Phish’s Nine-Night Sphere Residency Kicks Off With Debut Of Innovative Real-Time Creative, Powered By Moment Factory And Sphere Studios
Evolving Visuals and a Virtual Light Rig Immerse Fans in the Band’s Expansive Universe
LAS VEGAS – APRIL 20, 2026 – Phish, Moment Factory, and Sphere Studios unveiled a series of real-time innovations this weekend during the first round of the band’s highly anticipated return to Sphere. For nine nights, Sphere becomes a living testament to Phish and their fans, with real-time visuals that mirror the band’s improvisational style. Leveraging the screen’s 16K resolution, Moment Factory developed distinct visual concepts, made possible with Sphere Studios’ technologies, that blend a vast array of art styles to transform the space, from iridescent spiderwebs and bubblegum worlds to a hot-dog spaceship odyssey, each adapted in real-time to the band’s evolving setlist.
To anchor the residency in the authentic roots of the band, Sphere Studios captured pieces of Phish history with its innovative Big Sky camera system which was custom built to create content for the immersive venue’s 160,000 sq ft media plane. Last September, Moment Factory and Sphere Studios production crews traveled to Burlington, Vermont, for four nights at the band’s studio, ‘The Barn.’ Capturing both the interior and exterior of the studio in high resolution, the footage transports concertgoers into the band’s creative sanctuary.
For over 40 years, the soul-stirring energy of Phish’s light show has been considered a core component of the band’s live experience. This year’s production introduces a virtual light rig – a real-time engine that replicates the dynamics of a physical light show directly on Sphere’s immersive media plane. Harnessing Sphere’s technology, Moment Factory, in collaboration with Sphere Studios and creative agency Myreze, designed the virtual light rig to preserve and amplify this deeply familiar fan experience.This agile infrastructure bypasses native engine limitations, allowing the band’s longtime lighting designer, Chris Kuroda, to command more than 7,000 virtual DMX lights with the same organic, improvisational fluidity as his physical rig.
“Returning to Sphere, it felt very natural to keep building with Moment Factory,” says Jason Colton, co-manager for Phish. “They’ve been a key creative partner since Phish’s Magnaball festival, and they’ve always approached things with a real sense of restless imagination while breaking new ground. Ten projects in, Moment Factory is still helping the band stretch in ways that feel true to them.”
“It’s a true privilege to be back at Sphere with Phish. Our creative collaboration, spanning more than a decade, consistently inspires us to see further and dream bigger,” says Daniel Jean, Producer at Moment Factory. “While many believed the virtual light rig at this scale was not doable, we brought it to life alongside the team at Sphere Studios on one of the biggest LED screens on the planet. Seeing the spark in Phish fans’ eyes during the first weekend of the residency, we knew we had captured something truly unique that honors the band’s legacy.”
“Phish has always embraced improvisation, allowing Sphere Studios to respond with equal creative agility,” said Carolyn Blackwood, Head of Sphere Studios. “Seeing Phish and Moment Factory realize their vision through Sphere’s advanced technologies is an exciting moment for the future of immersive entertainment.”
This new collaboration between Phish and global entertainment studio Moment Factory, which led creative and show direction, was fueled by the band’s boundless vision, resulting in another world first in the live entertainment industry. Developed to realize this vision, Sphere Studios’ custom-built capabilities continue to push creative boundaries, pioneering advanced technologies that enhance the experience and deepen the audience connection.
About Phish
Phish – Trey Anastasio (guitar, vocals), Jon Fishman (drums, vocals), Mike Gordon (bass, vocals), and Page McConnell (keyboards, vocals) – has earned one of music’s most dedicated fan communities for its blend of idiosyncratic songcraft, extended improvisation, and immersive live performances, all fusing a variety of genres into their own freewheeling sound and vision. Formed in 1983 in Burlington, VT, Phish has released 16 studio albums, beginning with 1989’s Junta and continuing through 2024’s Evolve, released on the band’s own JEMP Records. In 2002, the band launched LivePhish, which offers high-quality soundboard recordings of every show, regular releases from Phish’s substantial archive, and 4k live webcasts. LivePhish+, the band’s streaming service, is the most successful artist-driven service of its kind, offering unlimited on-demand access to the entire LivePhish catalog. Widely recognized among live music’s most beloved and inventive artists, Phish has played over 2,000 shows since their formation, regularly selling out multiple nights at arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums across North America, Halloween extravaganzas, and four-night New Year’s Eve celebrations at NYC’s world-famous Madison Square Garden.
About Moment Factory
Moment Factory is a global entertainment studio pioneering new forms of collective experiences. For 25 years, its multidisciplinary team has worked at the forefront of creativity and technology to inspire wonder and real-world connection. Combining expertise in immersive storytelling, interactive design, multimedia scenography, music, lighting, and special effects, the studio has delivered over 600 projects worldwide, including its Lumina Night Walk and AURA series. Headquartered in Montreal, with offices in Paris, Tokyo, New York, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, Moment Factory is actively shaping the destinations of tomorrow. Its work includes collaborations with clients such as Disney, Billie Eilish, Universal Studios, Miral, FIFA, Real Madrid C. F., and Meow Wolf.
About Sphere Entertainment Co.
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a leader in immersive entertainment, technology and media. The Company includes Sphere, an experiential medium powered by advanced technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere opened in Las Vegas, with a second venue planned for Abu Dhabi. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming.
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