National Harbor to host East Coast's first Sphere, second in U.S.

Prince George’s County announced a major addition to National Harbor on January 19, 2026: the second Sphere venue in the United States and the first on the East Coast. County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy, joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Sphere Entertainment Co and Peterson Companies, said the project will position National Harbor as an even larger year-round destination and deliver substantial economic benefits to the county.

“This is a world-class win and an incredibly exciting moment for Prince George’s County. This achievement reflects the strong partnership we have built with Governor Wes Moore and the State of Maryland, as well as a disciplined, experienced team that knows how to compete and win major projects at a national scale,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “As only the second Sphere venue in the United States, this project demonstrates the future of economic development in Prince George’s County, how we compete, how we win, and how we attract other world-class destinations that will become flagship projects for our County, our State, and the entire region. I love winning for Prince George’s County.”

Braveboy highlighted the fiscal scale of the plan and the county’s ambitions. “We are seven months into my administration and thinking big. The revenue from the Sphere, expected to be more than $1 billion annually, will more than triple the taxes from Northwest Stadium and Six Flags combined. We are setting high standards and showing how competitive and attractive Prince George’s County is as a national – and international destination. We will continue to position ourselves bigger and smarter into the future.”

Project details released at the announcement call for a mixed public-private financing package that includes approximately $200 million in state, local and private incentives. Sphere would support about 2,500 jobs during construction and roughly 4,750 jobs once operational. National Harbor currently draws more than 15 million visitors a year and sits about 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., making it a logical site for a high-profile entertainment venue.

The planned National Harbor Sphere would be a smaller-scale model with 6,000 seats and the same advanced technologies as larger Spheres, including an Exosphere exterior LED display, a 16K by 16K interior display plane, Sphere Immersive Sound, haptic seating and 4D environmental effects. Officials said the exterior display will showcase artistic and branded content to global audiences.

For Prince George’s County residents, the Sphere promises more jobs, expanded tourism demand for hotels, restaurants and retail, and increased sales and lodging tax receipts. The trade-off will include questions about the use of public incentives, traffic and transit capacity, and local infrastructure needs as National Harbor absorbs larger year-round crowds.

Next steps will include planning approvals, permitting and final financing agreements. Construction hiring could begin once those steps are complete, and County leaders say the project will be a flagship catalyst for future economic development in the region.