Friday 10th July 2026 — Compiled by the Gigantic team
Six months into the year, and 2026 is already making a strong case for being a huge year for music. We've seen some truly remarkable album releases so far, and the Gigantic Tickets team thought we'd reflect on the first half of this year and what's stood out to us.
If you take a wander through what the team has been playing on repeat, there's no single thread tying it together — MUNA's synth-pop confidence sits next to Static Dress's brutal post-hardcore, Little Barrie's sun-scorched blues rubs shoulders with Upupayama's seventy-minute acid-folk odyssey, and even pop's biggest names are reaching for cinema and classic literature for inspiration.
If there's a theme running through this list, it's a shared appetite for artists pushing genres somewhere new, whether that's an eighth album still finding fresh ideas or a debut that sounds fully formed from the off. Check out our selection of what's been on repeat within the Gigantic Team since January — these are the records that kept coming up.
Sarah Moore, Head of Brand & Commercial Recommends:
MUNA — Dancing On The Wall (2026)
"I didn't expect to love this album quite as much as I do, and on first hearing the lead single I was a woman obsessed. The record takes you from wildly confident, sexy tracks ("Wannabeher") to the bitingly angry and sarcastic ("Big Stick"), swinging back to pining, devastatingly heartbreaking places ("So What"). Whether it's a love letter to their home of LA, a bite back at the current US administration, or a heart-wrenching break-up track, Dancing On The Wall has it all. It's a deserved career high for MUNA."
Standout Tracks
"Dancing on the Wall" "So What" "Eastside Girls"
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Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant recommends:
Static Dress — Injury Episode (2026)
"This album is PEAK post-hardcore. It's incredibly difficult for a band to top a near-perfect album, like their debut, Rouge Carpet Disaster, but somehow, they have. Each track flows into the next seamlessly, and Static Dress have an unbelievable talent for narrative and world-building. Olli Appleyard's vocals are pushed to the extreme. This band is truly something special within the alternative scene, and deserves ALL of their flowers."
Standout Tracks
"Adapter" "lip critic"
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Jim McBride, Business Development Recommends:
Little Barrie — Gravity Freeze (2026)
"Sun-scorched blues and late-night grooves from Nottingham’s finest guitar slinger. Caught it in full at Rough Trade Nottingham this month and it was stellar; on tour in September too!"
Standout Tracks
"Luggin' Hurt" "More Bad Miles of Road"
FIND LITTLE BARRIE TICKETS
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Will Rabjohns, Marketing & CRM Manager Recommends:
mary in the junkyard — Role Model Hermit (2026)
"This album is without a doubt their best work yet - a really interesting evolution from their Windmill/South London post-punk roots. Full of bangers and just generally exciting music."
Standout Tracks
"New Muscles" "Blood"
FIND MARY IN THE JUNKYARD TICKETS
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Bethan Boast, Senior Marketing Manager & Digital Lead Recommends:
Frog — Frog For Sale (2026)
"Eight albums in, Frog remain one of indie's most consistently brilliant bands. Frog for Sale is gloriously odd, blending alt-country, folk, scrappy indie rock, Motown and soul into something completely their own, with more than a few nods to McCartney's gift for off-kilter piano pop. Daniel Bateman's lyrics are as funny as they are heartfelt, veering from beautifully observed everyday storytelling to playfully crass one-liners. It's that balance of wit, warmth and eccentric, homespun arrangements that makes Frog so addictive. Every song brings a new idea, yet nothing feels forced or overthought. And honestly, who can resist a yearning man with a frantic falsetto?"
Standout Tracks
"All The Things You Get" "Stole My Heart"
FIND FROG TICKETS
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Chris Reeve, Product Manager Recommends:
Witch Post — Beast & Butterfly (2026)
"Witch Post’s debut album is unashamedly indie-pop, coming all the way from Montana via Scotland. It would be easy to go on about the cascading guitar lines, clever melodic flourishes, and the tumbling rhythm section, but, to be honest, it's nice just to hear a woman and a man singing together about weird stuff."
Standout Tracks
"The Wolf" "Witching Hour"
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Sarah Moore, Head of Brand & Commercial Recommends:
Charli xcx — Wuthering Heights (2026)
"Charli xcx showed us this year that she's one of the hardest-working pop stars around with another new release. Much like the film it soundtracks, Wuthering Heights is pining and lustful, with swooning crescendos and irresistible hooks to match. It harks back to Charli's earlier work on True Romance (2014), weaving her signature synth-pop sound with such earnest love letters. Its standout moment comes from lead single "House" featuring the iconic John Cale. It opens the album in the most haunting, spine-chilling, fascinating way. As a standalone piece, this record shines as some of Charli's best work, and is a perfect pairing to the modern twist on Emily Brontë's beloved novel."
Standout Tracks
"House Feat. John Cale" "Dying For You""Chains Of Love"
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Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant Recommends:
Slayyyter — WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA (2026)
"The production on this album is INSANE. Slayyyter has really tapped into industrial electronica with this album, and it's fun, visceral, and so, so sexy. Let me danceeeeeeeee!"
Standout Tracks
"DANCE..." "BEAT UP CHANEL$"
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Jim McBride, Business Development Recommends:
Upupayāma — Honesty Flowers (2026)
"A seventy-minute double album from Italian one-man-band Alessio Ferrari out this year on Fuzz Club. Featuring sitars, flutes & fuzzy grooves; hypnotic acid-folk that goes heavy & hard. Catch their UK exclusive at Other Side’s all dayer in September."
Standout Tracks
"Baobab" "Mystic Chords of Memory"
FIND UPUPAYAMA TICKETS
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Bethan Boast, Senior Marketing Manager & Digital Lead Recommends:
Tom Misch — Full Circle (2026)
"Tom Misch has always made music that feels effortlessly cool, but Full Circle brings a new warmth to his sound. Blending soulful grooves, jazz touches, ’70s-inspired songwriting and his buttery smooth vocals, it’s an album built around love and family. Misch feels more present than ever here, allowing his songwriting and voice to take centre stage. The result is a record that feels deeply heartfelt while still retaining that cool. Whether you’re listening while strutting to work in the sunshine or you're on AUX duty in the car, Full Circle is the perfect companion. It’s one of those albums where you reach the final song and immediately think: "Right, one more time from the top".
Standout Tracks
"Slow Tonight" "Goldie"
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Kieren Burns, Event Manager Recommends:
Truck Violence — The Weathervane is My Body (2026)
"Their sound is exactly like their name suggests: a gritty post-hardcore, sludgey, noisy and raw sound. No notes, just give it a listen."
Standout Tracks
"New Jesus" "Your Name, It's Walking"
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Sam Potts, Ticketing Project Manager Recommends:
Pond — Terrestrials (2026)
”Gets better with each listen; ballsy and flamboyant, these motherf*****s don't miss. Nick Allbrook is our messiah.”
Standout Tracks
"Skyworks" "Two Hands"
Similar Sound, On Tour+
we tried to narrow it down. we really did.
Honourable Mentions
01
Olivia Rodrigo — You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love (2026)
Picked by Tegan Rowe, Senior Event Manager
02
Ulrika Spacek — Expo (2026)
Picked by Thom Flood, Senior Event Manager
03
Power Snatch — EP1 (2026)
Picked by Sarah Moore, Head of Brand & Commercial
04
Mitski — Nothing's About To Happen To Me (2026)
Picked by Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant
05
AtticOmatic — Between Two - EP (2026)
Picked by Will Rabjohns, Marketing & CRM Manager
06
Harry Styles — Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally (2026)
Picked by Bethan Boast, Senior Marketing Manager & Digital Lead
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Albums of 2026
Which albums have been the most talked-about in 2026 so far?
Our team's had some brilliant records on repeat this year, from MUNA's Dancing On The Wall to Static Dress's ferocious Injury Episode and Charli XCX's cinematic Wuthering Heights. There's plenty more where that came from — head to gigs and concerts on Gigantic to see who's playing near you.
How do I find out when new music and tours are announced?
The easiest way is to follow an artist's Gigantic page, so you're notified the moment something's announced. We also send a regular newsletter packed with tour announcements, pre-sale details and recommendations. Head to gigantic.com to sign up and never miss a beat.
Are any of the artists on this list touring in 2026?
Some of them are! Tour dates move quickly, so we'd always recommend checking an artist's Gigantic page directly for the latest info. If an artist hasn't announced anything yet, our Similar Sound dropdown can point you toward comparable acts who might have shows near you in the meantime.
Where can I find tickets to see these artists live?
Gigantic's got you covered — just search any artist by name on gigantic.com to find upcoming shows, pre-sales and general sale tickets. We're a primary ticket agent, so you're buying at face value with no nasty surprises — a great way to turn a favourite album into a night out.
Will you update this list as new albums come out?
This is very much a mid-year snapshot, capturing what's had the team hooked between January and June. We'll be back in December with a full end-of-year list covering the rest of 2026 too. Sign up to the Gigantic newsletter so you don't miss it.
Did we miss your top album of 2026 so far?
Let us know — drop it in the comments on our post.
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