And as if no time had passed, we’re back. It’s 2026, and we’re all hoping for a less crazy year than 2025, if not simply a good year.
I get it – it’s hard to feel like 2026 will be that different than 2025. BUT, one thing that we can all get behind is the excitement of our favorite artists releasing fresh new tunes to soundtrack our year. Of course, if you read our list from last year, you’ll know that what we get hyped for doesn’t always make it out the door as expected. Sometimes this happens over multiple years.
So this year, I’m going to be breaking things down a little differently. We’ll have the albums we KNOW will be hitting the real or metaphorical shelves in 2026, we’ll have the albums we EXPECT to see the light of day, and then we’ll have some POTENTIAL releases that are far from guaranteed. Hopefully this will lead to slightly less disappointment when anticipation isn’t fulfilled.
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THE LOCKS
#1. Social Distortion – TBD (May 2026)
Yes, this one has been #1 the last two years, but this WILL BE THE YEAR. After playing KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas, frontman Mike Ness has said we’ll finally get the first single this month, with the album expected to drop in May. It’s happening. After fifteen years, we’ll finally have a new album from these OC punk rock legends. And just hearing two of these new songs at that KROQ show, I am full ready for this!
#2. The All-American Rejects – Sandbox (Spring 2026)
I am proud to have been on the AAR bandwagon since day one, having seen their very first Los Angeles show in 2002. Seeing their revival in 2025, storming back into the zeitgeist with their viral backyard shows, and excellent new tracks like “Sandbox” and “Easy Come Easy Go” getting them back on radio station playlists, brought joy to my fanboy heart. The band sound inspired and reinvigorated on the four new tracks that we’re released last year, so it’s looking like the full new album will be a fantastic comeback for these power-pop rockers.
#3. Lana Del Rey – Stove (January 26)
We know that the release date for this one has been jumping around for a while, and it’s gone from being considered Del Rey’s “country” album, before backing away from that as everyone decided to drop their own country albums in the last two years. Whatever this one ends up sounding like, Del Rey’s hardcore fans (of which there are many) will be overjoyed to get this one if it does in fact drop this month (or even this year). And speaking on behalf of my wife, when it does drop, we hope a U.S. tour (specifically an L.A. date) comes with it.
#4. Courtney Love – TBD (TBD)
Another one that has been anticipated the last few years, but it’s sounding like 2026 may finally be the year the punk rock queen makes her return. While on the Lipps Service podcast, product Butch Walker spoke highly of the sessions he did working with Love on the album, making it sound as if the album is in the home stretch of being complete. There is also a documentary about Love coming out this year, so dropping the album around the same time would be a smart piece of synergetic marketing.
#5. Gym Class Heroes – TBD (TBD)
The beloved hip-hop/emo outfit has been revived by frontman Travie McCoy (though it’s unclear how many, if any, of the original band members will be back). McCoy said that the new music will be coming out this year during his interview on Lipps Service, and while he didn’t go into any great detail about the album, he did say there were minimal features, putting the focus back on the group’s songwriting blend of rap, pop-punk, emo and pop flavors.
#6. Reese McHenry – Reese McHenry Forever (March 6, 2026)
While I has been waiting for a while for new music from the great North Carolina rocker Reese McHenry to come out, this collection comes with a lot of sadness, as it is McHenry’s last. In 2025, McHenry passed away after a long battle with cancer. This album collects her final new recordings with her band, along with a selection of solo recordings and covers. McHenry was such a powerful singer and songwriter, and here’s hoping this final release garners her the larger recognition she didn’t get while she was still with us.
#7. The Ataris – TBD (TBD)
After giving us a taste of their new album with “Car Song” (my #7 song of 2025), I’m very excited to hear the full album from these millennial pop-punk survivors. Frontman Kris Roe’s lyric writing has always been underrated, and after surviving Covid and celebrating the 20th anniversary of So Long, Astoria, I’m thinking the man has a lot to say and will find a way to say it through tight, catchy punk tunes that will speak to fans old and new alike.
#8. Malinowski – Under a Landslide of Stars (March 13, 2026)
The Bedouin Soundclash frontman releases his third solo album this year, and it will surely appeal to all fans of that group, and anyone who loves good songwriting. From the Dylan-esque “Deeper Than Blue”, to the gospel-tinged “Holy Guns”, Malinowski is more personal on these songs, but just as experimental with his musical stylings.
#9. New Found Glory – Listen Up! (February 20, 2026)
Another millennial pop-punk favorite, NFG are going strong and sounding like they know exactly who they are writing for with the new songs from this new album. “100%” was a crowd hit during their 2025 tour with The Offspring, and “Laugh it Off” had their classic blend of hard, melodic riffs and lyrical insights into the realities of relationships that made “All Downhill From Here” a classic. Come February, I’ll certainly be listening up.
#10. Save Ferris – TBD (February 2026)
While frontwoman Monique Powell had originally said her beloved 90’s ska group would be singles throughout 2025, the pipeline of new tunes petered out after two tracks. But according to a personal source, the group still has plans to drop a full new album this year, potentially as soon as February. Fingers crossed we can be skanking to it by Valentine’s Day.
#11. Joyce Manor – I Used To Go To This Bar (January 30, 2026)
2025 was good to punk mainstays Joyce Manor. The band’s 80’s-tinged “All My Friends Are So Depressed” gave them their first bonafide radio hit, and follow-up single “Well, Whatever It Was” was an even catchier rock bop. With their latest Epitaph release, the band should finally be graduating to bigger venues and a widening fan base that they’ve earned through their years of hard touring and great songwriting.
#12. Phantom Planet – TBD (TBD)
Without really intending it, I ended up seeing SoCal rockers Phantom Planet three times in 2025. While they began their year with a fire benefit celebrating their earlier music, by the end during their opening slot for The Format, the group was testing out new material for fans, and dropped a crunchy single “Friction”. The band has lived and grown into one of the most reliable modern power pop groups of their era, and whatever they release in 2026 will not disappoint.
#13. Kula Shaker – Wormslayer (January 30, 2023)
The UK ragga-rockers still sound great thirty years into their career, and as the first group of singles shared last year from their new album showed, they are not letting themselves be bound to any one sound on their upcoming album. From cheeky folk sing-alongs (“Broke as Folk”) to haunting psychedelia (“Be Merciful”), they’re mining the best of 70 years of British rock music, and giving you plenty of reasons to get your body moving (“Good Money”).
#14. The Rolling Stones – TBD (TBD)
While the rock n’ roll legends may have scrapped their plans for a 2026 tour, word is that the group have their next Andrew Watt-produced album ready to get released this year. I personally loved Hackney Diamonds, so I trust that the new album will continue to have that modern-sounding Stones sound that will deepen the band’s already epic legacy.
#15. Mod Sun – TBD (TBD)
Mod Sun is his own best hype man. The frequent MGK collaborator has sprinkled out singles and other collabs over the last two years, while keeping fans abreast of his many writing and recording sessions in Nashville, promising that his next release will be his best yet. When I met the artist briefly during a late-night bite at The Rainbow Room, he sounded excited for the new release. Whether the sound will be more pop-punk (“Hotel Lights”), folk (“Morning Breaks”), or even dive into his earlier hip-hop sound, we’ll just have to see.
#16. Gorillaz – The Mountain (March 20, 2026)
Damon Albarn‘s animated troop always bring something wholly unique and original to the board. And with the latest batch of songs with collaborators from Idles to Omar Souleyman, this new one should be as wildly eclectic as the group gets.
#17. The Format – Boycott Heaven (January 23, 2025)
Getting a reunion of these early 00’s emo-rockers was a highlight of 2025, but I definitely didn’t see new music coming. New songs like “Shot in the Dark” and the title song evoke the same spirit as the band’s early work. Nate Ruess’ voice remains unmistakeable, and a bright respite from the heavier rock that permeated the last year. Welcome back boys! This one will be a nice birthday present to me on the 23rd.
#18. The Cribs – Selling a Vibe (January 9, 2026)
One of the more underrated of the early 2000’s Britpop revival bands, The Cribs brought a causticness and grungy aesthetic to their raucous, rock romps. They had the Oasis swagger with a dirtier sound, and the new tracks already released sound like a day hasn’t passed since their earliest work. Should be a fun one.
#19. Mumford & Sons – Prizefighter (February 13, 2025)
It seems that the original ‘Stomp & Holler’ Kings’ return last year with Rushmere was just a taste of what was coming. Their next album is going to be packed with big-name collabs (the already released “Rubber Band Man” with Hozier is already a hit), with guests like Gracie Abrams and Chris Stapleton very likely to give the album a streaming and radio boost that will keep the band in everyone’s ears in 2026.
#20. Zach Bryan – TBD (TBD)
Bryan is ever-prolific, and has been teasing snippets for new songs the last few months (including a political one which drew some fire from both the left and right). Whether that one makes it onto the new album or not, we’ll have to see. It will be the first new music from him since his Kings of Leon collab last year (which may or may not be on the new album). Either way, the album will be big, since all of Bryan’s albums stick around on the chart for years and year.
#21. Papa Roach – TBD (TBD)
The hard rockers are still rolling strong. They already have a hit with “Even If It Kills Me” and earned some hardcore street cred with a Toby Morse feature on “BRAINDEAD”, so when the rest of the album comes, expect it to be full of the same kind of stadium bangers that have kept this band going for two decades.
#22. Incubus – Something in the Water (TBD)
While the alternative vets had originally teased their new album early last year, even getting preorders going, fans received word that the new album was delayed, with the release date being moved to 2026. We’ll see if that sticks.
#23. MxPx – TBD (TBD)
Before the year ended, the pop-punk vets played a livestream where they premiered a new song, and revealed a new album would be coming in the summer of 2026.
#24. Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx IV (February 13, 2026)
The mariachi alter-egos of punk band The Bronx will be releasing their first album in twelve years, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
#25. Steve Lacy – OH YEAH? (TBD)
A true original, Lacy will be releasing the follow-up to his breakthrough album which had the massive hit “Bad Habits”. He’s had some time to let this one bake, so looking forward to seeing what directions the last few years has taken him musically.
#26. Sublime – Till The Sun Explodes (TBD)
The Jakob Nowell-fronted revived version of the beloved SoCal reggae/punk/alternative band had an Alt radio hit with “Ensenada” last year, and their first full album of new material is expected early this year.
#27. Brandon Flowers – TBD
In an Instagram Q&A, The Killers frontman stated that he had no just one, but two new solo albums complete, and that he would be releasing them in 2026 (sorry Killers fans – no new band album until 2027).
#28. The Used – TBD
After playing some triumphant anniversary shows last year, The Used have confirmed that a new album is coming this year.
#29. Buzzcocks – Attitude Adjustment (January 30, 2026)
While the classic punk band’s bassist is the only original member still alive and playing, their recent new material has still been strong and holding up the legacy of the band (and I personally loved the first single released last year).
#30. Streetlight Manifesto – The Place Behind the Stars (TBD)
The beloved indie ska band have been teasing a new album for years, missing previous release dates. It’s sounding like this WILL be the year of its release.
#31. Peter Gabriel – TBD (TBD)
The legendary Genesis drummer and solo artist is ready to rise again this year with a new album. He dropped the first single on January 3rd, to align with the first full moon of the year.
#32. Lucinda Williams – World Gone Wrong (January 20, 2026)
The famous alt. country troubadour is back with a new album that features some big names guests (Mavis Staples, Brittany Spencer, Norah Jones), and finds Williams focusing on the chaos of the last few years. Sadly, if you’re a Spotify user, you’ll have to find another way to hear the album as it won’t be on that platform.
#33. Spoon – TBD (TBD)
The indie rock heroes dropped two songs last year to preview their upcoming album. While they haven’t revealed any more information about when we can expect to hear the full LP, it’s clear it’s coming this year.
#34. Foo Fighters – TBD (TBD)
It’s been a rough few years for Dave Grohl and company, starting with the death of long-time drummer Taylor Hawkins, and going until Grohl’s recent fall from grace when he revealed he had a child outside of his marriage. But as the drama began to fade, the Foos re-emerged, first celebrating their anniversary as a band with “Today’s Song”, and then dropping the heavy “Asking for a Friend”. With a world tour coming up, it sounds like there’s more music on the way.
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EXPECTED
#1. Cake – TBD
The 90’s alternative stars originally said their new album would be out last year, but…it wasn’t. Whatever the reason, hopefully the kinks have been worked out and we’ll hear this long-awaited new one in 2026.
#2. Third Eye Blind – TBD
Stephen Jenkins is just struggling with the lyrics still it seems, as following the band’s performance at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, he again said he planned on get back to writing them so they could tour behind a new album soon. He’s been saying this for a while, but I’m betting it won’t be that much longer.
#3. Brian Fallon – TBD
During his Lipps Service interview, Butch Walker also revealed he had time set-aside to work with The Gaslight Anthem‘s frontman on a new solo album. While Fallon has been mum on this, TGA’s tour with Counting Crows is over, so it would make sense he’d take a break from the full band and churn out a new solo record while the band takes a break.
#4. Breaking Benjamin – TBD
After dropping a one-off single (the solid “Awaken”), the band went quiet again as far as new music was concerned, but I’m betting their is more brewing from the band and we’ll hear some more new material in 2026.
#5. The Cure – TBD
Since the release of Songs of a Lost World, Robert Smith has stated he has another full album’s worth of new material ready to be released. Will it come out this year? That of course depends on Smith, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
#6. U2 – TBD
Bono and The Edge have been talking up doing a riff-heavy rock record for a while, and teasing writing sessions. While the band would be smart not to rush anything, 2026 feels ripe for a new U2 album.
#7. Bad Religion – TBD
While not as long as a wait as Social Distortion, the veteran punks have taken a considerable break. Greg Graffin has shared hints that he and Brett have been writing together, and with talk of a big tour in 2026, me thinks new Bad Religion music is on the way.
#8. Head Automatica – TBD
The dance-punk project of Glassjaw‘s Daryl Palumbo has been more active than ever the last two years, but so far they’ve only dropped a couple singles. A full release could be on the way, but we’ll just have to see when.
#9. Blondie – TBD
While the iconic 80’s band lost its heart with the passing of Clem Burke this last year, it’s expected that the group will still be releasing a new album this year (hopefully with the late Burke’s contributions on it).
#10. Millencolin – TBD
It’s been a hot minute since these Swedish punks put out new music, but they’ve been dropping some hints that they’ve been in the studio and have plans for 2026, so hopefully a return is nigh.
#11. Descendents – TBD
I actually got to speak to Milo Aukerman at Beachlife Festival, and he said the band had new songs written and we’re just looking for time to get in the studio and record them. If they managed to find that time last year, then hopefully we’ll have some new music out in time for their tour with Frank Turner this year.
#12. American Hi-Fi – TBD
In a video on Instagram, frontman Stacy Jones revealed that along with playing some 25th anniversary shows of the “Flavor of the Week” band’s debut album, he and the group would be recording a new album this year. Whether it will be released in 2026 remains to be seen.
#13. The Interrupters – TBD
The new school ska-punk group has been in the studio and sharing updates. No guarantee that the final product will be out this year, but there’s always a chance.
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POTENTIAL RELEASES
#1. Phoebe Bridgers
The only boygenius member not to release new music the last two years, it seems likely that Ms. Bridgers has been holed up writing and recording her third LP.
#2. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
I’ll let Ted speak for me on this one.
#3. Vertical Horizon
The “Everything You Want” band said during their 25th Anniversary show for their hit album that they had 2 albums of new material ready to go. Where those albums are is anyone’s guess, but maybe one will show its face this year.
#4. Alexi Murdoch
The Scottish folk singer has given minor hints that new music is being worked on, in between his many, many more posts showing his disgust over the awful state of the Middle East. I’d love to hear new music from him, but we’ll see if he deems the world worthy of his new tunes.
#5. Sugar
Bob Mould‘s 90’s power pop trio surprised fans with a new song and dates for a reunion tour last year. While they’ve said nothing about more new music outside of that single, fingers are crossed that they aren’t done.
#6. The Strokes
Ages ago discussion of the band’s Rick Rubin sessions in the mountains of South America stirred hope of a new one from the NY rockers. But since then, all we’ve gotten is more of Julian Casablancas weird The Voidz music, along with some live performances that garner mixed reviews and rumors of discord in the band. Is their new music ever coming? Hard to say.
#7. The Shins
James Mercer has been active with Substack and sharing covers, but if a new Shins album is anywhere on the horizon is currently speculation.
#8. Michael Stipe
At this point, the long-rumored solo album from R.E.M.‘s frontman is the thing of myths. It’s been six years since he released solo tracks meant for the album, and not a word since. If it does come in 2026, I’ll be very pleasantly surprised.
#9. Brand New
After a successful tour last year proving that their fan base had not abandoned them since Jesse Lacey’s exile, perhaps the band will release some of the new songs Lacey was heard playing at past charity shows.
#10. Noah Kahan
It’s been three years since Kahan’s break-out album Stick Season made him a superstar, and while he kept that album alive with star-filled re-recordings and all other types of promos that have kept it on the characters since, it feels like he better release some new music soon to feed his hungry fanbase.
#11. blink-182
While the band have been mum on new music, they did make it clear after the release of One More Time that they were finding time to get back into the studio. Then there’s also the long-gestating EP that was teased prior to Tom returning to the band that featured collaborations with Pharrell, Lil Uzi Vert and Grimes. We also know the band has a version of NOFX‘s “Punk Rock 101” recorded but unreleased. So, maybe something from that list will see the light of day this year.
#12. My Chemical Romance
There has been fan hype around new music for years, and the band have given no indication that anything is coming. Still, there is a supposed shelved album Paper Empire, and since the band haven’t slowed their touring schedule at all, and they have played a couple unreleased tracks on their tour, so something could finally come out.
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There are likely a ton of other albums we’re not including here, both locked in, potentially coming and rumored. To include them all would make this article unbearably long. Let’s just end by saying we’re looking forward to all the music 2026 has to bring. A year from now, we’ll see how accurate the above list was!
The Indy Review 