Music

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2026 preview

6 Classical-Music Performances We Can’t Wait to Hear in 2026

 A conceptual switcheroo, the Met’s Innocence, and a piano concerto by the movie-music king. By Justin Davidson
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2026 preview

43 Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear in 2026

 Pop legends spanning decades of club music return. By Dan Reilly
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the festival circuit

The Ultimate Guide to 2025’s Can’t-Miss Music Festivals

 Bluegrass jams, Pride celebrations, farmland partying … and that’s just June. Let’s go. By Dan Reilly
  1. happy new year!
    BTS Teases a Spring 2026 ReunionWhat are they going to do March 20?
    By Bethy Squires
  2. needle drops
    Heated Rivalry Needs Carly Rae Jepsen to Call Them, MaybeCreator Jacob Tierney wants a CRJ orig for season 2.
    By Bethy Squires
  3. my single is dropping
    Doechii Sends 2025 Out With a RecapOn “girl, get up,” featuring SZA, Doechii is unloading on her haters, then prepping them for the scope of her ambition.
    By Jason P. Frank
  4. profile
    How the Safdie Sound Is MadeWith his anachronistic score for Marty Supreme, Daniel Lopatin joins the ranks of star composers.
    By Jack Denton
  5. obits
    Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91Bardot was literally the face of France. They minted her likeness on the franc.
    By Bethy Squires
  6. where’ve you been?
    Harry Styles Might Be Teasing His Next AlbumHe dropped a surprise video featuring his Love on Tour finale.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  7. obits
    The Cure’s Perry Bamonte Dies at 65Bamonte played keyboards on the band’s 1992 hit “Friday I’m in Love.”
    By Bethy Squires
  8. merry grinchmas
    Céline Dion Had a Very Merry GrinchmasSinging “All By Myself” with her own Max.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  9. celebrity breakup randomizer
    Did Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Split?Rodrigo has been listening to a lot of Jagged Little Pill.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  10. marty rapreme
    Lil Timmy Tim Gifts Us a New Rap for ChristmasEven droppin’ a line about Kylie Jenner as an early present.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  11. karma is her boyfriend
    Taylor Swift’s Mom Told Her to Go for Travis Kelce“She can’t believe that she doesn’t have to convince me to be in love with someone who’s good for me.”
    By Fran Hoepfner
  12. tune up
    Pulse-Checking NYC Rap RadioCharlamagne’s on Netflix, Ebro got released, and, somehow, Funk Flex remains standing.
    By Craig Jenkins
  13. freedom
    Jelly Roll Is a Free ManHe was just pardoned for past felonies in Tennessee.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  14. international feature film
    Barack Obama Loved Neon’s Film Slate This YearAnd also Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” for some reason.
    By Jason P. Frank
  15. get off of his cloud
    Keith Richards Vetoed a Rolling Stones Stadium Tour for 2026The guitarist “didn’t think he could commit” to the rigors of such a long trek on the road.
    By Devon Ivie
  16. on that note
    ‘You Make 12 People Happy Each Year, and 30,000 Get Mad’The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s top boss tells all about this year’s ceremony — and who might join in the future.
    By Devon Ivie
  17. beefs squashed
    Jane’s Addiction Are Officially Broken UpThe band briefly came together on Instagram in order to announce their official separation.
    By Bethy Squires
  18. youtube drama
    YouTube Is Beefing With BillboardYouTube’s packing up their data and going home. It doesn’t want to play with Billboard anymore.
    By Bethy Squires
  19. song roulette
    Haim Knows Where the Future of Rock Is GoingThe three sisters on why, for some reason, “people just can’t place us” in one genre.
    By Devon Ivie
  20. exclusive
    Amanda Seyfried’s Version of ‘Hunger & Thirst’ Will Quench Your SoulShe finds a way to make a 200-year-old song sound new in this scene from The Testament of Ann Lee.
    By Fran Hoepfner
  21. wholesome things
    Finn Wolfhard Brings George Harrison’s Garden to LifeHow the Stranger Things star found himself directing a Claymation music video for his favorite Beatle.
    By Devon Ivie
  22. the titular role
    Dakota Johnson Plays Madeline for Lily Allen on ‘SNL’Love and light, Madeline.
    By Bethy Squires
  23. rip
    Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Selena Quintanilla’s Father, Dead at 86His son and Selena’s brother confirmed his death on December 13.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  24. receipts proof timelines
    What Happened Between Kyle Richards and Morgan Wade?From the make out fake out to RHOBH to the confirmation of their relationship (and break up).
    By Bethy Squires
  25. the book of genesis
    Peter Gabriel Is Giddy About His Random Marty Supreme Needle Drop“The song is rarely asked out for a dance, and I have always loved table tennis.”
    By Devon Ivie
  26. song review
    Rap’s Oddest Duo Are at It AgainDrake gets around 21 Savage and often takes the posture of, I think you should know my friend here is equipped with bazookas.
    By Craig Jenkins
  27. tragedy
    Taylor Swift Cried Offstage at Her First Concert After 3 Fans Were KilledBreaking down in her new Disney+ docuseries about the Eras Tour.
    By Jennifer Zhan
  28. remix released
    You Can Now Legally Listen to the Fatboy Slim–Rolling Stones RemixIt only took 20 years.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  29. eurovision 2026
    Who’s Boycotting Eurovision?One former winner and five countries are boycotting the competition next year.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  30. mirrorball mentioned
    Why Is Taylor Swift Being So Weird on Colbert?The singer answers just about every question like a presidential candidate, avoiding any and all specifics.
    By Fran Hoepfner
  31. trailer mix
    Charli XCX Is Caught Up in The MomentAidan Zamiri’s “vaguely true” movie is mocking and documenting Brat.
    By Jason P. Frank
  32. extremely online
    SZA Says the White House’s Posting Strat Is Evil and BoringAnother day, another dehumanizing meme from the White House.
    By Bethy Squires
  33. i’m on a boat
    JoJo Siwa Wants to Take You on a Pleasure CruiseShe’s setting sail on the high sea-was next year.
    By Bethy Squires
  34. melancholy men
    The Moody Blues Were Never Friends, Future or PastJustin Hayward hadn’t spoken to John Lodge for nearly a decade before the bassist’s death.
    By Devon Ivie
  35. music history
    Jason Isbell Has Come a Long Way From Making $7 a Show“We were feral. I’m telling you, we were feral people.”
    By Devon Ivie
  36. on that note
    Nick Mason Will Never Mope About Pink FloydReminiscing on Wish You Were Here’s big anniversary with the drummer, who sees “no future” for his bandmates.
    By Devon Ivie
  37. scams and flams
    What Happened at Billy McFarland’s PHNX Festival?First, the good news: It technically took place.
    By Bethy Squires
  38. eurovision 2026
    4 Countries Are Boycotting Eurovision Due to Israel’s ParticipationIsrael is allowed to compete after the EBU refused a potential vote on its involvement.
    By Jason P. Frank
  39. obits
    Booker T. & the M.G.’s Guitarist Steve Cropper Dies at 84He was also the Steve that John Belushi says “Play it, Steve” to on “Soul Man.”
  40. fins up
    Jimmy Buffett’s Ashes Were Smuggled Into His Rock Hall InductionIt was a group effort.
    By Devon Ivie
  41. the music industry
    Spotify Users of All Ages Love Bad BunnyPuerto Rico’s finest is the 2025 Wrapped artist of the year.
    By Jason P. Frank
  42. let an innocent woman be
    Sabrina Carpenter Calls ICE Video Using Her Song ‘Evil’The White House, in response, implied Carpenter is “stupid, or is it slow?”
    By Jason P. Frank
  43. trailer mix
    Taylor Swift Arrives at the End of an Era(s Tour)The Final Show teases five secret songs and The Tortured Poets Department.
    By Jason P. Frank
  44. ya like jazz?
    Get Addicted to Flea’s Solo ShindigThe red hot bassist and now-trumpeter released an eight-minute jazz composition for his next act.
    By Devon Ivie
  45. in conclusion
    The Best Songs of 2025The tracks that strayed away from slop.
    By Craig Jenkins
  46. in conclusion
    The Best Albums of 2025Crate-digging, dadcore, and a love letter to Puerto Rico.
    By Craig Jenkins
  47. the law
    Megan Thee Stallion Wins Defamation Suit Against Blogger“I’m just happy.”
    By Jason P. Frank
  48. the industry
    Simon Cowell Hung Out With Liam Payne ‘As Friends’ Before His Death“And I was talking to him about there’s more to life than just music; you’ve got to a point in your life where you’ve got choice now.”
    By Jason P. Frank
  49. puth university
    O Say, You Can See Charlie Puth Sing the National Anthem at the Super BowlBut first, “Professor Puth” breaks down why it’s such a tricky tune.
    By Fran Hoepfner
  50. the year in culture
    What the Culturati 50 Loved in 2025While we were watching these culture-makers, they were watching each other.
    By The Editors
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