SU(N) gauge theories in the large N limit.
We present recent numerical results on SU(N) gauge theories in the large N limit. In particular, we discuss the glueball and meson spectra and the deconfinement phase transition. The data suggest a smooth large N limit for physical observables, with finite N effects accounted for by a controlled power expansion in 1/N. Possible implications of these findings for gauge string duality programmes aimed at an analytical description of non-perturbative QCD are also discussed.