U2 will release sixteenth studio album Carnaval de Luz November 13

U2 Returns With Sixteenth Studio Album Carnaval de Luz

We made the melodies sweeter and the songs, they better shine, because if the world is in darkness, we better not be. The Irish rock band U2 will release their sixteenth studio album, Carnaval de Luz, through Island Records on Friday, November 13, marking their first full-length record in nearly a decade, The Irish Times reported. Formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive in Dublin back in 1976 with a lineup featuring Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr., the group has amassed record sales north of 170 million BBC reported.

How the Band and Producers Shaped the New Record

Production duties on the new LP are handled by Jacknife Lee, alongside contributions from Brian Eno, Martin Garrix, and Ryan Tedder, according to RTE.ie. The opening track, Go (Carnaval de Luz), starts with electronica reminiscent of Delia Derbyshire’s Radiophonic Workshop before opening up into Achtung Baby-era guitars, RTE.ie reported. noted that the album stands as the band’s strongest work since their 2004 release, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The record features a collaboration with Dolly Parton on the track Torn, featuring pedal steel from long-time contributor Daniel Lanois, The Irish Times reported.

Tour Plans and Political Realities Ahead of Release

U2’s upcoming world tour is scheduled to begin on February 23 at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, with subsequent dates including a three-night residency at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from June 18 to June 22, The Guardian reported. Discussing the current political climate, Bono told The Guardian that the political landscape under the second Trump administration—which in 2025 disrupted the Aids program he helped initiate—requires a different response, describing it as a little fascistic. Looking back at five decades together, Mullen told The Guardian that practicing a form of democracy within the band has proven difficult over time, noting that you have to be able to go into a room and share and be open to most circumstances.