U2 ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM CARNAVAL DE LUZ — FIRST NEW MUSIC IN NINE YEARS

U2's Bono has revealed the title of the band's new album, Carnaval de Luz — their first album of new material in nine years. The announcement came on September 23, 2026, on The Irish Times podcast "Drummer Seeks Musicians: The Making of U2", where Bono told listeners, "The new album is called 'Carnaval de Luz' ... it's strong stuff" — and it landed right in the middle of the band's 50th anniversary week.

Image: U2 / Island Records (official "Silencio" music video still)

Carnaval de Luz

Carnaval de Luz, which translates as "Carnival of Light", is U2's 16th studio album. It arrives on November 13, 2026, via Island Records, is produced by longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee and features 12 tracks. The record grows out of a prolific creative period: earlier in 2026 the band surprise-released two six-track EPs, "Days of Ash" and "Easter Lily", recorded during the same sessions, and the July 2026 single "Street of Dreams" also appears on the album. According to the U2.com press release, the album explores themes of spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance.

Silencio

"Silencio", the lead single, was released on September 24, 2026. The two-minute-thirty-five-second track is described in the U2.com press release as a "2mins 35second homage to early surf-punk insolence". Its official music video was filmed in Mexico City and directed by the Mexican-American duo Cliqua, made up of Pasqual Gutiérrez and Raúl "RJ" Sanchez. The single was produced by Jacknife Lee with additional production by Ryan Tedder.

The collaborators: Brian Eno co-wrote and played synthesizers on "Go (Carnaval De Luz)", Rosalía appears on "The Mirror Maker", Martin Garrix on "Glorify", and Daniel Lanois plays pedal steel on "Torn". Closing track "Torn" is a duet with Dolly Parton, described by U2.com as her last recorded vocal performance — a tender country song about broken family ties co-written by U2, Parton and Johnny McDaid. Of the recording, Bono told Rolling Stone: "When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song."

50 Years of U2

September 2026 marks 50 years since drummer Larry Mullen Jr. pinned a handwritten "Drummer Seeks Musicians To Form Band" notice on the Mount Temple Comprehensive School noticeboard. The teenagers who answered — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Mullen — became U2.

The band celebrated the milestone on September 25, 2026, with a concert for around 1,000 students and staff at the school, playing "I Will Follow", "Vertigo", "Beautiful Day", debut single "Out of Control", "With or Without You" and "Silencio" — with "One" performed alongside 32 young string musicians, one for each Irish county. The same evening, U2 surprised Dublin with a balcony set at Bewley's on Grafton Street. The anniversary was also marked by a commemorative two euro coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland on September 25, a Paris exhibition charting the band's five decades that opened on September 22, and the U250 fan event in Dublin that same weekend.

Official Video

Fifty years on, U2 are opening their next chapter with brand-new music.

U2 Carnaval de Luz FAQs

When is U2's Carnaval de Luz released?

Carnaval de Luz is out on November 13, 2026, via Island Records. It is U2's 16th studio album and their first album of new music since 2017's Songs of Experience.

What is U2's new single Silencio?

Silencio is the lead single from Carnaval de Luz, released on September 24, 2026. The band describe it as a two-and-a-half-minute homage to early surf-punk, and the official video was filmed in Mexico City by directing duo Cliqua.

Why is this U2's 50th anniversary?

In September 1976, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. pinned a "drummer seeks musicians" notice on his school noticeboard at Mount Temple Comprehensive School; the teenagers who answered became U2. The band marked the milestone with a concert at their old school and a surprise balcony set in Dublin on September 25, 2026.

Does the new U2 album feature any guests?

Brian Eno, Rosalía, Martin Garrix and Daniel Lanois all contribute to the album. Closing track "Torn" is a duet with the late Dolly Parton, described by the band as her final recorded vocal performance.