U2, Days of Ash and Street of Dreams mark a 2026 comeback

U2 are back in 2026 with new music after a long gap between full studio albums. According to the band’s official site and recent press coverage, they have released two EPs and the single Street of Dreams as a preview of a new studio album due later this year U2.com news overview.

New EPs and single set up the 2026 album

On February 18, 2026, U2 released the six-track EP Days of Ash, timed to Ash Wednesday and described as politically charged, with production by Jacknife Lee and a joint Island/Universal release official Days of Ash discography entry.

Just over six weeks later, on April 3, 2026, they followed up with another six-track EP titled Easter Lily, which arrived as a surprise release and continued the build-up toward a new full-length album later in the year, as reported by the BBC’s music desk BBC report on Easter Lily.

Chart and release context for Street of Dreams

In early July 2026, U2 issued Street of Dreams as the first single from their upcoming studio album, accompanied by a video shot in Mexico City and confirmed as taken from a yet-to-be-titled album due for release later in 2026, according to coverage from Hot Press and statements cited by Ultimate Classic Rock Ultimate Classic Rock feature.

German media underline the significance of this return, noting that Street of Dreams is the first single from a “proper” U2 studio album with new songs since 2017, while the EPs Days of Ash and Easter Lily are presented as self-contained projects leading into what Bono has described as a noisy and chaotic album still in production.

The musical core of the new 2026 material

Musically, Days of Ash leans into political themes and darker textures, pairing spoken word elements with U2’s characteristic atmospheric guitar work and Bono’s emotive vocals, while remaining rooted in rock with strong pop hooks that match their earlier work.

Easter Lily extends this palette with more atmospheric and less overtly rock-driven arrangements, as noted by several critics, signaling a willingness to explore ambience and layered production ahead of the louder album Bono has trailed in interviews.

What’s next for U2 in 2026

As of August 18, 2026, U2’s next major milestone is the release of their new studio album later in the year, with Street of Dreams positioned as the lead single and both 2026 EPs framing the band’s creative phase between long tours.

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