Sam Smith, new album Hazel Eyes announced for later this year

By the AD HOC NEWS Music Desk » Background & Profile - the editorial team covers albums, tours, charts and scene developments. Published: June 28, 2026 · Last reviewed: June 28, 2026 at 10:43 am

Sam Smith is again in the global pop conversation. The singer is preparing the next studio era with the announced album Hazel Eyes, which is slated for release later this year according to a recent report on Rayo's music news site.

What Hazel Eyes means for fans

The announcement of Hazel Eyes positions Sam Smith for another album cycle following the 2023 release Gloria, which carried the hit single Unholy with Kim Petras. That collaboration reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2022, underscoring Smith's continued U.S. impact.

For American listeners, any new Sam Smith record matters because the artist has consistently translated UK success into U.S. chart presence. In the Lonely Hour peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while The Thrill of It All debuted at No. 1, cementing Smith's status as a core pop voice.

Background on Sam Smith's rise

Sam Smith first broke through internationally with Latch, a collaboration with Disclosure that introduced their soulful, high-register vocals to club and pop audiences. The subsequent solo single Stay With Me became a global ballad standard and earned Smith multiple Grammy Awards in 2015.

Those early hits established a template that mixed confessional lyricism with classic pop ballad structures. Over time, Smith broadened their sound toward dance-pop and R&B influences, particularly evident on tracks such as Promises with Calvin Harris and the more assertive electro-pop of Unholy.

The musical core of Sam Smith

Sam Smith is rooted in pop and soul, with a vocal style that draws on gospel inflections and classic ballad traditions. Early albums leaned into orchestral arrangements and piano-led structures, while later work shifted toward more electronic textures and club-ready beats.

Producers such as Jimmy Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice helped define the sound of In the Lonely Hour and The Thrill of It All, combining intimate vocal recording with polished pop arrangements. On Gloria, Smith embraced a bolder, queer club aesthetic, collaborating with a broader range of pop and dance producers to reflect evolving themes and identities.

Where the act stands now

Sam Smith currently has no widely listed, officially confirmed future tour date, with public attention focused on the upcoming release of Hazel Eyes later in 2026.

This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed. All information without guarantee; dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice.