We’re only 12 days into the new year and my list of anticipated releases is way longer than I expected: NOT including the amount of unconfirmed, but rumored heavy hitters we’ve included in the list below.
Is Harry Styles actually back? Will Phoebe Bridgers release us from this current hell we’re living in? MUNA LP4? Beyoncé ACT III? I’m overwhelmed already.
In chronological order:
After One Direction announced that the British boy band was going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, only one former member has pulled a Justin Timberlake—broken through the ranks and become a superstar on his own—and that’s Harry Styles. But just because the other 1D members haven’t hit Styles’ incredible highs, doesn’t mean that they’re not releasing quality music, including Louis Tomlinson, who is gearing up to release his third solo LP, How Did I Get Here? on Jan. 23. The album, whose two singles released so far, “Palaces” and “Lemonade,” are notably thematically lighter than his previous work, was inspired by a 2025 trip to Costa Rica. Expect grooves inspired by the tropics and fun pop songs that’s sonically a bit reminiscent of his work with 1D. – Erin
It kind of feels like people forget about MIKA until one of those early hits like “Grace Kelly” or “Relax, Take it Easy” comes on. He hasn’t put out a new album since 2023’s Que ta tête fleurisse toujours, which followed 2019’s My Name Is Michael Holbrook, so it’s been a bit since we’ve had a proper MIKA moment. That gap makes Hyperlove feel like something worth paying attention to.
I’ve been a fan since his first two albums, so I’m pretty locked in at this point. His music has always sat in that sweet spot of fun, emotional, and slightly theatrical without feeling forced, and it’s the kind of thing you grow up with rather than out of. Hyperlove feels less like a comeback and more like a reminder that he’s still around, still doing his thing, just on his own timeline. I’ll definitely be listening, no overthinking required. – Jesse
Joseph, who was once a trio of sisters from Portland, is now a duo. After releasing four studio albums from 2014 to 2023, Allison Closner announced her departure from the project in 2024, leaving Natalie and Meegan Closner to determine the future of the band. They decided to continue on as a two-piece, and the result is their new album, Closer To Happy, which drops on Jan. 30. While the band’s music has historically balanced pop and folk sensibilities, singles like “Ready To Let You Down” and “Blindspot” lean into the alt. pop sounds more than previous releases: less emphasis on twangy harmonies and more on upbeat, contemporary production. As someone who’s been a fan of the Closner sisters since I was in college (okay, over ten years, to age myself…), I’m curious to see what this new direction entails for Natalie and Meegan, and you can check them out on tour starting at the end of January. – Kristin
In October, I saw a Tweet from user @gr8whitebison saying that the best Joyce Manor album is “whichever was released closest to when you graduated high school.” Maybe that’s why this Class of ‘11 grad has been replaying the California-based band’s emo and punk hybrid self-titled debut, which was released in 2011, for 15 years. Oh my god, I feel so ancient. But I’m not always stuck in high school, I’ve been a big fan of the band’s numerous other releases over the past 15 years (oh GOD) since I’ve graduated, and I can’t wait to listen to I Used To Go To This Bar, the band’s seventh studio album, which is due out on Jan. 30. The band’s released three singles so far, including my favorite of the bunch, “Well, Whatever It Was,” which sees them embracing their California roots and capturing some of their biggest influences from the state, especially “The Blue Album” era Weezer. – Erin
Joji, the 33-year-old Japanese-Australian singer, makes his return after three plus years, since the release of his 2022 album SMITHEREENS and the absurd success of its lead single, “Glimpse Of Us.” Joji, aka George Miller and fka Filthy Frank and/or Pink Guy, is a man full of surprises, and considering the deranged title of this project, Piss In The Wind, I have no doubt this won’t be the exception.
His powerful and almost solemn voice has proven to fit a variety of genres and sounds, something that he has made sure to showcase throughout his discography, the same way he has made it his personal mission to show everyone that he contains multitudes. A Joji show is as chaotic as his creative ventures, and I think this album will once again be a sample of Joji’s virtuous, tumultuous, and charming nature. – Javi
Nick Jonas is kicking off 2026 with a new solo album, Sunday Best, out February 6, and it’s already getting a strong co-sign. In a recent interview, Kevin Jonas said he thinks this is Nick’s best solo work yet, which definitely makes it one to watch. Nick’s solo albums have always felt like the place where he gets to try things outside the Jonas Brothers, leaning into smoother R&B and more grown-up pop. If Sunday Best really is his strongest effort so far, it could be the album where that side of him fully lands. It feels like a quieter, more confident release, and those are often the ones that end up sticking the longest. – Jesse
Being from the Chicago area myself, it’s hard to gauge how much of a reach Chicago indie band Ratboys has. In my head, as someone who has followed the Chicago emo and indie scene for nearly two decades, they’re massive, and Singin’ to an Empty Chair, the band’s sixth studio album, is undoubtedly one of my most anticipated releases of the year. But any fan of twangy indie, or emo, or just great music, whether they’re living in Chicago or not, should be excited to hear what the band has been cooking up. Ratboys have already released three great singles from the album, which was produced by former Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla. The Chicago-based band previously worked with Walla on 2023’s “The Window,” their fantastic fifth release, so if the partnership is anything to go off of, “Singin’ to an Empty Chair” is not to be missed. – Erin
Emerald Fennell’s forthcoming Wuthering Heights feels fully formed already, even with just two songs released so far, and the fact that Charli XCX is releasing a full album alongside it makes the whole thing feel like an exciting crossover between her music world and the film world. “Chains of Love” helped set the tone, while “House” with John Cale felt especially meaningful.
Charli has long cited Cale as a huge inspiration, and from her own post, it was clear that getting to work with him was a massive, full circle moment that carries real weight in the music.The timing of this era feels perfect. With the release of her own film The Moment, made with Aidan Zamiri, and her very visible love of cinema and Letterboxd presence, Charli collaborating with Fennell just makes sense. From what we have seen so far, her sound woven through the film feels natural and exciting. It really feels like a match made in heaven, and I am so excited to hear how her music fully comes to life within this world.
Hilary Duff’s new album Luck…or Something already feels like a moment, and the reaction says everything. The girlies are fully freaking out. Her tour sold out fast, and resale tickets are seriously expensive. Trust me, I checked. She kicked off the era with the lead single “Mature” and is keeping things moving with “Roommates” dropping January 15. It feels like a confident rollout that knows people are paying attention.
A big reason this era feels so good already is the sound. The songs are produced by her husband Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League, which pretty much guarantees the album is going to be bouncy, fun, and a little addictive. This does not feel like a forced comeback or a nostalgia grab. It feels intentional, playful, and very Hilary. A lot of us grew up with her, and that connection clearly never went away. Between the sold out shows, the wild ticket demand, and this light, energetic sound, Luck…or Something feels like it is landing at exactly the right moment for the millennials. – Jesse
I’ve been writing about August Pothier for like…four+ years now, and their debut album Everywhere Isn’t Texas is FINALLY coming out next month. We just covered their most recent single, “I’m Crying, Are You?,” and the themes of self discovery and simply figuring out who you ar will certainly be at the forefront of the album. Ponthier has also mentioned that it’s heavily focused on growing up as a queer person deep in the heart of Conservative Texas, making this album an important piece of art in today’s chaotic political landscape. – Kristin
I discovered the L.A.-based alt-pop duo Haute & Freddy maybe halfway through 2025, and at the time, they only had a couple songs released. Fast forward to 2026, and they’ve already played at Austin City Limits 2025 as well as several shows across the U.S., selling out Los Angeles’ iconic Troubadour venue this past October.
Haute & Freddy’s music transports me back to 2015, when I was 20-years-old, deep in the middle of college, and really taking the steps to figure out who I actually was. It gives the edgy, Tumblr-core girl aesthetic of MARINA while she was still performing with “& The Diamonds” at the end of her name: the glowy, dreampop synths from London Grammar, and the vocal prowess of Florence + The Machine. Every song this group releases gets better and better, and I’m truly so amped for their debut album and to see what’s to come. Mark my words: they’re going to EXPLODE. – Kristin
Despite the mixed reviews on Robyn’s new single, which is also the title track of the album, I am unbelievably amped for the Brit’s return to pop music. It’s hard to believe that her most recent album, Honey, dropped in 2018…because eight years ago feels like an entirely different world. It’s also the last album she toured, so I’m hoping she announces a tour this year or maybe even a festival run. I’ve always found Robyn to be incredibly underrated, and one of THEE pop girlies of her generation, who has continued to shape the direction of pop music, and I’m hoping her return with Sexistential further laments her place as one of the GOATs. If you aren’t feeling “Sexistential” and need another option, I highly suggest checking out “Dopamine,” released in Nov. 2025, or “Talk To Me,” which dropped with “Sexistential” earlier this week. – Kristin
26-year-old Sydney Ross Mitchell is to me, one of the most promising rising indie female artists today, and I’m so happy to be getting a brand new project from her so early in the year. To be fair, she’s been going at it for about seven years now, and having had time to perfect her sound, artistry, and even image, and I think the progress and care is evident in the two singles from her upcoming EP, Cynthia, that she has released so far.
Indie soft rock with some touches of folk, Mitchell’s mellow style brings a cozy and tender energy that works perfectly with her soothing and velvety vocals. In recent years, I’ve fallen deeper and deeper into the “sad girl” realm, because there’s nothing better than realizing that you’ve never had an original experience while listening to a song, and Sydney Ross Mitchell manages to do that with original and entrancing body of work. – Javi
According to Rolling Stone, Matty Healy let it slip that The 1975 has made two albums since the 2022 release of Being Funny in A Foreign Language. Just typing out the year “2022” alone felt shocking, since it feels like ages ago—at least to me, a Matty Healy apologist. While there’s been little buzz about an actual timeline for the release of the album, despite the band’s manager even confirming that they have in fact bee in the studio, I am hopeful that it will come before the year is over. – Kristin
For dedicated Beyoncé fans, it’s common knowledge that Beyoncé is going to drop a third album to bookend RENAISSANCE and COWBOY CARTER, completing the trilogy of executing three companion albums that are, for lack of a better term, a genre study of dance, country, and rock. RENAISSANCE dropped in 2022 and COWBOY CARTER dropped in 2024, making it numerically likely that ACT III (otherwise unnamed) should be coming sometime in 2026. With RENAISSANCE topping our year end list at #1 and COWBOY CARTER at #6 for 2024, it’s safe to say that the team at Staged Haze is anxiously awaiting the return of Queen Bey in 2026 (hopefully). – Kristin
I have absolutely no proof that this is happening, other than the same person (Nathan Hubbard) who commented on new music coming from Phoebe Bridgers also mentioned new music coming from Harry Styles. So take this for a grain of salt. And I know that if we go another whole year without new Harry music, I will feel like the clown that I am once again. But there is nothing wrong with having a little bit of faith!
Harry Styles’s absence hasn’t gone unnoticed, and some hopefuls have even tried to take over his place (they could never) (the only charming white man thriving right now that I respect is Role Model and that’s final), so hopefully he’s gotten tired of people trying to reheat his nachos (is this still a thing that people say?) and will come out of obscurity (and running marathons) and get into that goddamn studio once and for all <3 – Javi
Who knows if Stove is ever actually going to be released? This is the third title, and third year in a row that Lana Del Rey has promised the elusive album, so fans like myself are hopeful, but also primed for disappointment. If it does come out, and if it is what the singer has promised in the past, Stove is set to be Lana Del Rey’s first classic country album, a genre that I think she would absolutely excel at. She’s already released two singles in spring 2025, that show her shift into the genre and an exploration of other similar ones, with Americana and folk influences throughout both singles, “Bluebird” and “Henry, Come On.” This is a very fitting shift for Lana Del Rey, and one that I really hope she follows through on. – Erin
Muna has a great team of publicists, but the band themselves are doing a phenomenal job about creating buzz around their upcoming fourth album, currently untitled and unofficially unannounced (though the band has been posting that “LP4” is complete all over their social media pages).
I can’t believe what I’m about to say is numerically accurate, but I first discovered Muna…ten years ago. In 2016. Which is absolutely crazy information. They’ve had a phenomenal trajectory since, most recently signing with Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory label when they released their self-titled third album back in 2022…which also feels like a lifetime ago. It feels like the year WILL BE THEIRS, and with an already confirmed slot performing at Hinterland 2026 this summer, the sky is the limit. – Kristin
It feels like “Is x year the year Phoebe Bridgers will finally release a follow-up to Punisher?” comes up in the conversation every single year since 2020, but I do actually feel very optimistic that we’ll finally get that follow-up in 2026. For starters, there’s been a ton of rumors about various industry folks commenting on the likelihood of it, including Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard basically speaking on it as fact on a podcast at the end of 2025, as well as Bridgers’ own mom alluding to it on her own Instagram page. While I’m the first person to acknowledge that art can’t be rushed…it’s been almost six years. We NEED Phoebe’s return. And considering her bandmates Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus have both released albums after boygenius’ 2023 the record, it means she HAS to be next. Right? – Kristin
It’s hard to believe that Brit soul singer RAYE still hasn’t announced the release date of her new album, considering that the project’s lead single “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” dropped in September of last year, and is currently sitting at 357 million streams on Spotify. She’s also touring basically from the end of January through May before then embarking on an even bigger tour with Bruno Mars in August. So I’ll make an educated guess and say that the album’s release is coming soon, hopefully in early spring. I’ve been advocating for RAYE since I absolutely fell in love with her 2023 album My 21st Century Blues, and I know that she’s going to make an even bigger splash with the untitled, unannounced follow-up. – Kristin
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