New Albums in 2026: a Calendar/List of Upcoming Music Releases We're Excited About

Regardless of what may occur in a given week, something that'll continuously lift our spirits even incrementally is fresh new music from our favorite artists. And those who prefer diving into full bodies of work over singles will find plenty to sink their teeth into with the upcoming projects over the next few months. Below, you’ll find a curated list of confirmed albums and EPs we're anticipating. This range includes artists that are rising stars within their niche, to more established acts, where you and your co-worker can chat about at the water dispenser.

If the artist is highlighted, we've written about them before, and you can stream their music on our website.

New music releases 2026 - a full calendar of upcoming albums (updated weekly)

A regularly refreshed guide highlighting the most exciting albums, EPs, mixtapes, and creative projects scheduled to drop in the weeks and months ahead. Think of it as a living list that keeps evolving -spotlighting both anticipated releases and low-key gems across the spectrum, so you can keep an ear on what’s about to shape the next stretch of music.

At the end of every week, our team updates this article based on the new releases for that specific week and the official announcements of upcoming music releases in 2026. We cover both albums and EPs we find exciting.

If you want to stay up-to-date on a weekly basis, you can check/follow our New Music Finds playlist, which we update every Friday with songs from all the new albums we loved that week. Available on all streaming platforms here.

Last updated: Oct 2nd

If you have a suggestion, just send us an email via the contact form or drop us an Instagram DM. In case you're curious, here are a few related articles that might be interesting to you:

• Upcoming Albums of 2025
• 50 Essential Albums of 2025: Stereofox Picks

What are the new music releases in 2026?

The new music releases in 2026 include some of the most anticipated albums across indie, hip-hop, electronic, r&b, and alternative scenes. Our regularly updated guide to upcoming music releases 2026 highlights confirmed release dates, surprise drops, and the latest music albums announced throughout the year. Bookmark this page to stay current with every major new music release in 2026 as artists reveal new projects.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2026

ps genre-wise, they're obviously tailored to what we cover

January 2026 New Music Releases

• Leaving Laurel - our lives entwined [Jan 9th]
• Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore - True Magic [Jan 16th]
• Sassy 009 - Dreamer+ [Jan 16th]
• Samm Hershaw - It Could Be Worse [Jan 19th]
• Ari Lennox - Vacancy [Jan 23rd]
• DJ Harrison - Electro Soul [Jan 23rd, Stones Throw]
• Gesaffelstein - Enter The Gamma [Jan 23rd]
• IDK - et.d.s. A Mixtabye by .idk [Jan 23rd]
• [electronic] Christian Löffler - Until We Meet Again [Jan 23rd]
• [beats] IAMNOBODI - The Aftermath Principle [Jan 23rd, WAAG]
• [psychedelic] Yin Yin - Yatta! [Jan 23rd, Glitterbeat Records]
• Sébastien Tellier - Kiss the Beat [Jan 30th]
• Yumi Zouma - No Love Lost to Kindness [Jan 30th]

February 2026 New Music Releases

• Joji - Piss In the Wind [Feb 5th]
• [electronic] Daphni - Butterfly [Feb 6th, Jiaolong]
• Puma Blue - Croak Dream [Feb 6th]
• Ella Mai - Do You Still Love Me? [Feb 6th]
• [ambient / experimental] Elori Saxl, Henry Solomon - Seeing Is Forgetting [Feb 6th]
• J. Cole - The Fall-Off [Feb 6th]
• Brent Faiyaz - Icon [Feb 12th, ISO Supremacy]
• boy 2000 - ultraspirit [Feb 13th]
• Jill Scott - To Whom This May Concern [Feb 13th]
• Tiana Major9 - November Scorpio [Feb 13th]
• Momoko Gill - Momoko Gill [Feb 13th, !K7]
• Placid Angles (AKA Jon Beltran) - Canada [Feb 13th, Oathcreations]
• Willow - Petal Rock Black [Feb 17th, Three Six Zero]
• Larry June, Curren$y, and The Alchemist - Spiral Staircases [Feb 18th]
• [electronic] Apparat - A Hum Of Maybe [Feb 20th]
• [electronic] AK - less is more [Feb 20th]
• [psychedelic] Altın Gün - Garip [Feb 20th, Glitterbeat Records]
• Iron & Wine - Hen’s Teeth [Feb 27th, Sub Pop]
• GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) - The Pleasure is Yours [Feb 27th]
• Gorillaz - The Mountain [Feb 27th]
• Mitski - Nothing’s About to Happen to Me [Feb 27th, Dead Oceans]
• RJD2 & Supastition - According To... [Feb 27th]
• [jazz] Mammal Hands - Circadia [Mar 27th]

March 2026 New Music Releases

• Aaron Hibell - Synchronicity [Mar 5th, Astralwerks]
• Denzel Curry and The Scythe - Strictly 4 the Scythe [Mar 6th, Loma Vista]
• Flying Lotus - Big Mama [Mar 6th, Brainfeeder]
• Le Youth - who are you really? [Mar 6th]
• [jazz] Shabaka - Of The Earth [Mar 6th]
• ELIZA - The Darkening Green [Mar 6th]
• [jazz] Terrace Martin - PURPOSE [Mar 6th, Sounds of Crenshaw / EMPIRE]
• Gnarls Barkley, CeeLo Green, Danger Mouse - Atlanta [Mar 6th]
• GeeJay - Who Have I Become? [Mar 6th]
• Art School Girlfriend - Lean In [Mar 13th]
• Tinariwen - Hoggar [Mar 13th, Wedge]
• Modha - At Your Own Pace [Mar 13th, ]
• James Blake - Trying Times [Mar 13th, Republic]
• Kungs - Out Loud [Mar 13th]
• [psychedelic] BALTHVS - Transmutations [Mar 20th]
• [jazz/fusion] Nubiyan Twist - Chasing Shadows [Mar 20th]
• [electronic] Ladytron - Paradises [Mar 20th, Nettwerk]
• [electronic] Green-House - Hinterlands [Mar 20th, Ghostly]
• [beats / r&b] S. Fidelity - I Guess I'll Never Learn [Mar 20th, Jakarta Records]
• [electronic] Fractures - Next Summer [Mar 20th, Community Music]
• [r&b / soul / jazz] Ego Ella May - Good Intentions [Mar 20th]
• [electronic] Fcukers - Ö [Mar 27th, Ninja Tune]
• Tom Misch - Full Circle [Mar 27th]
• [psychedelic] Atabasca - Atabasca [Mar 27th, Killer Groove Records]
• Flea - Honora [Mar 27th]
• [electronic] Sofia Kourtesis - DJ-Kicks [Mar 27th, !K7]
• [beats / r&b] IAMNOBODI - DUALITY & DEVOTION [Mar 27th, WAAG]

April 2026 New Music Releases

• Arlo Parks - Ambiguous Desire [Apr 3rd, Transgressive]
• Thundercat - Distracted [Apr 3rd, Ninja Tune]
• [electronic] Baalti & Lapgan - Threads [Apr 3rd]
• Sunn O))) - Sunn O))) [Apr 3rd, Sub Pop]
• Jessie Ware - Superbloom [10 Apr, UMG]
• [psychedelic groove] Rooskin - Perpetual Spring [Apr 10th]
• Beau Diako, Ben Esser, emawk - klei [Apr 17th]
• Yaya Bey - Fidelity [Apr 17th, Drink Sum Wtr]
• [psychedelic / instrumental / jazz] Alsogood - 1000 Smiles [Apr 24th, Island Records]
• [electronic] Human Movement - 50/50 [Apr 24th, Gallery Recs]
• [electronic / funk / dance] Collect 200 - Everything Will Be Alright [Apr 30th]

May 2026 New Music Releases

• Durand Bernarr - BERNARR. [May 1st]
• 1-800 GIRLS - LOVE [May 8th, Epic Records]
• Black Milk - CEREMONIAL [May 8th, Computer Ugly]
• [electronic / experimental] Max Cooper - Feeling Is a Structure [May 8th, Mesh]
• Muna - Dancing on the Wall [May 8th]
• [neo-soul / r&b] Slowe - In Moments [May 8th]
• Submotion Orchestra - Passed Me By [May 8th]
• [experimental / electronic] Loraine James - Detached From The Rest Of You [May 8th, Hyperdub]
• Dua Saleh - Of Earth & Wires [May 15th, Ghostly International]
• PawPaw Rod - Picture Day: A PawPaw Rod Album [May 15th]
• Parra for Cuva - Nacar [May 15th]
• Shane Sato - Wavelength [May 15th]
• [alt pop] Balming Tiger - Gongbu [May 19th]
• [chillhop] Makzo - Pavement [May 22nd]
• [electronic / experimental] Boards of Canada - Inferno [May 29th, Warp Records]
• [instrumental hip hop] the intern - Yellow Cabs [May 29th]

June 2026 New Music Releases

• DJ Seinfeld - If This Is It [June 5th, Ninja Tune]
• [contemporary r&b] noxz - Safe To Be _ [Jun 15th, Stereofox Records]
• [neo-soul / jazz] Toshiki Soejima - Komorebi [Jun 18th, Stereofox Records]
• [electronic] Eichhorn - Transitions [Jun 19th]
• [electronic / organic house] Thoma - Leaving Cycles [Jun 23rd, Stereofox Records]
• [electronic] Kloyd - New Love [Jun 26th]
• [electronic / dance] Gold Panda - TON UP [Jun 26th, Studio Barnhus]

July 2026 New Music Releases

• [psychedelic / indie] Donkeychote - Antidote [Jul 8th, Stereofox Records]
• [jazz, hip hop, funk] FATHERS - FATHERS [Jul 10th, Blue Note Records]
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Kelela - new avatar [Jul 10th]
• [electronic] Krafty Kuts - Turbolence [Jul 10th]
• [jazz / hip hop] Jazzbois - Jazzbois Around The World
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Steve Lacy - Oh yeah? [Jul 17th, RCA Records]
• [electronic / alt dance] O'Flynn - Kairos [Jul 17th, Panthus]
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Syd - Beard [Jul 17th, Free Lunch Records]
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Nick Hakim - I Can See [Jul 24th, Earseed Records]
• [electronic] Made By Pete - Made By Pete [Jul 31st]
• [experimental / jazz] DOMi & JD BECK - WHO ASKED? [Jul 31st, APESHIT, Inc.]

August 2026 New Music Releases

• [electronic / dance] Overmono - Pure Devotion [Aug 7th, XL Recordings]
• [electronic / cinematic] Kiasmos - II Reworked [Aug 7th, Erased Tapes]
• [experimental / r&b] L'Rain - fata morgana [Aug 14th, Mexican Summer]
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Jungle - Sunshine [Aug 14th, AWAL Records]
• [folk / soul / indie] Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Weekend [Aug 14th, Dead Oceans]
• [jazz] Dana and Alden - Papa's Boat [Aug 14th]
• [r&b / neo-soul] Cleo Sol - Gentlewoman [Aug 20th, Forever Living Originals]
• [r&b / soul / alt pop] Jorja Smith - What Are The Odds [Aug 21st, Devlin]
• [electronic / ambient / experimental] Lusine - Melting Days [Aug 21st, Ghostly International]
• [neo-soul / r&b] Erykah Badu and The Alchemist - Before The World Blows [Aug 28th]
• [jazz house] Bolden. - Who you really are. [Aug 28th]
• [hip hop] CZARFACE & Frankie Pulitzer - Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer [Aug 28th]

September 2026 New Music Releases

• [jazz / experimental] corto.alto - SOME SMALL FORTUNE [Sep 4th, Ninja Tune]
• [r&b / soul / hip hop] Children of Zeus - As The World Burns... [Sep 4th, First Word Records]
• [experimental / electronic] Cyst (Iglooghost x daisy*] - ᲘᲘ [ Sep 4th, LUCKYME®]
• [r&b / neo-soul / jazz / ambient] Calida Ray - There Might Be Light Above The Surface (pt. one) [Sep 7th, Stereofox Records]
• [electronic] Bonobo - Distance in Static [Sep 11th, Ninja Tune]
• [r&b / neo-soul] FKJ - Tyber [Sep 11th, Ninja Tune]
• [r&b] Jhené Aiko - Westside Whimsy [Sep 11th]
• [lofi / chillhop] Philantrope & Psalm Trees - PastWeekend [Sep 11th, NINETOFIVE]
• [electronic / experimental] Chrome Sparks - Ball of Light [Sep 11th]
• [alt r&b] Leena & Kamen - SEQUENCE TRILOGY [Sep 16th, Stereofox]
• [hip hop / r&b] AZ Chike - No Rest for the Wicked [Sept 18th, Warner Records]
• [r&b] GAWD - PHATTER [Sept 18th, The Blind Youth]
• [r&b / soul] Liv East - FUNKSOULSEX [Sep 18th]
• [r&b / neo-soul] Marie Dahlstrom - MARIE [Sep 18th, JFH Records]
• [electronic / downtempo / trip-ho] Now Always Fades - Coalesce [Sep 18th, Northern Underground Records]
• [jazz] okvsho - Frozen Flashes [Sep 18th]
• [jazz] Ezra Collective - Here Because of Hope [Sep 18th, Partisan Records]
• [electronic / experimental] Romare - Oblivion [Sep 18th]
• [jazz / hip hop] Osamu Fukuzawa, edbl - Before We Spoke [Sep 23rd, Stereofox Records]
• [jazz / hip hop] .multibeat - OOO [Sep 25th, Sonar Kollektiv]
• [jazz / hip hop] Kiefer - Memory Bomb [Sep 25th, Blue Note Records]
• [neo-soul] megiapa - Intentions [Sep 25th]
• [electronic] TWO LANES - A Part of Us [Sept 25th, TWO LANES MUSIC]
• [lofi hip hop] Sleepy Fish - Something Forgotten [Sep 29th, Chillhop Music]

October 2026 New Music Releases

• [ambient / experimental electronic] Emily A. Sprague - Cyano [Oct 2nd, RVNG Intl]
• [ambient / experimental electronic] Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Ruin: It's Not Just Music [Oct 2nd]
• [r&b / soul] Victoria Monét - Frequency Of Love [Oct 2nd]
• [electronic / dreampop / alt] Logic1000 - Confirmation! [Oct 2nd]
• [hip hop] Kofi Stone - The Last Flower To Bloom [Oct 2nd]
• [electronic / dance] HAAi - DIGITiSE [Oct 9th]
• [hip hop] Nyota Parker - WHAT IS A TIMELINE? [Oct 9th]
• [electronic / dance] Jacques Greene - jg [Oct 16th]
• [jazz] Omasta - Hits Different [Oct 16th, Astigmatic Records]
• [jazz] Blair / Huber - ECLIPSE [Oct 16th]
• [r&b / soul / jazz] Zacchae'us Paul - JAZZ MONEY VOL. 2: SWINGIN' R&B [Oct 16th, Candid Records]
• [indie / alt] Fontaines D.C. - Dopamine Chamber [Oct 16th]
• [soul / funk / jazz / r&b] Gotts Street Park - Somewhere Between [Oct 16th]
• [jazz] Telemakus - Eight Ring Revival [Oct 20th]
• [neo-soul / r&b / jazz] Nadine El Roubi - Life Is Beautiful Again [Oct 23rd, Jakarta Records]
• [indie / alt] DIIV - ZIRP! [Oct 30th]

November 2026 New Music Releases

• [alt / pop / electronic] Ciarán - Róisín [Nov 9th, Ninja Tune]
• [alt / indie / soul] - Quinn Oulton - What I Meant To Say [Nov 13th]
• [ambient] Masayoshi Fujita - Forest of Tranquility [Nov 13th, Erased Tapes]

Confirmed 2026 Albums (TBA Dates)

There are a few artists who we expect to drop new music in 2026, but there are no official dates yet.

• Doechi
• Foals
• Yuna
• Massive Attack

Most Anticipated EPs of 2026

February 2026 New EPs

• RINO - Heartbreaker EP [Feb 18th]
• Misha, BeMyFiasco -Aura Gold EP [Feb 20th]
• Flying Lotus - Captain Kernel EP [Feb 27th, Brainfeeder]

March 2026 New EPs

• Karun & Bigfootinyourface - Eternal [Mar 5th]
• [hip hop] Samara Cyn - Detour EP [Mar 20th]
• [jazz] Blair / Huber - IN A NEW ORDER [Mar 20th]
• [jazz / beats] Kristoffer Eikrem - Near and Now EP [Mar 26th]
• [lofi] santpoort - Voyage on Canvas EP [Mar 27th, Friends of Friends]

April 2026 New EPs

• [electronic] Sunrom - Everlight EP [Apr 3rd]
• Jordan Rakei - Between Us [Apr 24th]

May 2026 New EPs

• [soul / jazz] Anaïs Cardot - Map Of Her Shadow [May 22nd]
• [jazz / experimental] Moses Yoofee Trio - CHASING LIGHT [May 29th]
• Amtrac - Civilian World EP [May 29th]

June 2026 New EPs

• [r&b/neo-soul/jazz] MADELEINE - Earth Cry [Jun 17th]
• [r&b/soul] Nectar Woode - Naturally [Jun 26th]
• [r&b/soul] Nia Smith - Paybag Is A Dog [Jun 26th]
• [hip hop] Benny The Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2.5 [Jun 26th]
• [psychedelic rock] BALTHVS - Liminal Stages [Jun 26th]

July 2026 New EPs

• [r&b / soul / hip-hop / jazz] Ruby Wood - No Rain, No Flowers [Jul, First Word Records]
• [jazz / electronic] Bård Berg - Linje 18 [Jul 29th, Stereofox Records]

July 2026 New EPs

• [electronic] Leaving Laurel - sketches for my beloved EP [Sep 4th, Anjunadeep]

September 2026 EPs

• [hip hop / r&b] tg.blk - Besides you [Sep 18th]

October 2026 New EPs

We update this article on a weekly basis, so feel free to bookmark it and return whenever you want to get more info on the most exciting upcoming music releases of 2026.