Get ready for a big second half of 2026.
As we’ve seen so many times in the past few years, 2026 has been filled to the brim with stellar album after stellar album from week to week. Despite the controversy as of late, Zach Bryan officially kicked things off on January 9th with the release of his stellar sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top. Later that month, we also saw brilliant debuts from the likes of Kashus Culpepper on Act I and the severely underrated duo Low Gap on Geneva.
The rest of the winter months would be highlighted by the likes of Megan Moroney snagging her first all-genre #1 with her junior record, Cloud 9, Clay Street Unit proving why they’re one of the most underrated bands on Sin & Squalor, Luke Combs continuing his hot streak with the release of his “comeback” album, The Way I Am, and Flatland Cavalry and Drayton Farley ending March on a high note with brilliant albums of their own on both Work of Heart and A Heavy Duty Heart.
Of course, you can’t not mention the convoluted rollout of Sturgill Simpson’s latest outing as Johnny Blue Skies on Mutiny After Midnight, Ella Langley’s record-shattering release of Dandelion, Ernest setting sail on Deep Blue and Kacey Musgraves’ feature-filled outing on Middle of Nowhere.
Simply put, it’s been a massive year already for country music, both commercially and critically, and it’s honestly just getting more jam-packed from here.
May closes out with a bang next week, with Willie Nelson releasing his mind-blowing 156th-career album, Kip Moore dropping Reason to Believe and an unearthed collection of Don Williams songs slated to release.
On June 12th alone, we have Koe Wetzel dropping his recently-announced album, The Night Champion, Midland returning to their roots on their new album, Stages and Keith Urban making the bold move to release a yacht rock cover album. Throw in the likes of Colby Acuff planning to release his seventh album since 2020 on HANDMADE HORSEPOWER, reigning CMA Group of the Year winners, The Red Clay Strays releasing their junior album, Cody Johnson closing the month on his long-awaited return, Banks of the Trinity, you have a month for the ages.
July is not quite as stacked but still busy. Charles Wesley Godwin headlines with the recently-announced Christian Name, with Carter Faith dropping a deluxe edition of her ACM Album of the Year-nominated debut album, Cherry Valley , and Waylon Wyatt and Buffalo Traffic Jam dropping their debut albums to close out the month.
As of now, August is highlighted by Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) dropping their second album under the Silverada title, Living Proof. From there, it’s a bit unclear what the final quarter will bring. However, it’s speculated that Shane Smith & the Saints, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wyatt Flores, Waylon Jennings and more are dropping projects as well.
May
May 29
- Dream Chaser – Willie Nelson
- Reason to Believe – Kip Moore
- Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes – Don Williams
- Ain’t Dead Yet – Joshua Ray Walker
- I HOPE THIS HELPS – Alana Springsteen
June
June 2
- HANDMADE HORSEPOWER – Colby Acuff
June 5
- Grateful – The Red Clay Strays
- Union Made – Old Crow Medicine Show
- Bridges – Jo Dee Messina
- Live at Third Man Records – Sierra Ferrell
- A Sign In The Weather – Bella White
- Heavy Thrill – Caleb Caudle
- Tulsa Turn Around – Jason Eady
- Signs – Charlie Marie
June 12
- The Night Champion – Koe Wetzel
- Stages – Midland
- Flow State – Keith Urban
- California Sunrise (10th Anniversary Edition) – Jon Pardi
- Breakfield – Breakfield
- Fool in a King Size Bed – Kenny Whitmire (EP)
June 19
- The Story of Michael and Tanya – The War And Treaty
June 26
- Banks of the Trinity – Cody Johnson
- Pink Pocket Pistol – Willow Avalon
- Then Again – Rodney Crowell
- Good for the Soul – Frank Ray
July
July 3
- Something to Say – Blake Whiten
July 17
- The Great Unknowing – John R. Miller (Digital release)
- One Track Mind – Gary Stewart
- 15 – Scotty McCreery
- Dustpiles – Waylon Wyatt
July 24
- Christian Name – Charles Wesley Godwin
- Cherry Valley Forever – Carter Faith
- Little Miss Twain – Shania Twain
- Sins of the Father – Brantley Gilbert
July 31
- Pictures of You – Buffalo Traffic Jam
- The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales – Shaboozey
August
August 7
- Living Proof – Silverada
- Dark Horses – Corb Lund
- Piecemeal – Joshua Quimby
August 14
- Half Moon – Maggie Rose
- Ashley Cooke – Ashley Cooke
August 20-21
- Trespasser – Grace Potter
- Tonight’s News – Ken Pomeroy (EP)
- Young – Dan + Shay
August 28
- Country Desire – Alicia Blue
- Signs of Life – Trey Pendley
September
September 18
- Signs – Luke Bryan
October
October 2
- Sunriser – Lee Brice
