The Music Releases to Look Forward to in 2026
The long-awaited anticipations, educated expectations, and half-baked manifestations for the year ahead.
2026 sure has big shoes to fill when it comes to music.
From commendable studio debuts and innovative strides in tearing down the barriers of genre, to generational comebacks and reunions to write home about, 2025 surely delivered – in the sonic sense, at least.
As of now, though, this year seems to be shaping up pretty solidly. The lineup of confirmed new releases is not quite plentiful yet, but it does feature projects we’ve been waiting on for a while now, including A$AP Rocky‘s Don’t Be Dumb, as well as LPs from some of our favorite artists like Jordan Ward and Lexa Gates. A myriad of major artists have tours – many of which are global – on the books, with other standing festivals, ceremonies, and tentpole moments interspersed in between.
There’s also the BABY BOIs and the ICEMANs, the projects “supposed” to drop in 2026, but on the mere basis of “dropping in 2026” promises.
And we can’t dare forget about our wishes for the biannual Beyoncé release (which will mark the final act of the trilogy), and maybe a Frank Ocean and Fakemink collaboration?
That’s all to say that we’re looking forward to a lot. That’s also to say, we don’t have concrete information about a lot of things that have been teased to release sometime in the next 12 months.
So we decided the best way to divide this list was into three categories: anticipations (things we know are happening and when), expectations (things we have a good reason to believe are happening, albeit no concrete proof), and what we’d like to think are educated-guess manifestations.
Anticipations
The confirmed happenings of the year thus far – new albums, festivals, tour dates, and more things we know for sure. Down to the dates.
A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb
Release Date: January 16
At long last, we’re getting A$AP Rocky’s anticipated opus, Don’t Be Dumb. Marking his fourth studio album – and, more importantly, first in eight years – the album’s only confirmed track thus far? This week’s lead single “Punk Rocky.”
Jordan Ward: BACKWARD
Release Date: January 30
Following up 2023’s FORWARD LP comes Jordan Ward’s successor project, BACKWARD. Set to release on the last day of the month, Ward’s imminent studio offering is known to feature SAILORR on standout single “SMOKIN POTNA.”
The Grammy Awards 2026
Date: February 1
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This year’s Grammy Awards are something we’re highly anticipating next month, with our eyes on a couple of nominees in particular. We’re rooting for Leon Thomas – who finds his name in nomination lists for six major awards – as well as Dijon, The Marías, Bon Iver, and, of course, Bad Bunny.
Charli XCX: Wuthering Heights
Release Date February 13
For her second soundtrack album, and a sharp turn from the soundscape she curated for Emma Seligman’s Bottoms, Charli XCX takes on Wuthering Heights. The film hits theaters on February 13, with the original soundtrack – which features “Chains of Love” and “House” – composed fully by Charli herself.
Venna: Malik Tour
Dates: January 26, 2026 – February 14, 2026
Choker: HEAVEN AIN’T SOLD
Release Date: February 20
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It’s official. Choker is making a return. It’s been almost six years since Choker released new music; he released EPs Dog Candy and Forever in a Few before stepping away from social media and taking a hiatus. Fear not, Choker is confirmed to make a full-fledged return with his third studio album on February 20, HEAVEN AIN’T SOLD. It seems we can expect some more singles until its release date comes.
Governor’s Ball 2026
Dates: June 5, 2026 – June 7, 2026
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Is this the year that Gov Ball makes its comeback? It just might be. In what feels like one of the strongest lineups in years, the Queens festival unveiled its 2026 lineup earlier this week, set to include Lorde, Baby Keem, Stray Kids, Kali Uchis, A$AP Rocky and Jennie as headlining acts, as well as Dominic Fike, Geese, 2hollis, WHATMORE, Lexa Gates, and Blood Orange.
ROSALÍA: LUX Tour
Dates: March 16, 2026 – September 3, 2026
Lexa Gates: I Am
Release Date: January 16
As she continues to ascend as a formidable voice in the R&B scene, Lexa Gates’ latest studio album is due out next week. Entitled I Am, pre-released singles including “Estranged,” “Past It,” “Nothing to Worry About,” and “Latency” all make their way onto the final tracklist.
Olivia Dean: The Art of Loving Life Tour
Dates: April 22, 2026 – October 17, 2026
reggie: UNDRA
Release Date: February 2026
A longtime behind-the-scenes force in the hip hop ether, reggie is readying his solo debut this year. Revered for his work with Zero Fatigue’s Smino and Monte Booker, the musical multihyphenate has begun to roll out captivating singles, “sometimes” and “congrats,” ahead of UNDRA’s February release date.
Coachella 2026
Dates: April 10, 2026 – June 12, 2026; April 17, 2026 – April 19, 2026
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Justin Bieber, The Strokes, Young Thug, Clipse, David Byrne, TURNSTILE, Dijon, Fakemink, Little Simz, and FKA twigs? We’re there.
Joji: Piss In the Wind
Release Date: February 6
Joji’s first album since 2022 is just about a month away now. Dubbed Piss in the Wind, the project is preceded by well-received singles “PIXELATED KISSES,” “Past Won’t Leave My Bed,” and, most recently, “LOVE YOU LESS.” As long as it wasn’t his doppleganger who recorded the album, we’re anxiously awaiting our first listen.
PinkPantheress: An Evening with PinkPantheress Tour
Dates: April 8, 2026 – June 5, 2026
Doja Cat: Tour Ma Vie
Dates: November 18, 2025 – December 1, 2026
Dave: The Boy Who Played The Harp Tour
Dates: February 2, 2026 – June 27, 2026
Expectations
Our informed, educated guesses: things we have a valid reason to believe are dropping this year.
Drake: ICEMAN
Time and time again, Drake has promised ICEMAN will be dropping in 2026. The number of times he confirmed, “ICEMAN 2026,” is innumerable. His ninth studio album was all he talked about in 2025. The wait started nine days ago…
Lana Del Rey: Stove
Lana Del Rey has been teasing the Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd country success0r for quite some time now. First, it was called Lasso, and was due for a September 2024 release. Then it turned into The Right Person Will Stay, estimated for an end of May 2025 drop. As of August, the project, now entitled Stove, is on schedule for a release sometime this year.
Playboi Carti: BABY BOI
Maybe we’ll actually get the MUSIC follow-up this year. Swamp Izzo, Gio, and F1LTHY have all said that BABY BOI is done, with Swamp Izzo even noting that Playboi Carti recorded 50-plus songs for the album.
A New Lil Uzi Vert Album
With the run Uzi went on to close out 2025, an album drop might be in the imminent pipeline. Reemerging as an independent artist at the end of November with “Chanel Boy” and “Relevant,” followed by “Regular” and “What You Sayin,” Lil Uzi Vert seems to be back – for real this time, not like when they dropped off “Uzi The Earthling!” in 2024 and then disappeared again. In a recent Vogue interview, they even mentioned a new album, likely coming “soon.” Whether that means next month or next year remains to be seen, but it seems it’ll be sooner rather than later.
A New Baby Keem Album
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This point was initially down on the “manifestations” section as we hadn’t heard any word from Baby Keem since early 2024, but since the Governor’s Ball 2026 lineup announcement – and Keem’s place as a headliner – we’re anticipating a new project from the rapper sometime before he takes the stage in June.
Yeat: A DANGEROUS LYFE
Yeat
Despite not dropping in 2025 as expected, with A DANGEROUS SUMMER landing in its place, Yeat’s A DANGEROUS LIFE already seems to be in the works for 2026. Billboards began materializing throughout LA in promotion of ADL, WITH Yeat co-signing their authenticity and posting them on his social media, confirming “ADL 2026.”
Nettspend: Early Life Crisis
Nettspend has been teasing Early Life Crisis for quite some time now, but 2026 just might be the year we finally see the album’s release, as the rapper wraps his dates in Europe and Australia.
Fakemink: Terrified
After his breakout 2025, Fakemink’s sophomore album, Terrified, is presumably on the way in 2026. On a recent Instagram live, mink gave a puppet show and revealed “Terrified – coming soon. Sooner than you think. So keep your eyes peeled.”
Veeze: Worst Tape
Four months ago, Veeze posted a rough Worst Tape tracklist to his socials. After closing out 2025 with “L.O.A.T” and “Signed A Napkin,” the Detroit rapper will likely deliver the anticipated LP soon enough.
Manifestations
What we’re hoping for. Within reason.
Beyonce: Act III
2022? RENAISSANCE. 2024? Cowboy Carter. 2026? We’re due…
New Frank Ocean
@blonded has been pretty active – on the Frank Ocean scale of “activity,” that is – in recent months. The musician has used his closely monitored Instagram account as a place for candid photos, sharing a range of different shots to his story – including one of Fakemink. Fingers crossed that a collab comes through.
The Ken Carson x Destroy Lonely Album Drops
Destroy Lonely hasn’t shied away from talking about the dual Opium collab album in recent interviews, sharing that he and labelmate and former Hypebeast digital cover star Ken Carson have recorded a collaborative mixtape together.
Doechii’s Debut
Something many people forget is that Alligator Bites Never Heal is not an album. It’s a mixtape. Despite being mixed and mastered in a studio – and winning the Grammy Award for Rap Album of the Year – the acclaimed LP is technically a mixtape. Doechii plans to release a proper debut album soon, though little is known about the timeline of the release.
LUCKI Drops Drugs R Bad
LUCKI’s new studio project has been a long time coming. The Chicago rapper has been toying with the release of his Drugs R Bad project for over a year now, keeping the momentum alive with one-off singles and YouTube tracks. Will 2026 finally be the year we get it?
A Max B Tour… And Sneaker Collab
It’s only right that Max B rounds out his return tour with a literal return tour. As well as a potential sneaker collaboration. HOKA, you know what to do.
A Cole Bennett Movie
2025 was another big year for Cole Bennett‘s Lyrical Lemonade collective. It was the year that Lil Yachty broke the record for most Lyrical Lemonade videos with 16, and the year after Cole Bennett debuted his All Is Yellow compilation album. As his roster continues to expand and he taps more creators onto the team, this year might be the one where Bennett delivers on his long-promised full-length film.
Tyler, the Creative Director
Tyler, the Creator stepping into a more active Creative Director role has been something we’ve all been eyeing for years. After closing out the apparel arm of Golf le FLEUR* at the end of 2025, there seems to be no better time than now.
Don Toliver Drops OCTANE
This is an album we don’t know too much about quite yet, but one that Don Toliver has clearly been in the lab. Here’s to hoping with this one.
A 10K Collab Album
10K continues to hold strong as one of the most innovative and influential labels when it comes to more underground and emerging artists. Championed by MIKE, the label just closed out a major 2025, with longform releases from a majority of its client roster: Salimata, Niontay, MIKE, MIKE x Tony Seltzer, and Anysia Kym x Tony Seltzer included.
