Flawless vocals, tight choreography, and unmatched stage presence—25 years later, the Backstreet Boys continue to raise the bar for pop performances.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Justin Segura/Sphere Entertainment

Backstreet Boys (BSB), comprised of Nick Carter (45), AJ McLean (47), Brian Littrell (50), Howie Dorough (51), and Kevin Richardson (53), launched their Into The Millennium Las Vegas Residency with a spectacular, fully immersive visual experience at The Sphere, the cutting-edge 17,600-seat venue located at 255 Sands Avenue.

In doing so, the award-winning boy band made history as the first pop act and first boy band to ever perform at the iconic venue, joining a lineup that includes Kenny Chesney, Dead & Company, The Eagles, Phish, U2, Afterlife Presents Anyma and more. The show marks the group’s second Vegas residency, following their Larger Than Life residency at Zappos Theater (formerly The AXIS) inside of Planet Hollywood, which took place from March 2017 to April 2019.

Thousands of fans, most of whom were dressed in Millennium white and blue or a handmade BSB ensemble, poured into the Sphere when doors opened at 6:30 PM. Inside, they were transported to a Backstreet Boys-themed space station, complete with a massive rocket preparing for liftoff. Monitors on the screens in the space station played entertaining Q&As, featuring the group answering lighthearted questions like “Who was the biggest flirt?” and “What’s your post-show food order?.” The screens also featured vintage footage from the Backstreet Boys’ legendary career, including nostalgic clips from the ’90s, when their seminal album, Millennium, first took the world by storm.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Justin Segura/Sphere Entertainment

At around 8:35 PM, a 10-minute countdown began as the space station started “searching for Millennium.” Ten minutes later, the rocket ship launched, carrying the sold-out crowd into space. The Millennium-branded rocket then welcomed the Backstreet Boys, dressed in all-white ensembles, to the stage beneath a glow of lasers. They kicked off the show with a high-energy performance of “Larger Than Life,” complete with their signature choreography, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening of nostalgia and hits.

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“Welcome to Sphere and welcome to Backstreet’s residency. I don’t think it gets any bigger than this right here, do you? I mean, come on. Listen, it’s because of each and every one of you that showed up tonight that we have a job. So we are forever indebted and very grateful,” Littrell said, greeting the sold-out crowd.

Dorough added, “Thank you all for coming out and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Millennium record and the tour. We see you guys all in the beautiful white. You got the memo from AJ. We appreciate that. Well, first of all, 25 years, and we still look damn good, ladies and gentlemen. So whether you’re a newcomer are there since the beginning, we just want to let you guys know we have a great show lined up for you guys. We’re going to take you guys on a trip down memory lane with all the oldies and the goodies.”

AJ McLean also took a moment to acknowledge the sea of fans in the crowd wearing all-white outfits in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Millennium, saying, “Thank you for the one little simple request I put out on social media to wear white, y’all did that. Thank you so much. This is so cool.”

The best-selling boy band in music history took fans on a journey through time and Into The Millennium with a 25-song set list, featuring every single track from Millennium, plus fan-favorites from their iconic 30-year catalog such as “More Than That,” “Siberia,” “Don’t Want You Back,” “Get Another Boyfriend,” “All I Have To Give,” “Drowning,” “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” “Shape Of My Heart,” “Get Down (You’re The One For Me),” “We’ve Got It Goin’ On,” “The Call,” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).” Backstreet Boys also delivered the live debut of their brand-new song, “HEY,” a track featured on their latest album, Millennium 2.0.

“I just want to say it’s been incredible for us to put this set list together and play some songs that we’ve not played in 25 years. So thank you for allowing us to be here and do this. Thanks for making our dreams come true. Thank you for all the love for all the years,” Richardson said. “This is incredible guys, thank you for showing up for us. Thank you for being here. We’re so full of gratitude. Thank you guys for being here for us.”

Throughout their impressive set, the crowd sang along to every lyric like it was 1999, proving these songs aren’t just hits, they’re lifelong anthems. Carter, McLean, Littrell, Dorough, and Richardson delivered flawless vocals and mesmerizing harmonies that sounded just as good, if not better, than they did in the ’90s. Each member was given the spotlight for a solo performance, and all five members more than delivered, showcasing their signature vocals.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Justin Segura/Sphere Entertainment

The stage design was unlike anything the Sphere has hosted to date. The Backstreet Boys’ setup featured dual catwalks, a secondary stage that lifted nearly 100 feet into the air, secret passageways for entrances and exits, and stage lifts used for wardrobe changes and solo moments. Throughout the show, the group had multiple costume changes, but there was no downtime or filler. Instead of awkward videos or pauses, those transitions were seamlessly filled with solo performances. In addition to the stage design, the group brought along a unique production that included additional lighting, lasers and even streamers and confetti.

Backstreet Boys’ songs were brought to life in a new way with Sphere’s stunning visuals and immersive sound, powered by HOLOPLOT. The venue features 167,000 precision-tuned speakers, a fully immersive visual experience with 171 million pixels on a 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen, and 4D technologies, including haptic seating, delivering a next-level, memorable concert experience.

After more than two decades, the Backstreet Boys continue to defy time, delivering vocals, dance moves, and energy that rival their peak, further cementing their status as pop icons whose legacy only continues to grow and will live on forever. Backstreet Boys’ Las Vegas residency wasn’t just a concert, it was a thrilling experience. The show is an immersive journey through the group’s iconic catalog of hits, complete with breathtaking visuals and motion-synced seating that brings their music to life like never before.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Justin Segura/Sphere Entertainment

See 5 of Music Mayhem’s favorite moments from the show below.

5 Highlights Of The Backstreet Boys Vegas Residency

“I Want It That Way” Performance On Floating Stage

The Backstreet Boys pulled out all the stops for their Into The Millennium residency, most notably during their performance of “I Want It That Way,” when the group was elevated nearly 100 feet above the crowd on a UFO-like stage, delivering an unforgettable, eye-level performance for fans in the 300 section.

As Backstreet Boys began to sing the opening lyrics of “I Want It That Way,” the stage began to lift as the visuals made it appear as if the group were soaring into many lightyears, a mind-blowing visual that resembled something out of a space-themed movie like WALL-E or Guardians of the Galaxy.

After concluding their performance of “I Want It That Way,” the boy band transitioned the show into a big disco dance party with “Get Down (You’re The One for Me),” a track from their debut Self-Titled 1996 album, as the stage lower back to the floor.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Rich Fury/Sphere Entertainment

Exceptional Vocals And Choreography

Throughout the set, Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson delivered flawless vocals and mesmerizing harmonies that sounded just as good, if not better, than they did in the ’90s. Each member was given the spotlight for a solo performance, and all five members more than delivered, showcasing their signature vocals.

The Backstreet Boys’ dance moves? Yes, they are just as good as they were back in the ’90s, if not improved from lots of practice over the years. The group’s choreography was on point and especially noted in songs such as “Larger Than Life,” “As Long As You Love Me,” “Don’t Want You Back,” “The One,” “All I Have To Give,” “The Call,” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

Tribute To Their Families During “The Perfect Fan”

An emotional highlight of the show came during the Backstreet Boys’ performance of “The Perfect Fan,” which they dedicated to their wives and the moms in the crowd. As they performed the heartfelt tune, a visual scrapbook played across the screen, showcasing photos of Carter, McLean, Dorough, Littrell, and Richardson with their wives, kids, and families, many of whom were watching proudly from a VIP suite with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.

The performance became so emotional at one point that Littrell and Richardson had to power through tears to keep singing.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Courtesy of Music Mayhem

Larger Than Life, Breathtaking Visuals

Backstreet Boys’ songs were brought to life in an entirely new way thanks to the Sphere’s stunning visuals and immersive sound technology powered by HOLOPLOT. The cutting-edge production was especially highlighted during performances of “Drowning,” “Siberia,” “Quit Playin’ Games (With My Heart),” “Shape of My Heart,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You Now,” “Get Down (You’re the One for Me),” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” and more.

The award-winning boy band’s jaw-dropping visuals transported fans to another universe, featuring space-themed clips, a custom BSB Tetris game, vibrant ocean scenes, deserts, snowy mountains, space stations, and other planets.

The Sphere itself boasts 167,000 precision-tuned speakers, a 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen with 171 million pixels, and 4D elements like haptic seating—delivering a truly next-level, unforgettable concert experience.

Backstreet Boys at Sphere; Rich Fury/Sphere Entertainment

Epic “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” Finale

When the Backstreet Boys returned to the stage after “The Call” to perform “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” the energy in the room went from 100 to 1000. “Everybody/ Rock your body right/ Backstreet’s back, alright!” the Backstreet Boys sang in sync, prompting thunderous screams and an instant dance party, both in the crowd and with the robots lighting up the Sphere’s massive screens, as confetti rained down over the audience.

“Thank you Vegas,” the group shouted collectively as they were lowered beneath the stage as the show came to a close.

Backstreet Boys Las Vegas Set List

1. Larger Than Life

2. It’s Gotta Be You

3. As Long as You Love Me

4. More Than That

5. I Need You Tonight [first BSB performance since 1999]

6. Siberia

7. Don’t Want You Back

8. Get Another Boyfriend

9. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely

10. Don’t Wanna Lose You Now

11. Hey [Live Debut]

12. The One

13. Back to Your Heart

14. Spanish Eyes [first performance since 2016]

15. No One Else Comes Close

16. The Perfect Fan [first performance since 2000]

17. All I Have to Give

18. Drowning

19. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)

20. Shape of My Heart

21. I Want It That Way

22. Get Down (You’re The One for Me)

23. We’ve Got It Goin’ On

24. The Call

25. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)

Remaining Dates For Backstreet Boys: Into The Millennium At The Sphere

Produced by Live Nation, Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium Las Vegas Residency at Sphere continues for 18 dates before wrapping up on August 24. See the remaining dates below.

Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium At The Sphere: Las Vegas Residency Dates

July: 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

August: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24

The Backstreet Boys’ Las Vegas residency kick-off coincided with the release of Millennium 2.0, a deluxe reissue celebrating the 25th anniversary of their five-time GRAMMY-nominated album, Millennium. Millennium 2.0 features 25 tracks, including their new single “HEY,” all 12 remastered originals, live recordings, demos (including “I Want It That Way”), B-sides, and an alternate version of “I Want It That Way.” The album also includes a brand-new photo shoot recreating the original cover art.

Backstreet Boys Millennium 2.0 Album Art