Rock and Metal Albums of 2026: The Year’s Biggest Releases

Rock and metal fans will have plenty to listen to in 2026, with new albums arriving from bands across a wide range of rock subgenres. That’s why I’ve put together this list of the year’s most important releases in this post for Travel 2 Concert.

Many rock and metal bands and artists releasing new records will also be hitting the road. Some of them are already featured in our Concert Agenda, making 2026 a strong year not only for new music, but also for live experiences.

Megadeth, Alter Bridge, Kreator, and New Found Glory are among the artists set to release brand-new music in 2026. More bands are expected to announce new albums soon.

Travel 2 Concert is a city-based directory that maps key live music venues, music-themed hotels, rock bars, record stores, as well as museums and landmark locations that help tell the story of rock and heavy metal around the world.

Major Rock and Metal Album Releases of 2026

For more than a decade, most artists and bands have released new albums on Fridays. For that reason, this list is organized by week, including the band name and the album or EP title.

January 2

Fuath – III
Paleface Swiss – The Wilted 

January 9

Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge
Beyond The Black – Break The Silence
Lionheart – Valley Of Death II 

January 16

Kreator – Krushers Of The World
Cold Night for Alligators – With All That’s Left
Soen – Reliance

January 23

Megadeth – Megadeth
The Damned – Not Like Everybody Else
Poppy – Empty Hands
54-40 – Porto
Falchi – Solace
The Paper Kites – If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Goldfinger – Nine Lives

January 30

Joyce Manor – I Used To Go To This Bar
Buzzcocks – Attitude Adjustment
Therion – Con Orquesta
Kula Shaker – Wormslayer

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February 6

Big Big Train – Woodcut
Jay Buchanan – Weapons of Beauty
Karnivool – In Verses
Puscifer – Normal Isn’t
Ratboys – Singin’ to an Empty Chair
Mayhem – Liturgy Of Death

February 13

Story Of The Year – A.R.S.O.N.
Gogol Bordello – We Mean It, Man!
Black Swan – Paralyzed
Converge – Love Is Not Enough
Angel Du$t – Cold 2 The Touch

February 20

Mumford and Sons – Prizefighter
New Found Glory – Listen Up!
Michael Monroe – Outerstellar
Sylosis – The New Flesh

February 27

Gorillaz – The Mountain
Paul Gilbert – WROC 
Rob Zombie – The Great Satan
NMB – L.I.F.T.
Mateus Asato – Asato
BlackRain – Orphans Of The Light

March 6

Squeeze – Trixies
Vreid – The Skies Turn Black
Desert Storm – Buried Under The Weight Of Reason

March 13

Gotthard – More Stereo Crush
The Black Crowes – A Pound of Feathers
The Notwist – News from Planet Zombie
The Orielles – Only You Left
Lamb of God – Into Oblivion
Gluttony – Eulogy To Blasphemy
The Gems – Year Of The Snake

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March 20

Gaerea – Loss

March 27

Iron Savior – Awesome Anthems Of The Galaxy
Flea – Honora
Black Label Society – Engines of Demolition
Myrath – Wilderness Of Mirrors
Lion’s Share – Inferno
The Academy Is… – Almost There

April 3

Ultrabomb – The Bridges That We Burn
The Bevis Frond – Horrorful Heights

April 10

Lord Of The Lost – Opvs Noir Vol. 3
Archspire – Too Fast to Die

April 17

Skindred – You Got This
Victorius – World War Dinosaur
Cave – Into The Promised Land

April 24

Reverend and the Makers – Is This How Happiness Feels?
John Corabi – New Day

May 8

Crashdïet – Art Of Chaos