Eagles’ Don Henley jokes about swapping the high-tech Sphere for real sunshine at Jazz Fest 2026, as the band delivers hits under clear skies.
- May 4, 2026
AceShowbiz - During the second day of their headlining set at the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Eagles frontman Don Henley quickly pointed out how different the atmosphere was compared to their ongoing residency in Las Vegas. The band has been performing at the high-tech Sphere venue in Vegas since September 2024, but the outdoor Jazz Fest setting offered an entirely distinct experience.
"This is very different from the Sphere," Henley joked, drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd enjoying a rare sunny day after two days of rain and muddy grounds at the festival. "We got some sunshine up in here," he added, highlighting that unlike the Sphere’s life-sized projected sun on massive screens, the audience was witnessing the genuine article.
The favorable weather perfectly complemented the relaxed, easygoing mood of the Eagles’ set, which featured many of their greatest hits. Fans savored classics like "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" while soaking in the New Orleans sunshine and vibrant festival atmosphere.
In a notable departure from their Las Vegas show, the Eagles opened with "Seven Bridges Road"—a traditional choice for the band—rather than the theatrical Vegas opener "Hotel California." That iconic track instead closed out their festival set, along with two other songs. Interestingly, the 1973 hit "Desperado" was missing from the lineup, and although the band finished about 25 minutes ahead of schedule, no encore occurred as the crew began breaking down the equipment.
Despite this, festivalgoers received a solid 19-song performance from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. Henley reflected on their enduring career, saying onstage, "We've been playing these songs for you for about 53 years now, and we hope to continue to do that." Most importantly, the audience enjoyed a memorable day of music under clear skies.
This marked the first time the Eagles had returned to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 2012. Below is the full setlist from their 2026 headlining performance:
Seven Bridges Road (from Eagles Live, 1980)
