Bono is 65.
It feels weird to type that, doesn't it? For anyone who grew up watching a mullet-topped Irishman scale stage scaffolding in the eighties, the math just doesn't seem to add up. But Paul David Hewson—the man the world knows as the frontman of U2—was born on May 10, 1960.
As of early 2026, he’s officially entered his mid-sixties. He’s no longer the "boy" from the 1980 debut album of the same name. He’s a grandfather, a philanthropist, and, somehow, still one of the most polarizing figures in rock history. You either love his earnestness or you find it exhausting. There is very little middle ground when it comes to Bono.
People ask how old is Bono from U2 band not just because they're curious about his birthday, but because they're trying to figure out how he’s still doing it. Most rockers from the post-punk era have either retired to their country estates or are playing "greatest hits" sets at county fairs. Bono, along with The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., just finished a massive residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas that redefined what a concert even looks like.
The timeline of a Dublin legend
Bono grew up on Cedarwood Road in Glasnevin, Dublin. It was a pretty standard, lower-middle-class upbringing. His father, Bob, was a Catholic, and his mother, Iris, was Protestant. That kind of "mixed" marriage was a big deal in Ireland back then.
Iris died when Bono was just 14. She collapsed at her own father’s funeral. That trauma is basically the engine room for every U2 song you’ve ever heard. If you listen to "I Will Follow" or "Mofo," you’re hearing a guy still trying to talk to his mom.
He met his wife, Ali Stewart, at Mount Temple Comprehensive School when he was about 15. They’ve been together ever since. That’s nearly 50 years with the same woman, which is basically a miracle in the world of rock and roll.
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By the time he was 20, U2 had released Boy. By 27, they were the biggest band on the planet thanks to The Joshua Tree. He spent his thirties reinventing himself as "The Fly" and "Mr. MacPhisto" during the Zoo TV era, proving he could be ironic and weird instead of just the guy in the leather vest waving a white flag.
Why his age matters for U2's future
Age is a tricky thing for a singer. A guitarist can play into their eighties—look at Keith Richards. But a singer's voice is a physical organ that wears out.
Bono has had some scares. In 2014, he had a "high-energy bicycle accident" in Central Park. It was brutal. He ended up with a titanium plate in his elbow and fractures to his eye socket and shoulder. For a while, he couldn't even play guitar.
Then there was the "brush with mortality" during the Songs of Experience era. He’s been vague about what exactly happened, but it was a serious health crisis that forced him to confront his own finish line. You can hear that urgency in his recent vocals. He isn't reaching for the glass-shattering high notes of "Bad" as often as he used to. Instead, he’s leaned into a richer, more operatic baritone.
It’s honestly impressive. He’s adapted. He knows he can’t jump off the PA stacks anymore, so he uses his presence differently.
The Sphere and the 60-plus rock star
Watching Bono at the Sphere in 2023 and 2024 was a lesson in aging gracefully while staying tech-forward. He was 63 and 64 during that run. While the visuals were mind-blowing, the core of the show was still his ability to hold an audience's attention.
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He’s talked openly in his memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, about how his voice has changed. He mentions that he finally learned how to sing properly in his fifties. Before that, he was just shouting from the chest. Now, he’s a technician.
Addressing the "Bono Fatigue"
We have to be real here: some people find Bono’s age and continued relevance annoying.
There’s a segment of the population that will never forgive him for the "U2 album on every iPhone" incident in 2014. People feel like he’s "everywhere." He’s at the UN. He’s at the WEF. He’s at the Oscars.
But whether you like his politics or his sunglass-wearing persona, you can't deny the longevity. Most bands break up after five years. U2 has had the same four members since 1976. That is unheard of. Bono is the glue. He’s the salesman. He’s the guy who convinces the other three to get back on the plane and do it one more time.
What most people get wrong about his health
There is a long-standing rumor that Bono wears sunglasses because he’s a "diva."
He’s actually had glaucoma for over 20 years. His eyes are extremely sensitive to light. If he takes those shades off in a brightly lit room or under stage lights, his eyes will stream and turn red. It’s a chronic condition. It’s not a fashion choice, although he’s certainly turned it into a brand.
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He’s also dealt with back issues for years. In 2010, he had emergency spinal surgery in Munich after being temporary paralyzed in one leg during tour rehearsals. The guy is literally held together by grit and some very expensive medical procedures.
What's next for the 65-year-old?
So, how old is Bono from U2 band gonna be before he finally stops?
He doesn't seem to have a "stop" button. There are rumors of a "noisy" rock album in the works. He’s mentioned wanting to make something aggressive, something that recaptures the energy of their early days but with the wisdom of sixty-year-olds.
He’s also deeply involved in his "A-Day" project and continuing work with ONE and (RED). He’s reached that elder statesman level where he’s more interested in legacy than being on the radio.
If you're a fan, the move is to appreciate this "third act." We are seeing one of the last great frontmen of the stadium-rock era enter his twilight years with his voice intact and his ambition still through the roof.
How to keep up with Bono in 2026
If you want to understand where he is mentally right now, don't just look at the tour dates.
- Read his memoir: Surrender is genuinely well-written. He’s a better prose writer than most people give him credit for. He’s self-deprecating and honest about his flaws.
- Listen to "Songs of Surrender": These are re-imagined versions of U2 songs. You can hear how he’s adjusted the keys and the phrasing to fit his 60-year-old voice.
- Watch the "Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming" documentary: It’s on Disney+ and shows him hanging out in Dublin. It’s the most "human" he’s looked in decades.
He’s 65. He’s wealthy beyond imagination. He’s achieved everything a musician can achieve. And yet, he still acts like a guy who’s just starting out and has something to prove. That might be the most "Bono" thing about him.
Check the official U2 website or fan hubs like @U2 or Zootopia for the most recent updates on their next recording cycle. Based on his recent interviews, expect a return to a more traditional band format following the experimental nature of the Vegas residency. Pay close attention to his voice on live recordings from this year; it provides a fascinating roadmap of how a rock singer can navigate the aging process without losing the "it" factor.