Albums to Be Excited About in 2026

But before we delve into the certainties, let’s talk about some rumors as well — there’s always room for gossip, isn’t it? There are some questions in the air that we hope get cleared very soon: is Beyoncé finally releasing the third act of the trilogy following Renaissance and Cowboy Carter? Is Lana del Rey really going to publish The Right Person Will Stay, which was slated for May of last year? Will Nicki Minaj dare release Pink Friday 3, which she announced in September of last year, now that she’s losing her core fandom because of her political alignment with MAGA? 

Other massive pop stars like Madonna and Björk are reportedly working on new music, most certainly coming out in the next few months. The former confirmed that she’s been working on a second part to her extremely successful Confessions on a Dance Floor, while the latter will open an art exhibition at the Icelandic Art Museum in May that is expected to showcase “new work based on music from her forthcoming album, currently in development,” so a new LP should be imminent.

But enough with the hypotheticals; let’s get down to business because some of the most anticipated albums are just around the corner. Here’s what you can’t miss!

On Friday, January 16, the artist is releasing his first full-length album in eight years. As some of you may know, A$AP Rocky wanted Don’t Be Dumb to go out in 2024, but due to leaks and sample clearances, he was forced to delay it. Until now. Just a few days ago, he shocked the world with Punk Rocky, a five-minute song and music video featuring none other than Winona Ryder. After a prolific year starring in films (including Spike Lee’s Highest 2 lowest), the American rapper is back to music, with great producers like Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Madlib, Metro Boomin, and Dean Blunt.

The French producer, DJ, and composer is widely known for his contributions to other artists’ songs, especially big names like Kanye West and Lady Gaga. But don’t be fooled, the Lyon-born artist’s own music is a testament to how great he is: a mix of instinct, taste, vision, and creativity — which has led him to performing at major festivals like Coachella. In 2024, he released Gamma, an eleven-track LP that he’s been touring this past year. So, on January 26, 2026, he’s set to release Enter The Gamma (Live), which will allow those who missed his concerts to re-live the experience — just from the comfort of their homes. Of course, album staples like The Perfect or Psycho are there, just remixed with other songs of his, including I Was Never There and Duel. Of course, you can also listen to other hits of his like Killah (with Lady Gaga) or OPR.

In less than a month, on February 5, the Australian-Japanese Internet sensation is feeding his millions of fans a new full-length project consisting of twenty-one songs — impressive! As usual, Joji puts a little humour into his work, this time, in the title: Piss in the Wind (because Leonard Cohen’s Dust in the Wind is waaay too philosophical).  So far, he’s released four songs that sound great: Pixelated Kisses, Love You Less, If It Only Gets Better, and Past Won’t Live My Bed. We’re sure the rest will be just as good.

Brat year might be over, but Charli xcx definitely isn’t. The British artist has been toying with the film industry for quite a while — think of Speed Run, her contribution to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, or her cameo in Benito Skinner’s (aka Benny Drama) hit TV series, Overcompensating. Now, she’s finally delving into it. Later this month, Charli will be starring in her own mockumentary, The Moment, produced by A24 and directed by her long-time friend and collaborator, Aidan Zamiri, and on February 14 (yay, Valentine’s Day!), she’s releasing the album Wuthering Heights, the BSO of Emerald Fennell’s new film — a new, contemporary take on the classic novel by Emily Brontë.

The producer and DJ is on a roll. Just last year, he released two collaborative albums: Starlight Divergence with Torus, and Azimuth Divergence with Rachika Nayar. But he’s got more in store. On February 14, he’s launching Cerulean (yes, the shade of blue that Miranda Priestly made worldwide famous in The Devil Wears Prada). The thirteen-track album includes collabs with artists like Oklou, Caroline Polachek, PinkPantheress, Clairo, kacha, MNEK, or Julia Michaels. So far, it’s looking extra good, so we’ll make sure to tune in when it’s finally out.

For over twenty years, Peaches has been one of the most rebellious, iconoclast figures in music. She’s confident, has a foul mouth, lives freely, and dares to say, sing, and act as she pleases. Sexuality is a big part of her DNA, and her new album is just another proof that she enjoys provocation and is a much-needed voice in today’s world. No Lube So Rude is slated for February 20, and already has a couple of singles out, including Fuck Your Face and Not in Your Mouth None of Your Business. This is going to be a wild ride, and we’ve already bought our tickets!

This is going to be EPIC. The band that changed the music landscape at the turn of the century is still pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with their work. After 2023’s Cracker Island, Gorillaz is back with their ninth studio album, comprising fifteen new songs and loads of collaborations, including artists like Omar Souleyman, Idles, Trueno, Bizarrap, and Johnny Marr, showcasing an incredible versatility, and making sure that both new and veteran voices are heard and recognised. The visuals, as usual, are giving us the chills while we wait for February 27 to finally arrive.

After attending their mandatory military service, the members of BTS are now going to serve in a whole different way. One of the biggest, most influential K-pop bands in recent years is resuming their four-year hiatus with a new album, confirmed to go live on March 20. It’ll include fourteen new songs, and after the release, the members of the band will be touring the world. “True to their identity as artists who express themselves through music, BTS poured their efforts into capturing the essence of who they are today,” BigHit Music said. The project is still under wraps, so that’s as much as we can say. 

Yes, yes, and yes! The Swedish pop star is finally releasing a new album this year. Robyn has just announced that Sexistential will be out on March 27, and she’s already given us three incredible singles: Dopamine, Talk to Me, and Sexistential. As usual, her production is immaculate, the vocals are over-the-top, and the energy is contagious. She’s collaborating again with Max Martin (they paired back in 1995 for Robyn’s debut), so we expect great things from them!