Once midnight strikes and 2026 begins, it’s never too early to start wishing for your favorite artist to finally drop a new record. 2025 proved to be an unpredictable year for music as newer acts burst onto the scene, especially with the unexpected shockwave of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys from “KPop Demon Hunters” dominating the charts for months. Still, we can’t help longing for the artists who have nearly vanished from the industry. From decade-long hiatuses to singers we simply crave more of, here’s the artists we hope to bless us with a new record in the upcoming year.
Harry Styles
Yes, I am part of the “HS4 at midnight” hive, and I refuse to be ashamed of it. I’ve fantasized about a new Harry Styles album since July 2023, when he closed out his over 160-show “Love on Tour” with a 10-minute, tear-jerking piano tune dedicated to his fans. Unfortunately for me and the other Harries of the world, the indie pop heartthrob appears just about everywhere except the studio, including running marathons under a pseudonym or traipsing around the Lower East Side. It’s been over three years since Styles charmed listeners with synths and horns alike on his album of the year-winning “Harry’s House,” and after spending way too much time figuring out the outro to “Cinema” and procuring a feather boa, I’m more than ready to fall in love with his music again.
— Dani Biondi, Arts Editor
Janelle Monáe
In the absolute drought of summer music this past year, I consistently looped Janelle Monáe’s “Dirty Computer” and “The Age of Pleasure” to get my fix. Few artists blend soul, R&B and pop as effortlessly as Monáe, whose discography is utterly singular and shaped by her experiences as a queer Black artist. Across tracks like “Americans” and “Crazy, Classic, Life,” she combines electrifying production inspired by Prince and Michael Jackson with sharp commentary on gender and racial injustices in America. Even if she’s too busy time traveling back to the ’70s to watch David Bowie perform, a new Monáe record is exactly the colorful, pressing release we need in 2026.
— Amelia Knust, Music Editor
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean’s appearance in “Marty Supreme” merch on Timothée Chalamet’s recent Instagram story reignited a question hovering for nearly 10 years: Where is the next album? His albums “channel ORANGE” and “Blonde” cement his legacy as an artist whose work feels more like a cultural recalibration than an album drop. While “channel ORANGE” introduced listeners to his intimate storytelling, “Blonde” paved the way for his refined R&B sound, producing hits like “Ivy” and “Pink + White” that have remained steady in pop culture since. It seems like the singer has been everywhere but the studio, and the people yearn for another no-skip album — one that only Ocean is capable of producing.
— Rhea Kohli, Staff Writer
Kelela
Kelela is the type of artist to make you miss her when she’s gone, and I very much do. Once she blesses you with her pristine blend of electronic, alternative and R&B styles, it seems the singer vanishes into thin air. The next thing you know, she’s in the club and at fashion shows, gaining the proper experiences to write about in her next album. Her previous records “Raven” and “Take Me Apart” emulate a sleek, seductive energy that nobody else in the industry can authentically capture. If she came back with something as fresh and sensual as her past works, it would be the highlight of my year.
— Dido Trowell, Contributing Writer
beabadoobee
Since her 2019 EP “Loveworm,” beabadoobee has grown from an angsty, teenage bedroom pop artist to a full-fledged indie-pop rockstar. From the edgy guitar riffs of “Fake It Flowers” to the whimsical ballads of “Beatopia,” she knows how to change up her style, all while sticking to her authentic playful self. Within her music, she navigates relationships with family, lovers and most often, herself. Her seamless ability to shift genres between songs and albums sets her apart from her peers, especially considering how far she’s gone since her mega-hit collaboration with Powfu. “death bed (coffee for your head)” went viral in 2020. Following the release of “This is How Tomorrow Moves” in 2024, more of beabadoobee’s intimate talent is exactly what 2026 needs.
— Siena Bergamo, Contributing Writer
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