there. National Harbor is on the Potomac River, about 15 minutes from Washington, D.C. With 6,000 seats, it would be the first Sphere to use a smaller design. The plan combines about $200 million in state, local and private incentives and is contingent on the signing of definitive agreements and other conditions. No opening timeline has been given.

In its April–June results, the company said it continues discussions with many markets around the world about both large and small Sphere venues.

Editor’s perspective

Sphere’s film business is built on performing a single title several times a day. “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” had 220 performances in April–June 2026, an average of about 2.4 a day over 91 days. The company cited high per-show revenue as the main reason Sphere Experience revenue rose by $53.8 million in the quarter. That increase exceeded the growth in revenue for the Sphere segment as a whole ($50.8 million), and the financial figures show that film experiences, which do not depend on performers’ schedules, are supporting the venue’s utilization and revenue.

Compared with events in Japan, the light source is different. Projection mapping on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building uses projectors on the walls of an existing building, whereas the Exosphere has LEDs built into the building itself. Projection mapping records are covered in our article on Guinness World Records, covering the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building certification and records abroad. The interior imagery also works differently from immersive venues that project onto walls and floors with arrays of projectors. For example, DATALAND, which opened in Los Angeles in June 2026, uses 84 projectors in its main gallery (according to its official website). Major immersive venues abroad are introduced in our roundup of immersive digital art facilities overseas, and equipment comparisons in our article on the projectors and sound behind immersive exhibitions.

For expansion abroad, as in Abu Dhabi, a local government body bears the construction costs, while the company receives an upfront franchise fee and post-opening content license fees. National Harbor would use the 6,000-seat smaller design for the first time. Neither has an opening date: Abu Dhabi is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, and National Harbor awaits definitive agreements. In Las Vegas, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is expected to open in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How long is “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” and what ages is it for?

According to the official website, it runs about 75 minutes and is for ages 6 and up. Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age. According to the August 31 announcement, tickets are on sale through early 2027.

Can “Postcard from Earth” still be seen?

As of October 25, it is not in the official website’s show listings. In the company’s financial results, too, the only Sphere Experience performed since October–December 2025 has been “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.”

When will the Abu Dhabi Sphere be completed?

The May 2026 announcement set the site on Yas Island, with completion expected by the end of 2029. As of October 25, no opening date had been announced.

*Information as of October 25, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” (from the project page on the Sphere Studios official website)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on Sphere Entertainment Co.’s press materials, quarterly results and quarterly reports, the official websites of Sphere and Sphere Studios, and DATALAND’s official website (as of October 25, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team