In a video message to fans on Christmas Day, U2 alluded to a busy 2017, with Bono declaring, "To honor 30 years of Joshua Tree, we have some very, very special shows coming."

Bono also confirmed in the Christmas video message that Songs of Experience, the follow-up to Songs of Innocence, will be released in 2017. U2 supported Innocence, which was launched for free to all iTunes Store customers in 2014, with the Innocence + Experience tour last year.

U2's fifth album, The Joshua Tree included rock smashes like "With or Without You," "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and won Album of the Year at the Grammys. A 20th anniversary edition of the album was issued in 2007.