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Upcoming Earth, Wind & Fire dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Pick a seat with height
The best Earth, Wind & Fire seat is a raised one close to the stage: a lower-level side section near the stage in an arena, or the covered pavilion at an amphitheater. The crowd at this show dances, and once the big hits arrive people on the floor stand for long stretches. A few feet of elevation lets you see Philip Bailey, Verdine White and the horn section over the dancers instead of between them.
A ticket today usually means one of three things: an arena or amphitheater date, a shared summer bill with another veteran act, or a Las Vegas night at the Venetian Theatre, where the band keeps a residency. Each one changes the seat math a little.
Arena, shed and residency seating compared
Arenas
- First 10 to 15 rows of the floor: the place to watch the horns and Bailey up close. The floor usually has chairs, but expect to stand through much of the show.
- Lower-level sides near the stage: often the best overall seat, because you look over the floor instead of into it.
- Upper level, center: a distant but complete view of a big band.
Amphitheaters
- Covered pavilion: the clearest sound and a real view of the musicians.
- Lawn: general admission grass behind the pavilion. Relaxed and lower cost, but the stage looks small and you lean on the video screens. Bring a low chair or blanket only where the venue permits it.
The Las Vegas residency
The Venetian Theatre is far smaller than an arena, so center seats on any level work well. Steer clear of the far side seats, since the horn players can disappear behind stage gear from there.
Look-alike listings to watch for
Tribute and spin-off groups use names close to the real band's. A group billed as Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion, with no original members, lost a trademark case to the real band in federal court in March 2024. Before you buy, read the event title on the listing word for word. If it adds "tribute," "legacy" or "experience" to the name, it is not the touring band.
What the band sounds like live
Expect a hits night from a big ensemble: horns, percussion, bass and voices. Bailey has been in the band since 1972; his four-octave voice and falsetto define much of the catalog. Verdine White's bass drives the groove, and Ralph Johnson remains on percussion. The music is built to be played loud, and by "Boogie Wonderland," "Let's Groove" and "September" most of the room is dancing.
In the 1970s the band's shows featured stage magic created with illusionists Doug Henning and David Copperfield. The modern show puts the musicianship and the songs first. Maurice White, the founder, came off the road as a regular member in 1994 and died on February 4, 2016. What you see now is his music kept alive by longtime members, not the 1970s lineup.
Co-headliners, residencies and guest spots
- 2004, 2005 and 2009: joint summer tours with Chicago. A June 2004 Greek Theatre show in Los Angeles was released and went platinum.
- 2017: 2054-The Tour, a summer run across North America with Chic.
- May 2, 2018: the start of the Venetian Theatre residency in Las Vegas, which the band has returned to since.
- 2022 and 2023: summer tours with Carlos Santana and then with Lionel Richie.
- August 3, 2025: a guest appearance in Sabrina Carpenter's Lollapalooza headline set for "Let's Groove" and "September."
On October 1, 2026, the band's website listed shows at the Venetian Theatre on October 16 and 17. Check the event list on this page for what is on sale now.
Which Earth, Wind & Fire dates sell first
- Around September 21: the 1978 single "September" famously name-checks the 21st night of that month, and in 2019 Los Angeles made September 21 Earth, Wind & Fire Day by city council vote. Shows close to it draw extra buyers.
- Shared summer bills: pairings with acts such as Chicago, Santana or Lionel Richie broaden the audience, and those bills tend to move faster than the band's own headline dates.
- Vegas weekends: Friday and Saturday residency nights go first, because many buyers are building a trip around them.
On a co-headline night, confirm which act closes before you plan a late arrival. Reserved Seat orders come with guaranteed entry. Dates and news are posted on earthwindandfire.com.
Maurice White's Chicago band
Maurice White, a former Chess Records session drummer and Ramsey Lewis Trio alumnus, founded Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1969. He built the sound around horns, percussion and his kalimba (an African thumb piano). Its chart peaks span the 1970s into the early 1980s. "Shining Star" was a Hot 100 No. 1; "September" led the soul chart; "Let's Groove" reached the top of the R&B list; and "After the Love Has Gone" stalled at No. 2.
Sales top 90 million records, and the band has six Grammys from 17 nominations. Honors include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (March 6, 2000), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors, where it was the first Black group ever recognized.
Frequently asked questions
Do people stand at Earth, Wind & Fire concerts?
Yes. Once the big songs start, most of the floor is up and dancing, so a raised seat close to the stage is the way to keep your view.
Is the lawn a good choice for Earth, Wind & Fire?
It is relaxed and usually the lowest-cost option, but the stage looks small from there and you rely on video screens. The covered pavilion has far better sound and sightlines.
Where does Earth, Wind & Fire play in Las Vegas?
At the Venetian Theatre, where the band started a residency on May 2, 2018. The band's site showed two more dates there, October 16 and 17, when checked on October 1, 2026.
Which original members still tour with Earth, Wind & Fire?
Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, all longtime members, front today's band. Maurice White, who founded it, left the road in 1994 and died in 2016.
How can I tell if a listing is the real Earth, Wind & Fire?
Read the event name closely. Groups such as Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion are separate acts, and a federal judge ruled against that group in a 2024 trademark case.