Will 2026 be the year that Beyoncé sheds her Stetson and starts smashing guitars to smithereens?
When she released Renaissance in 2022, the star let it be known that it was the first of a three-part musical reclamation series.
The first installation explored the black roots of dance music. The second, Cowboy Carter, reclaimed country. Fans think rock and roll is next.
Why? During the Cowboy Carter tour, video screens depicted her in edgy, rock-inspired outfits; and her latest Levi’s advert saw the star riding into the night on a motorcycle.
Whatever genre it tackles, the new Beyoncé album is expected in the first half of the year.
She’s not the only one with new music on the horizon.
Harry Styles has been hard at work since at least March 2024, when he was spotted walking into London’s Rak Studios.
In August, Australian radio hosts Fifi, Fev and Nick claimed his fourth album was finished and that Styles “did it all on a typewriter”.
Their source was “a man” with his name tattooed somewhere on Styles’ body.
Seems legit.
Meanwhile, Charli XCX is following up Brat with her soundtrack to Emerald Fennell’s movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights; while Lana Del Rey’s long-delayed country album is supposed to arrive at the start of 2026.
Gorillaz celebrate their 25th anniversary with a new album, The Mountain, featuring a number of posthumous collaborations from actor Dennis Hopper, The Fall frontman Mark E Smith and soul legend Bobby Womack.
Madonna is working on the spiritual sequel to her 2005 opus Confessions On A Dancefloor; while Raye, Robyn and Carly Rae Jepsen have all confirmed new music is on the way (Jepsen is also having her first baby in 2026 – congratulations!)
Rock legends Bob Dylan, U2 and The Rolling Stones have also been sweating over the mixing desk, as have The xx, Sam Fender, Stormzy and Noah Kahan.