Future Times: 2026 Preview
Buckle up because 2026 is shaping up to be one helluva ride. We take a look into the prog crystal ball and find out what live releases, reissues and shows are expected in the next 12 months.
Mystic Meg: Julian Marszalek
We can expect more goodness from Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks. Yes!
PRESS/ROB SCHMOLL
ALBUMS
Envy Of None’s faithful fans may have reconciled themselves to the fact that rumoured live dates are on ice thanks to guitarist Alex Lifeson’s commitments elsewhere, but there’s one consolation to be had at least. Prog devotees will not only be well looked after in 2026, they’ll be positively spoiled. Indeed, as the world of prog eases into the new year, there’s an undeniable sense that it’s bracing itself for one of its busiest 12 months in recent memory. Across the board, bands are digging into new chapters, long-promised releases, anniversaries and the kind of creative restlessness that keeps the genre determinedly alive.
Leading the charge is former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson, who continues his fruitful alliance with The Band Geeks. Following the success of their debut album True and the exuberant live set Perpetual Change, Anderson and co hit the road in April in the US for the first leg of their 2026 Yes Epics, Classics And More Tour, which kicks off on April 17 at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT and concludes at the Royal Oak Theatre in Royal Oak, MI, on May 7. Beyond the road, Jon Anderson And The Band Geeks are currently in pre-production on their second studio outing. Details remain strictly under wraps, but Prog understands a late-2026 release is the target.
Similarly, the ever-inscrutable King Crimson are giving little away about their forthcoming album, which was revealed by guitarist and singer Jakko Jakszyk earlier in 2025. As to when it might surface is anybody’s guess, but strong whispers have suggested that more albums from their back catalogue will be receiving Dolby Atmos mixes. Specific release dates are as yet unknown, but watch this space.