5 most-anticipated albums of 2026

If you’ve jumped past obsessing over your 2025 Spotify Wrapped and summing up what you thought about music this past year, let’s take a look at what the next year has to offer.

The scroll of records coming out in 2026 is already lengthy and, like many things at the start of a new year, full of promise. A few releases have dropped late this year that are so close to ‘26, and so tasty, they’re worth mentioning.

Recently, Shudder to Think gave us two new songs, their first in nearly 30 years. As excited as I was, they probably could have released a recording of the sounds of the band collectively brushing their teeth, and I would have been able to pen a righteous tribute to their efforts. And though I wouldn’t make eye contact with that gift horse’s mouth, thankfully, that’s not what we got.

The indie rockers’ new tracks “Thirst Walk” and “Playback” are out on Dischord Records, the label responsible for putting out three of their first four studio releases between 1990 and 1992. And deep fan love aside, it delivers well above the expectations that were as high as singer Craig Wedren’s glorious falsetto. The brash, anthemic post-hardcore rock they developed, which is glammy, sultry, driving, and precise, is fully present. The songs sound big and punchy and feel like they were marinated in a barrel of enthusiasm. All we can ask for now is more … and tour dates, too.

Fucked Up’s “Year of the Goat” is another ’25 gem. This Canadian band has been blending hardcore punk with post-hardcore sounds, while also incorporating elements of experimental and heavy rock since its inception. They get it twisted, with the best possible outcomes. Whether a track is brutal and direct or takes you on a more complex sonic journey, you want to stick around in the moment and come back later for more. This newbie, the first in their ten-part finale to their Zodiac album series, is two lengthy tracks that prove them to be the masters of the modern rock opera. It’s like a decadent pudding: rich, creamy, thick and dreamy.

Sofia Isella’s “I’m Camera” is another treasure. So, okay, it did come out more like mid-year, but I admit to not digging in ‘til recently. She’s soon to be 21, but has been making music since the age of 3. Since releasing her first song, she has been prolific, dropping multiple singles and a couple of EPs. TikTok helped her reach a level of popularity that had artists like Glass Animals and T. Swift invite her to open their shows. I’m picky about a breathy voice, which hers is, and it initially put me off. However, I had already fallen in love with her lyrics, and once I got over my bullshit, I dove back in and saw what I missed for a minute there by not giving it a chance. The record is dark and stark, with gorgeously brutal lyrics that match her range, which spans guttural depths and piercing highs. There are touches of Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor in Isella’s overall package, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. When this record’s “Josephine” kicked in, everything about it immediately took my mind to Sinead O’Connor’s “Jackie.”

Now to the five highly anticipated releases of early 2026.

ASAP Rocky — “Don’t Be Dumb” — Jan. 15
Alright, we have been waiting for this one for a minute. It was supposed to drop in 2024 and again in 2025. The target date is mid-January of the upcoming year. The album’s cover art appeared on X on Dec. 15. Tim Burton designed it, so yes, it’s got monsters. A few of the singles are already out there, too. With “Highjack,” he’s comin’ in hot. The steady beat that is the song’s backbone is intact, catching you and allowing you to move through the song without hurrying, like wading through honey. The lyrics are on top of the mix, not allowing the emotion to be confused as he mentions a slew of things making him moody, or, as he says repeatedly, “I don’t like that.” Also, the title, especially going into a new year: solid advice.

Sleaford Mods — “The Demise of Planet X” — Jan. 16
This English duo doesn’t disappoint, and based on the singles that have predated the record’s release, we are in for more of their glorious, hilarious social commentary set to their electronic post-punk backdrops. The first track, “The Good Life,” had me cracking up at “I’m not punching down/gonna remove you from the equation/I’m gonna get rid quick/like tattoos on Pete Davidson.” 

The Damned — “Not Like Everybody Else” — Jan. 21
Damned fans are loyal, legion and we’re gonna be there whether they drop a newbie or not. However, we are definitely going to dig in and are excited to hear what it sounds like. These punks from 1976 London brought it early, got folks hooked and helped shape the genre. The foundational band still features original members Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible, who, as they progressed, took punk and gothed it up, adding more to love. They had a steady flow of releases through the mid-’80s and then sparingly since then, the last being “Darkadelic” in 2023. Let’s see what they’ve got under those well-worn, and potentially ruffled, sleeves.

Lucinda Williams — “World’s Gone Wrong” Jan. 23
Like The Damned, Lucinda Williams has been making music since the ‘70s. And her combination of exceptional songwriting skills, partnered with one of the most soulful voices going. Gritty, raspy, tender and just plain beautiful. It’s a mix that knows how to break your heart. To her credit is a long list of nominations and awards, including some Grammy wins in the country and folk genres. Rolling Stone listed her 91st in their top 100 country artists of all time. The upcoming record’s title will surely resonate with anyone feeling the social and political chaos we’re soaking in. And if that’s not enough, that’s what the songs promise to deliver. She’s also got collaborations on this soon-to-be-released album with the legendary Mavis Staples, Norah Jones and Brittney Spencer.

Bill Callahan — “My Days of 58” — Feb 20
If your heart is at home in the hands of someone like Townes Van Zandt or Leonard Cohen, and you aren’t already a Callahan stan, you need to let it spend a couple of nights over at Bill’s Americana den, getting familiar with the layout, parts alt-country and indie folk. The singer-songwriter’s deep voice is sharp as it delivers reflective, dark, and at times, funny lyrics. An early single from the release, “Lonely City,” sweeps forward with riffs that sound pretty and swirly, featuring momentary bouts of intricate weaving. At times, his vocal cadence is reminiscent of “Five Leaves Left”-era Nick Drake. As Callahan sings, “Lonely City/You’re still that to me,” he seems peacefully nostalgic.