Now that we’ve finished rounding up our favourite albums of 2025, it’s already time to look ahead and think about the coming year...
This year has been a very solid one in terms of new releases, with bold and intoxicating experimentation courtesy of FKA twigs, DJ Haram, Jane Remover and, of course, Rosalía - so let’s hoping the 12 months to come deliver more to get excited about.
We’ve handpicked 10 albums scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2026 – the ones we’re most eager to get into our ears. And we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for yet-to-be-confirmed new releases from Raye, Radiohead and Björk...
We’re huge fans of Florence Shaw and her British post-punk band in these quarters, especially after 2022’s ‘Stumpwork’. Their third studio album, ‘Secret Love’, is produced by another one of our favourites, the great Cate Le Bon. We can’t wait to hear what they have in store for us next, and judging by lead single ‘Hit My Head All Day’ and that brilliant album cover - painted by the Canadian artist Erica Eyres – it’s looking mighty promising.
French Touch synthpop artist Sébastien Tellier is set to return in January with his follow-up to 2020’s ‘Domesticated’. According to his record label, the album marks a return to “the format of a pop album” and opens new directions, “from introspective French and English ballads to electro-pop groovy tracks.” Colour us intrigued – especially when Nile Rodgers and Kid Cudi are reportedly contributing.
Lana Del Rey’s upcoming tenth studio album has already undergone two name changes (‘Lasso’ and ‘The Right Person Will Stay’), as well as two thwarted release dates. It was one of our most anticipated albums of 2025 and fans ended up finishing the year without an LP... Hopefully 2026 will provide. Now titled ‘Stove’, the artist has stated that it will be a “classic country, American, or Southern Gothic production”. Based on the already released singles ‘Henry, Come On’ and ‘Bluebird’, we’re hoping for great things.
Considering this year has seen the return of both Oasis and Pulp, it seems that Robbie is also keen to ride the Britpop revival wave. Originally planned for 2025, the release of his thirteenth album was reportedly pushed back to avoid competing with Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’. Here’s hoping it will be worth the wait. That said, it can’t be much worse than 2019’s ‘The Christmas Present’ - which featured uninspired covers of Yuletide classics and some originals – one memorably featuring boxer Tyson Fury. The only way is up.
For her first post-Brat project, Charli XCX trades lime green for gloomy black with a bit of a wildcard move: a movie soundtrack. It’s for Emerald Fennell’s buzzy new film Wuthering Heights, the British director's adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 classic novel, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. We’re not sure what’s going on with the film itself – which is looking a bit “50 Shades of Brontë” and thirsty for zeitgeist-nabbing memes. XCX’s music for the film isn’t very ‘Brat’ and significantly more emo, so fingers crossed it’s not gimmicky as it reads on paper.
While not a 2026 release per se, this one is worth getting excited about. Jeff Buckley’s fantastic live album, originally out as an EP in 1993, finally gets a full 4-vinyl box set release next year. Recorded at the small café in the East Village, Manhattan, it’s one of the most gorgeous and intimate live albums out there, featuring early versions of ‘Mojo Pin’, ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’ and swoon-worthy covers of Edith Piaf’s ‘Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin’, Bob Dylan’s ‘Just Like A Woman’ and Nina Simone’s ‘Be My Husband’. An absolute must-have.
Peaches is back on tour in 2026 to promote her new album – which promises to be another explicit hit of brash electro-punk dance. The song titles 'Fuck Your Face' and 'Not In Your Mouth None Of Your Business' should give you some indication of what to expect. According to the press release, ‘No Lube So Rude’ “exists at the intersection of the personal and the political, where the body serves not only as a sexual and spiritual vessel, but also as the front line in a battle for basic human rights.” Sign us up.
Solo artist and Smog frontman Bill Callahan will follow up his note-perfect folk album ‘YTI⅃AƎЯ’ (one of his best records to date) with ‘My Days of 58’ - an album recorded with the band that toured with him in 2022. Dubbed a “living room record” (we’ll have to wait and hear what that means), Callahan has elaborated by saying that the horns will be relaxed and the recording process was about throwing together who he had at hand “instead of following a recipe”. Sounds promising.
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s celebrated virtual band celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. Not half bad for what was originally supposed to be a side project from the Blur frontman. Eight albums later, their new opus is another concept album that this time takes the cartoon misfits to India and will feature tracks performed in English, Arabic, Hindi and Yoruba. It also features a stacked supporting cast, with Bobby Womack, De La Soul, Idles, Yasiin Bey, Sparks and Mark E. Smith contributing. Albarn described the album as a “paradigm shift” and “very different” - and we can’t wait.
One of Eels best records turned 25 this year, and we’re getting a vinyl reissue of Mark Oliver Everett’s third studio album, featuring favourites like ‘Grace Kelly Blues’, ‘I Like Birds’, ‘It’s A Motherfucker’ and ‘Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues’. Sunnier than previous releases ‘Beautiful Freak’ and the brilliant ‘Electro-Shock Blues’, this new reissue will be a fine addition to any record collection – as well as a terrific album to rediscover as we wave goodbye to winter.
There we have it. That should keep us busy for the time being.
What albums are you most looking forward to? Let us know - and in the meantime, check out our Culture Best Ofs of 2025 - this year's Best Albums, Best Movies, Best Exhibitions and Best Trends. Stay tuned for our ongoing 2026 previews, with the most anticipated movies coming soon.