43 Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear in 2026

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This year’s 2026 Preview consists of all the entertainment — from TV to video games to classical music — that Vulture writers and editors are excited to consume in the new year. Below, our albums list.

Jump to: January | February | March | April | May | TBA

With Heaven on Top, Zach Bryan

January 9

In October, the country megastar released a snippet of “Bad News,” a ditty that criticized ICE and drew the ire of Kristi Noem. Based on that, his sixth LP looks to be an early contender for most-discussed album on cable news.

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Secret Love, Dry Cleaning

January 9

Produced by Welsh singer Cate Le Bon, the London post-punk quartet’s third album is rife with entrancing grooves and Florence Shaw’s mesmerizing vocals, as heard on the six-minute lead single “Hit My Head All Day.”

Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky

January 16

The rapper’s fourth album was supposed to arrive in 2024, then 2025, and here we are. At least he’s given us a few singles, like “Tailor Swif,” which is more about sex and doing “dumb shit” than the similarly named singer, and the promise that Tyler, the Creator; Swedish House Mafia; and Danny Elfman are among those who will appear on the project.

Locket, Madison Beer

January 16

Following 2023’s more stripped-down Silence Between Songs, the 26-year-old returns to her pop roots on her third album, which includes the driving “Yes Baby” and Grammy-nominated “Make You Mine.”

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Boycott Heaven, The Format

January 23

The indie-rock duo composed of multi-instrumentalist Sam Means and Fun. singer Nate Ruess split in 2008, had a 2020 reunion tour canceled for 2020 reasons, and are now bringing us a third album 20 years after the release of beloved sophomore LP Dog Problems.

How Did I Get Here?, Louis Tomlinson

January 23

Led by the bouncy “Lemonade,” the One Directioner’s third solo effort is an upbeat LP inspired by a trip to Costa Rica. It seems likely that he flew there.

World’s Gone Wrong, Lucinda Williams

January 23

Sounding as lusciously raspy as ever, the Americana icon takes on the state of the country, with guest spots by Norah Jones, Brittney Spencer, and Mavis Staples, who assists on a cover of Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble in the World.”

Redux, Cat Power

January 23

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of her landmark album, The Greatest, indie heroine Chan Marshall releases a three-song EP featuring her bluesy spins on “Nothing Compares 2 U” and James Brown’s “Try Me.”

Megadeth, Megadeth

January 23

Singer-shredder Dave Mustaine is putting his immensely influential thrash-metal band to rest with its 17th album and a farewell world tour. Bringing things full circle, there’s a bonus cover of “Ride the Lightning,” which he co-wrote as a member of Metallica over 40 years ago.

Vacancy, Ari Lennox

January 23

For her third album and first since leaving J. Cole’s Dreamville Records, the singer brings a modern mix of classic R&B and soul, as heard on “Under the Moon” and the Jermaine Dupri co-produced title track.

Empty Hands, Poppy

January 23

The hard-rocker looks to further establish herself as the music world’s eminent scream queen on her seventh album, ripping her nu-metal roar on the singles “Unravel” and “Bruised Sky.”

Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?, Geologist

January 30

As foretold in the indie-rock book of Revelations, the fourth horseman from Animal Collective is finally releasing his debut solo album. Geologist, a.k.a. Brian Weitz, weaves a multi-genre instrumental path through his past with his son and former bandmate Avey Tare guesting.

Kiss the Beast , Sébastien Tellier

January 30

Dance your winter blues away with the French house singer-producer’s latest LP, which features Kid Cudi, Owen Pallett, and, on the single “Thrill of the Night,” both Slayyyter and Chic’s Nile Rodgers.

I Used to Go to This Bar, Joyce Manor

January 30

The California emo band’s seventh full-length follows 2022’s superb 40 oz. to Fresno, with the single “Well, Whatever It Was” providing sunshiny vibes and a lyric about using whiskey to dull toothaches, which four out of five dentists would probably call terrible advice.

Do You Still Love Me?, Ella Mai

February 6

Eight years after releasing her Grammy-winning hit “Boo’d Up,” the British singer returns with her third album, executive-produced by her hitmaker pal Mustard. Mai’s latest single, “Tell Her,” interpolates Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name” into a demand for her man’s commitment.

Laughter in Summer, Beverly Glenn-Copeland

February 6

In late 2024, the singer-songwriter and trans activist revealed he had been diagnosed with dementia. Rather than retire, he and his wife, Elizabeth, recorded this gorgeous collection of love songs, both a farewell and a testament to their eternal bond.

Sunday Best, Nick Jonas

February 6

The youngest of the famed sibling triumvirate tackles marriage and being a dad on his fifth solo album, with MUNA’s Josette Maskin and JP Saxe among the guest stars.

Normal Isn’t, Puscifer

February 6

The mercurial trio of Maynard James Keenan, Carina Round, and Mat Mitchell promises larger doses of their early goth and punk influences, which are delivered on the riff-heavy “Self Evident.”

Singin’ to an Empty Chair, Ratboys

February 6

Ratboys’ seventh record features the irresistible guitar-driven rock we know and love from the Chicago four-piece with frontwoman Julia Steiner’s experiences going to therapy adding layers of insight and empathy.

BRITPOP, Robbie Williams

February 6

Fresh off playing himself in chimp form for the biopic Better Man, Williams is tossing us another curveball with this ’90s throwback. The single “Rocket” features Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi on guitar, while “Pretty Face” could be mistaken for an Oasis song if it were more of a Beatles rip-off.

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Wuthering Heights, Charli XCX

February 13

Originally asked to contribute a song, Charli XCX ended up writing an entire companion album for Emerald Fennell’s upcoming film adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel. The appropriately moody soundtrack is led by “House,” featuring the Velvet Underground’s John Cale, and the fierce synthwave ballad “Chains of Love.”

Prizefighter, Mumford & Sons

February 13

Less than a year after releasing their fifth album, Rushmere, the folk-rock stars are back with a full-length co-produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner and featuring guest spots from Hozier, Chris Stapleton, and Gracie Abrams.

Mariachi El BronxIV, Mariachi El Bronx

February 13

If you listen to one album of traditional Mexican music performed sans irony by an intense SoCal punk band this year, make it this one. “Forgive or Forget” is the perfect soundtrack for drinking away your sorrows in a lonesome cantina.

Luck … or Something, Hilary Duff

February 20

After ten years away from the music world, the actress is staging a big pop comeback with a planned docuseries to follow. Further distancing herself from her child stardom, her sixth LP’s lead single, “Mature,” includes the lyrics “Going down on her on your vintage rug / Bet she’s so impressed by your Basquiat.”

My Ego Told Me To, Leigh-Anne

February 20

Following her 2024 debut solo EP, No Hard Feelings, the member of hitmaking British girl group Little Mix unveils a set of pop and R&B jams steeped in her Caribbean heritage.

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Cloud 9, Megan Moroney

February 20

It seems that things have been going pretty well for the 28-year-old country star since the release of her 2024 sophomore effort, Am I Okay? As she sings on her new LP’s single “6 Months Later,” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and blonder and hotter.”

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Swet Deth, Crooked Fingers

February 27

Eric Bachmann, frontman of Archers of Loaf, returns to his Crooked Fingers project for the first time since 2011’s Breaks in the Armor, with Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan, the National’s Matt Berninger, and Sharon Van Etten assisting.

My Days of 58, Bill Callahan

February 27

The deep-voiced troubadour, formerly known as Smog, returns with an album that emulates the improvisational, mistakes-and-all feel of his live shows, focusing on the human element over digital refinement.

The Mountain, Gorillaz

February 27

For cartoons, Gorillaz have a lot of IRL friends. The Damon Albarn–led band’s ninth album is an international jubilee, with guest stars like Sparks, Idles, Yasiin Bey, and Bizarrap appearing on every track.

Whatever’s Clever!, Charlie Puth

March 6

Ten years after debuting with Nine Track Mind, the singer-songwriter and dad-to-be brings us his fourth full-length, featuring production from BloodPop (Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber). The ’80s-feeling single “Changes” would fit perfectly in any Brat Pack flick from that era.

Trixies, Squeeze

March 6

To celebrate five decades together, Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are releasing a concept album they wrote when they were teens, years before the “Tempted” hitmakers had a clue about how to make a proper recording.

Blinking As the Starlight Burns Out, Paula Kelley

March 23

Following the recent reunion of ’90s Boston shoegaze stalwarts Drop Nineteens, singer and bassist Paula Kelley flies solo once again with lush, ethereal songs partly inspired by her sobriety.

Toy With Me, Meghan Trainor

April 24

After taking a slight detour into ’50s-throwback doo-wop and bubblegum on 2024’s Timeless, Trainor is back to making straightforward, danceable earworms you’ll hear in viral videos and clothing-store commercials.

Sweat, Mel C

May 1

The former Spice Girl’s latest is a dance-pop record designed for forgetting about everything else going on in the world, and the title track is good for when you’re horny, exercising, or both.

Raye

TBA

It took years for the British singer to wrest control of her artistry from a record label and put out her debut, 2023’s My 21st Century Blues. This time, there will be no such delay — she promised a new album with the release of the saucy, grandiose soul bopper “Where Is My Husband!”

Cows in the Pasture, Brian Wilson

TBA

The late Beach Boy’s long-lost 1970 country album — recorded with the band’s talent manager, Fred Vail, on vocals — should finally see the light of day, thanks to producer T Bone Burnett.

Stove, Lana Del Rey

TBA

First called Lasso, then The Right Person Will Stay, Del Rey’s long-simmering country album got delayed again when she wrote an additional six songs for it. The lead single, “Henry, Come On,” released last spring, is a rousing retro ballad that makes the genre switcheroo seem effortless.

Confessions on a Dance Floor Part 2, Madonna

TBA

“The Disco Era continues!” the pop icon wrote on Instagram in November, promising that a sequel to her 2005 club-dominating chart-topper is on the way. It’ll be her first release since 2019’s less-heralded Latin foray, Madame X.

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NM6, Nicki Minaj

TBA

We once wondered if the rapper could recapture some “Starships”-era glory on her upcoming sixth album. After her full-on embrace of the MAGA crowd, we now wonder if anyone will buy a copy. Though Minaj has pushed release dates back in the past, she seems determined to have the follow-up to 2023’s platinum-certified Pink Friday 2, out on March 27.

BP3, Blackpink

TBA

After some solo releases, the globe-dominating K-pop quartet is putting the final touches on its third album, a follow-up to 2022’s smash Born Pink. If the thumping lead single “Jump” is any indication, BP3 will be, to quote the group’s resident rapper and The White Lotus guest Lisa, “All gas, no brakes.”

Robyn

TBA

The Swedish pop star broke her seemingly interminable no-singles stretch this fall when she returned with the pressure-cooker bop “Dopamine.” There’s no announcement yet, but after her release of Body Talk in 2010 and Honey in 2018, we’re praying she’s sticking to an album-every-eight-years cycle.

Kehlani

TBA

After having concerts canceled over her support for Palestine, the singer-songwriter saw her 2025 improve with two powerhouse R&B jams, the Grammy-nominated “Folded” and “Out the Window,” that precede her fifth album.

4 Non Blondes

TBA

4 Non Blondes made us wait 34 years but they’re finally returning with a sequel to 1992’s Bigger, Better, Faster, More! and its timeless earworm “What’s Up?” Leader Linda Perry, who’s a Grammy-nominated songwriter in her spare time, will also mark her return to the spotlight with a new solo album, Let It Die Here.

Correction: An earlier version of this list misspelled Julia Steiner’s first name.