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Fireflies (Martin Garrix and U2 song)

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"Fireflies"
Cover art showing Bono, Martin Garrix, and The Edge standing in the back, with Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. seated in front in a dim, blue-green lit room, framed by dark borders with "MARTIN GARRIX & U2" on the left, and "FIREFLIES" vertically on the right.
Single by Martin Garrix and U2
Released24 July 2026 (2026-07-24)
Genre
Length4:24
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Martin Garrix
  • Klahr
Martin Garrix singles chronology
"Repeat It"
(2026)		 "Fireflies"
(2026)		 "This Dream of You"
(2026)
U2 singles chronology
"Street of Dreams"
(2026)		 "Fireflies"
(2026)		 "Silencio"
(2026)
Music video
"Fireflies" on YouTube

"Fireflies" is a song by the Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and the Irish rock band U2. Premiered at Tomorrowland 2026 as the closing song of Garrix's main stage DJ set on 17 July 2026, it was released as a single by Stmpd Rcrds and Darkroom Records on 24 July 2026.

Background

[edit]

"Fireflies" marks the first time U2 as a group has collaborated with Garrix on a lead-artist basis.[1] In May 2021, Garrix released the single "We Are the People", where lead vocalist Bono and lead guitarist the Edge were credited as featured artists.[2] The song was the official anthem of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship.[3] In November of the same year, U2 released "Your Song Saved My Life" as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2021 animated musical comedy film Sing 2, on which Garrix is credited for co-production, mixing and mastering.[4]

Bono was also credited as a songwriter on Garrix's 2025 singles "Angels for Each Other" and "Weightless", both of which were collaborations with Indian singer Arijit Singh, as well as the 2026 single "Catharina".[5] In April 2026, Garrix produced "Scars" on the band's Easter Lily EP.

In a statement, Garrix said: "'Fireflies' has a very unique mood. It's a special song we started working on six summers ago. It felt electrifying and very surreal to finally debut it at Tomorrowland with The Edge. I've worked with Bono and Edge before, but working with the whole band I got to get a glimpse of their chemistry and why U2 are who they are. They are incredible friends and collaborators, and it has been an absolute honour to work with them again."[6]

The Edge added: "We go back a long way with Martin. There's always a sense of adventure whenever we get together. Playing Fireflies for the first time at Tomorrowland, in front of one of the most passionate festival crowds anywhere, was such a rush...in fact I might have enjoyed it a bit too much. It reminded me of why I love playing outdoors. I like it better when there's no ceiling."[6]

Release and promotion

[edit]

On 17 July 2026, in a surprise appearance,[7] the Edge joined Garrix onstage to perform "Fireflies" for the first time during Garrix's mainstage set on the first weekend of the Tomorrowland music festival held at De Schorre in Boom, Belgium.[8][9] The Edge played his electric guitar sound over Bono's prerecorded vocals.[10]

Following the song's debut, Garrix posted on social media a video of the live performance, writing on social media that the track will be "out soon".[11] He shared a Feature.fm link for pre-saving the single on streaming services,[12] before revealing that the song would be released on 24 July 2026.[13]

Composition and production

[edit]

"Fireflies" is a pop and pop rock song that combines Garrix's signature melodic production with U2's anthemic guitar sound.[14][15] The song features Bono's vocals and builds towards a repeated chorus of: "Fireflies, you and I are fireflies."[16]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Fireflies"
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Italy Airplay (EarOne)[18] 35
Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)[19] 6
Netherlands (Single Tip)[20] 30
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] 26
San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50)[22] 29
UK Singles Sales (Official Charts)[23] 21

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Bland, Travis (24 July 2026). "U2 and DJ Martin Garrix Release Single 'Fireflies'". Consequence. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Bloom, Madison (13 May 2021). "Bono and the Edge Join Martin Garrix on New Song 'We Are the People'". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Moore, Sam (14 May 2021). "Listen to U2's Bono and The Edge team up with Martin Garrix for Euro 2020 song 'We Are The People'". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Eede, Christian (9 November 2021). "Martin Garrix has co-produced, mixed and mastered U2's new single: Listen". DJ Mag. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Chelosky, DCBy Danielle (18 July 2026). "Martin Garrix Brings Out The Edge To Debut Latest U2 Collab 'Fireflies' At Tomorrowland". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Fireflies - U2". Official U2 Website. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  7. ↑ Lances, Jill (20 July 2026). "The Edge joins DJ Martin Garrix at Tomorrowland to debut new U2 collaboration". ABC Audio Digital Syndication. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (18 July 2026). "Martin Garrix Debuts U2 Collab 'Fireflies' With The Edge at Tomorrowland in Belgium". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Morales, Isabela (20 July 2026). "Martin Garrix debuts U2 collab Fireflies with the Edge". Extra.ie. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  10. ↑ A., Mariana (20 July 2026). "Martin Garrix Unveils Fireflies With Surprise Appearance by U2's The Edge at Tomorrowland". Decatur Radio. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Stock, Olivia (18 July 2026). "Martin Garrix and U2 premiere new single, 'Fireflies', on Tomorrowland 2026 mainstage". DJ Mag. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (18 July 2026). "See Martin Garrix Debut New U2 Collaboration 'Fireflies' With the Edge at Tomorrowland". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Heffler, Jason (20 July 2026). "Watch Martin Garrix and U2 Debut Unreleased Collaboration, 'Fireflies' at Tomorrowland". EDM.com. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Martin Garrix and U2 premiere 'Fireflies' at Tomorrowland 2026". We Rave You. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  15. ↑ A., Mariana (20 July 2026). "Martin Garrix Unveils Fireflies With Surprise Appearance by U2's The Edge at Tomorrowland". KCCR-AM. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Pilley, Max (18 July 2026). "Watch The Edge join Martin Garrix at Tomorrowland to debut new U2 collaboration 'Fireflies'". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Martin Garrix & U2 - Fireflies", Tidal, retrieved 3 October 2026
  18. ↑ "Earone Airplay - Settimana #34 dal 14/08/2026 al 20/08/2026" (in Italian). Earone.
  19. ↑ "Latvijas dziesmu topā izvirzās divi izteikti līderi" [Two clear frontrunners are emerging in the Latvian music charts]. TV Net [lv] (in Latvian). Latvian Music Producers Association. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "DC Tip 30 – 01/08/2026" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 11/09/2026" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 11 September 2026. Archived from the original on 11 September 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Sales Chart on 31/7/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
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