The Strokes have officially announced their highly anticipated new album, 'Reality Awaits,' scheduled to drop this summer. This marks the band's first studio release since 2020's Grammy-winning 'The New Abnormal,' ending a six-year hiatus that saw members pursuing various solo projects.
"In the flesh, it's even sexier," teased the band in a social media video featuring a vintage Nissan 300ZX, which revealed the album title and summer release window with signature Strokes guitar chords.
The announcement comes just days before the New York rockers are set to headline Coachella 2026, with warm-up shows in San Francisco and festival appearances at Outside Lands, Just Like Heaven, and Japan's Summer Sonic already on the calendar.
Producer Rick Rubin, who collaborated with the band on their previous album, confirmed in 2022 that recording sessions had begun in Costa Rica, describing the experience as "incredible" and noting the band's reluctance to leave the tropical setting. The upcoming release follows weeks of teasing from the group, who have been hinting at new music through cryptic social media posts.
'Reality Awaits' represents a significant return for one of the most influential rock bands of the 21st century, whose last album received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.