U2 are set to return with their first studio album in nine years, and the new record will feature a highly anticipated collaboration between frontman Bono and the late country music legend Dolly Parton.
Titled Carnaval De Luz, the album will be released on Friday, November 13, 2026, with the Bono and Parton duet appearing on the closing track, “Torn”. U2 officially announced the album on September 24, describing it as their 16th studio album and their first collection of new material since Songs of Experience in 2017.
“Torn” is described as a tender country song about broken family ties. The track was co-written by U2, Parton and Snow Patrol songwriter Johnny McDaid, bringing together two very different musical worlds through Bono’s rock vocals and Parton’s unmistakable country style.
The collaboration carries added significance following Parton’s death in August at the age of 80. According to U2, “Torn” sadly became her final recorded vocal performance.
Carnaval De Luz will contain 12 songs and was produced by Jacknife Lee. The album explores themes including spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance, while drawing on some of the experimental qualities associated with U2’s music.
The record also features a number of other notable collaborations. Brian Eno contributed co-writing and synthesizers to several songs, while Martin Garrix was involved in the writing of “Glorify”. Daniel Lanois plays pedal steel on “Torn”, adding another layer to the song’s country-inspired sound. Ryan Tedder also provided additional production on “Silencio”.
The album’s tracklist includes “Go (Carnaval De Luz)”, “La Reina”, “Street Of Dreams”, “The Mirror Maker”, “Superficiality”, “If The World Is At War We Better Not Be”, “Silencio”, “The Greatest Show On Earth”, “Glorify”, “Midnight Sunshine”, “Can’t Stop Us Now” and “Torn”. The standard release lists “Torn” as the final track, featuring Dolly Parton.
U2 have already begun unveiling music from the project. “Street of Dreams” was released earlier in 2026, while “Silencio” arrived on September 24 alongside a music video filmed in Mexico City and directed by Mexican-American duo Cliqua.
The announcement also comes during a major milestone year for U2. 2026 marks 50 years since drummer Larry Mullen Jr. placed a handwritten notice at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin seeking musicians to form a band. That moment eventually led to the formation of one of rock music’s most enduring groups.
For fans, the release of Carnaval De Luz represents U2’s first full studio album of new material in almost a decade, while the Bono-Parton collaboration gives the record a particularly poignant closing moment.
Carnaval De Luz will be released worldwide on Friday, November 13, 2026, with digital, CD and vinyl editions available.
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