U2 Announce Carnaval de Luz, First New Album in Nine Years
U2 will release Carnaval de Luz on Nov. 13, their first album of new songs in nine years. The band confirmed the date on Sept. 24, with new single "Silencio" already released. The details were set out in an interview published that day Rolling Stone.
That wait is over. The album holds 12 tracks. "Silencio" sits at track two and serves as the first single Hot Press. U2.com lists the same track order and notes that the single is already out U2.com.
The album was produced by Garret "Jacknife" Lee. Ryan Tedder is credited with additional production on "Silencio". The core band remains Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.
The record brings in several outside writers and players. Brian Eno co-wrote three tracks and played synthesisers on them, including opener "Go (Carnaval de Luz)". Martin Garrix has a writing credit on the track "Glorify".
The closing song is "Torn" featuring Dolly Parton. Johnny McDaid co-wrote that track with Parton and U2. No other guest vocalist has been announced for the album.
Carnaval de Luz translates as Carnival of Light RTÉ. The title links the Spanish and Portuguese word for carnival with light. It is the only album title in the band's catalogue to use that phrase.
The album is part of a larger run of new music. U2 released two EPs, shorter releases of a few songs each, titled Days of Ash and Easter Lily earlier in the same year. Together with the 12-track album, the three releases total 24 new songs.
The announcement lands just before a band milestone. U2 first played together in Mullen's kitchen on Sept. 25, 1976. Sept. 25, 2026 is 50 years on from that day.
For fans, this means a full album cycle after almost a decade of tours, reissues and side projects. A release date, a track count and a single already out give a clear starting point. The rest — cover art, formats and any live plans — will follow from the band and its label.
