The Strokes have officially announced a new album titled Reality Awaits, marking their first full-length release since 2020’s The New Abnormal. The announcement follows months of speculation fueled by the band’s appearance on several major 2026 festival lineups, including Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees, and Sea.Hear.Now, which led many fans to believe new music was on the way.
The band’s return has now been confirmed through a direct mailing campaign that gave listeners an early taste of what is coming next. Last week, The Strokes shared a link inviting fans to sign up for text updates, with an option to submit a mailing address as well. According to reports, 100 fans who signed up received a cassette tape in the mail containing a previously unheard song titled “Going Shopping.”
Although the band has not yet released the track on streaming services, audio from the cassette has already circulated online. The song is described as a restrained, laid-back track for much of its run, with Julian Casablancas delivering heavily Auto-Tuned vocals. The tempo increases slightly toward the end, but the overall feel remains mellow and understated, suggesting a different sonic direction from some of the band’s earlier work.
The cassette rollout has added to the sense that The Strokes are entering a new promotional phase ahead of their next album cycle. While fans still do not have an official streaming release for “Going Shopping,” the physical delivery has generated immediate attention and renewed excitement around the group’s long-awaited comeback.
The timing of the announcement also lines up with a busy festival schedule for the band in 2026. In addition to the previously revealed appearances at Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees, and Sea.Hear.Now, The Strokes are also scheduled to perform at Coachella this weekend, which may provide another opportunity for fans to hear new material live.
After more than five years without a new album, the confirmation of Reality Awaits positions The Strokes for one of their most closely watched returns in recent memory. The combination of festival bookings, mailing-list teasers, and the appearance of “Going Shopping” has created strong anticipation for what the band will release next and whether more new songs will surface in the coming days.
