The year 2025 was a stellar one for music, both locally and internationally. If “Hotboxing in the Back of the Escaladizzy” did not get your head bopping, then “We’re going up, up, up, it’s our moment” surely did.
Last year raised the bar, with breakout stars like Mavo, Fola, Huntr/x, Olivia Dean, and Alex Warren finding success, often in the most unexpected ways. Industry mainstays like Olamide, Davido, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift were no slackers either, continuing to prove why they have the world in a chokehold, listening closely to their music.
As 2026 begins, anticipation is building around which new music will drop, which artistes will break out, and which names will dominate the charts.
While there are no early indicators of brand-new stars emerging just yet, several established acts are gearing up for major returns this year, including Wizkid, Asake, Bruno Mars, Tems, and BTS. With the holiday season behind us, one thing is clear: 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the music comeback, and we will be here to witness the “absolute cinema” moments unfold.
Here is a rundown of some of the most anticipated projects of 2026.
Wizkid and Asake’s Collaborative EP
During Wizkid and Asake’s Apple Music Radio Takeover interview, Wizkid casually dropped exciting information that sent both his fans and Mr Money With The Vibes fans into a frenzy: the duo will be dropping a collaborative EP titled Real Vol. 1.
The announcement marked a major step forward for the industry friends, who have transitioned from releasing radio-friendly collaborations to working on a cohesive body of work.
One of the tracks, “Jogodo”, was teased on social media last year, adding momentum to the project. While the “Ojuelegba” crooner stated in December 2025 that the EP would drop during the festive season, neither the project nor its lead single has been released yet. Regardless, fans are waiting with bated breath for an official release date.
Wizkid and Asake have previously collaborated on tracks like “MMS,” the Grammy-nominated single from Asake’s third studio album Lungu Boy, the Sarz-produced “Getting Paid” featuring Skillibeng, and “Bad Girl” from Wizkid’s critically acclaimed album Morayo.
Davido’s Untitled New Album
Davido is showing no signs of slowing down. With every era, he proves that consistency is one of the key reasons he remains one of Africa’s biggest stars. 2025 was a massive year for the artiste, as he released his fifth studio album 5ive, which reshaped the Afrobeats landscape.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Official TurnTable Charts, No. 7 on the UK Official Albums Chart, and No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums Chart. It spawned several hits, including “Funds” featuring Chike and Odumodublvck, “Be There Still,” “Awuke” featuring YG Marley, and the runaway success “With You” featuring Omah Lay.
“With You” was undeniably one of the biggest African songs of 2025, dominating charts nationwide and becoming a staple at parties, weddings, and recreational centres. The track also earned a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance, and if it wins in February, Davido and Omah Lay will become first-time winners at the coveted award show.
With that kind of momentum, Davido is looking to replicate the magic of 5ive with his sixth studio album, confirmed during his intimate birthday celebration in Atlanta in November 2025. “I am working on a new album, it is in the works,” he said. That confirmation was more than enough for his fanbase, the indomitable 30BG.
Tems’ Sophomore Album
Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems may have spent much of 2025 touring the world, but she has also been quietly working on her highly anticipated sophomore album. In June 2025, the two-time Grammy winner announced at her London show that the project was in progress, with a release slated for 2026.
While fans wait, Tems surprised listeners with her third EP, Love Is a Kingdom, released in November 2025. Though it received mixed critical reviews, singles like “Big Daddy” and “First” have performed well on international charts, keeping anticipation for her next era firmly alive.
Bruno Mars’ First Album in Ten Years
If the world were ending, Bruno Mars would still find his way back to the charts. As one of the world’s certified hitmakers, expectations are understandably high for Mars’ new era, which has already begun. It all started on January 5 with the tweet, “My album is done.”
Soon after, fans learned the album’s title, The Romantic, set for release on February 27, with its lead single “I Just Might” arriving on January 9 and already tearing up radio playlists.If it goes No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 next week, no one will be surprised.
With a catalogue that includes hits like “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Die With a Smile,” and “APT,” Mars has nothing left to prove. His last album, 24K Magic, swept six Grammy Awards at the 60th Grammy Awards, making him the sixth artiste in history to win six Grammys in a single night. A decade later, expectations are sky-high, and The Romantic is shaping up to be one of the biggest pop comebacks of the decade.
BTS’ Comeback Album as a Group
If you are a K-pop stan, the last time you heard BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook together on a record was in 2022. Their anthology album Proof was the final group release before the members paused activities to fulfil their mandatory military service.
Four years is a long time for a music hiatus, but with all members fully discharged, all eyes are on one of the biggest groups in the world to deliver the comeback of a lifetime. As announced by their management company HYBE, BTS’ group comeback is scheduled for March 20, 2026, alongside plans for a world tour expected to surpass any of their previous outings.
In the years apart, each member released solo singles and albums, establishing independent careers and identities outside the group. Still, nothing beats BTS as a unit. Rolling Stone Italy has already named the comeback “the most anticipated moment in pop history,” and it is not hard to see why. ARMY, are you ready? The answer is a resounding yes.