Sphere Entertainment Co. is planning to develop a new Sphere venue at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland, marking the company’s second Sphere location in the United States and the first to use a smaller-scale design model.

The proposed project was announced on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The parties involved in this project include Sphere Entertainment, the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and developer Peterson Companies. Once constructed, this arena will be situated in National Harbor, which is a popular tourism area about 15 minutes south of Washington D.C.

Sphere Entertainment Co. and Peterson Companies are developing the proposed Sphere at National Harbor as a public-private partnership, providing most of the private funding for construction and technology. State and local officials have proposed a $200 million incentive package to help attract the venue and offset initial development costs, though lawmakers have not yet approved the agreements. Officials continue to review full project costs, financing breakdowns, and the timing of any public contributions, emphasizing that private investment will cover the majority of capital requirements.

Capacity

The new Sphere would seat 6,000 people, making it smaller than the Las Vegas Sphere, and would introduce the company’s first reduced-capacity venue format. The company designed this format to enter new markets while maintaining its signature immersive technology.

Economic Impact

Maryland officials on February 18 released a new independent economic analysis for the proposed 6,000-seat Sphere venue at National Harbor, offering updated projections as the project moves through review. Aisha Braveboy and Wes Moore, alongside executives from Sphere Entertainment Co. and Peterson Companies, presented the findings, describing the venue as a transformative economic driver for the region.

The new study, conducted by EY, estimates the venue would generate approximately $1.5 billion in annual economic impact statewide once operational — including $1.3 billion in Prince George’s County and an additional $200 million across the rest of Maryland. Construction activity alone is projected to produce $1.85 billion statewide, with $1.6 billion concentrated in the county. The updated analysis also increased projected employment totals to roughly 3,350 construction-related jobs and nearly 8,000 total jobs supported statewide once open.

Features

According to Sphere Entertainment, this new location will feature the Exosphere exterior LED wall, as well as an interior LED screen with a resolution of 16K by 16K, immersive audio, haptic seating, and environmental effects comparable to those in its Las Vegas location.

Sphere in Las Vegas has been one of the top-grossing venues in the world according to Billboard and Pollstar rankings, and the company has already announced plans for another Sphere arena in Abu Dhabi as part of its expansion plans.

The Maryland project is also subject to final agreements and approvals for public incentives and other government authorizations from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.

The project reflects a broader trend of states and municipalities backing entertainment-led developments to boost tourism and employment, a strategy also seen in projects such as The EDGE development in Boonville, Indiana.

Sphere Entertainment Proposed Venue at National Harbor: Project Factsheet

Project Overview

Development of a new Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor, Maryland – the second Sphere in the United States and the first to utilize a smaller-scale design model.

Location

National Harbor, Prince George’s County, Maryland (15 minutes from Washington, D.C.)

Venue Specifications

Capacity: 6,000 seats

Exosphere: Exterior LED display for artistic and branded content

Interior Display: 16K x 16K resolution LED screen (world’s highest-resolution)

Technology Features: Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating, 4D environmental effects

Programming

Original Sphere Experiences

Concerts and live performances

Brand events and activations

Economic Impact

Total Annual Impact: Projected at $1.5 billion statewide, including $1.3 billion for Prince George’s County

Construction Jobs: About 3,350 positions, including direct and supplier-supported roles

Operational Jobs: Nearly 8,000 full- and part-time jobs statewide, including 1,250 direct Sphere employees

Funding: Public-private partnership with private investment from Sphere Entertainment and Peterson Companies, supported by a proposed $200 million state and local incentive package

Project Partners

Sphere Entertainment Co.

State of Maryland

Prince George’s County

Peterson Companies

Timeline & Status

Announcement Date: January 18, 2026

Status: Intent to develop (pending definitive agreements, governmental incentives, and approvals)