The 10 Most Anticipated Indie and Alternative Rock Albums of 2026

Not only does Damon Albarn's Gorillaz have a new project on the way, but Albarn and company have already performed the whole damn thing during a "Mystery Show" in London last year. For those who weren't in attendance, The Mountain is fortunately right around the corner, dropping in full on February 27th. Reportedly, the album is in four languages, particularly influenced by music from South Asia and the Middle East, and features a large orchestra, in addition to the characteristically impressive list of guest features Gorillaz have become known for. It's never boring with Gorillaz, innit?

One of our recently-named Artists to Watch in 2026, Stockholm-based indie rock trio Girl Scout is gearing up to make their grand introductory statement with Brink, the band's debut full-length album. Featuring production from Alex Farrar, if Brink is half as catchy, fun, and exhilarating as the singles the gang have been slowly unveiling over the last few years — like "I Just Needed You To Know," "Same Kids," or "Desert Island Movies" — fans of fuzzy indie rock are in for quite the treat.

Last year, Courtney Barnett dropped the up-tempo, dancy "Stay In Your Lane," the first new music from the Australian songwriter in nearly four years. While there's no official word yet on when the follow-up to Things Take Time, Take Time is set to arrive, we're taking the new tune — plus the fact that she's been reportedly testing out new material on the road — as a good sign. Who knows how far along she is in the process of writing and recording, but it at least sounds like she's well on her way to wrapping up her fourth studio album, so why not stay optimistic!

It's now been over seven years since the most recent LCD Soundsytem album, American Dream, marking the longest period of time James Murphy and the gang have taken between records. (Notably, it's also a handful of years longer than their 2010s hiatus lasted.) Fortunately for fans, there's reason to hold onto hope that another release is coming sooner rather than later. For one, they've remained an active live act. Then, there's the fact that they dropped the single “X-Ray Eyes” in late 2024. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Primavera Sound seemingly accidentally let it slip that a new album was on the way, which Murphy later confirmed. Sure, we have yet to hear any more information about said album, but what are we to do? Call the Spaniards liars??

Why do we think there's a new Mitski album on the way? Well, because of the MCU — the Mitski Cinematic Universe. During the post-credits scene in her concert film Mitski: The Land, Mitski cheekily teased the release of her next record, the follow-up to The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We. What's more, this yet-to-be-announced album seems to be set for a winter release (!), or at least that's our interpretation of the conversation. Maybe the cryptic exchange actually means that Thanos and Captain America are returning or something — but our money is on new music from the artist who gave us the best song of 2023.

Happy New Year, PJ Harvey is working on new music! At least, that's what she shared with fans via an Instagram post on New Year's Eve. Having wrapped up the most recent tour supporting her 2023 album, I Inside the Old Year Dying, the English singer-songwriter said, "I have been writing songs for my next album and poems for my next book, which is a process that always surprises and challenges me, but one I [realize] I am committed to and love." Will that next album take shape in 2026? It's anyone's guess, but here's to hoping!

Songwriter Nate Amos seemingly doesn't have an off switch. Just last year, he put out the wildly fun It's a Beautiful Place as one half of Water from Your Eyes and released two This Is Lorelei projects: Halo Boy, a collection of re-recordings of previous tracks, and the deluxe version of his excellent 2024 album Box for Buddy, Box for Star. Given his prolificness and rising profile in the indie scene, we figure Amos is preparing to strike the iron while it's hot with yet another new album. (Plus, he seemed to have hinted as much to writer Steven Hyden.)

Call us crazy, but we smell a new album from The xx in the water. Sure, they haven't dropped a full-length since 2017, but they've already got a large swath of festival appearances on the books for this year, which is always a promising sign when it comes to new music from a returning act. Plus, Romy revealed that the trio was working on new music back in 2024 — another clue hinting that we may hear something from the crew in the very near future. Listen, we're no Sherlock Holmes, but sometimes one and one does in fact make two (or, rather, sometimes two Xs make an album).