Gorillaz Announce New Album ‘The Mountain’ and European Tour

Gorillaz, the groundbreaking virtual band created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, has announced that their ninth studio album, "The Mountain," will be released on March 20, 2026. This marks the group’s debut on their newly established label, KONG. Recorded across an impressive range of locations—including London’s Studio 13, Devon, India, Los Angeles, Ashgabat, Damascus, New York, and Miami—the project underscores the band’s enduring commitment to cross-cultural sonic exploration. A preview arrived with the lead single "The Happy Dictator," a joint effort with art-pop duo Sparks, hinting at the album’s eclectic and collaborative nature.

The album boasts an exceptionally diverse lineup of guest artists, spanning genres and generations. Contributors include hip-hop luminary Black Thought, lyricist Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), guitar virtuoso Johnny Marr—known for his work with The Smiths and Modest Mouse—sitar prodigy Anoushka Shankar, and even archival vocals from the late actor Dennis Hopper. Argentine hitmaker Bizarrap also lends his production talents. In a bold artistic choice, lyrics will be delivered in five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Yoruba. As music journalist Anya Sharma notes, “This isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a statement on the possibilities of globalized art. Gorillaz have always operated outside genre confines, and this album elevates that ethos to a new level.”

To support the release, Gorillaz will embark on "The Mountain Tour," a European run opening at Manchester’s Co-op Live on March 21, 2026. The itinerary includes performances in Glasgow, Cardiff, and Dublin before concluding with a large-scale show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20. Argentine rapper Trueno will appear as support on several dates, while art-rock pioneers Sparks will join the bill in London. This represents one of the band’s most extensive UK and Ireland tours in years, promising a multimedia spectacle aligned with the album’s expansive themes.

According to the band’s narrative, the album follows the four animated members—2D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, and Noodle—as they abandon commercial success to immerse themselves in India’s musical traditions. The story sees them travel to Mumbai using falsified documents provided by one of Murdoc’s underworld connections, embarking on a journey of artistic and personal discovery set against majestic mountain landscapes. A companion art book and limited-edition prints depicting the band recording in India will further enrich the release, offering fans deeper insight into the album’s imaginative universe.

This international, collaboration-heavy approach has been a hallmark of Gorillaz since their early work—albums like 2005’s "Demon Days" and 2010’s "Plastic Beach" similarly wove together global sounds and superstar features. Yet "The Mountain" pushes this model further than ever, both in its geographic scope and its multilingual execution. It reflects a broader shift within contemporary music toward cultural hybridity and co-creation, positioning Gorillaz once again at the forefront of artistic innovation.