This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Ariana Grande Announces the Release Date for Her 8th Album ‘Petal’—and Teases Its Themes

Alyssa Bailey, Starr BowenbankTue, April 28, 2026 at 3:25 PM UTC

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It’s official: Ariana Grande’s eighth studio album is on its way.

On April 28, the singer announced that petal will be coming out on July 31. She also shared its cover art.

The reveal comes after TMZ reported on April 8 that “Ariana has finished a new album and plans to release it around summertime.” The outlet noted that the pop star is “super excited” for the upcoming release.

Here’s everything we know about Grande’s upcoming album.

Katia Temkin for Ariana GrandeWhat has Grande said about petal?

In a statement following her album announcement, Grande teased its themes, describing petal as “something that is full of life and growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging.”

Who did Grande work with on petal?

Grande executive-produced and co-wrote petal with ILYA. It’s not known yet whether she collaborated with any other artists.

Has the tracklist been revealed?

Not yet, but it will be announced in due time.

Can I preorder petal?

Yes, both vinyl and CD versions of petal can be preordered here at Grande’s shop.

Did Grande post hints she was recording petal before announcing it?

She did, posting photos of herself in the studio on April 8, 2026.

How else did Grande tease her eighth album?

In a recently recorded message on her official “Brighter Days” hotline (934-33-ERASE), Grande said, “We just wanted to say thank you all so much to all of our loyal customers for making this last year together something we’ll never want to forget.”

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“Our staff here at Brighter Days are so looking forward to continuing our mission of bringing happiness and healing to as many as we can this summer in person,” she continued in her message, referencing her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour that starts in June. “We’re counting down the 8s—oops! I mean, the days.” Fans interpreted Grande’s misuse of the number eight as an intentional reference to her eighth album, petal.

What has Grande previously said about releasing new music?

Following the release of Eternal Sunshine in 2024, Grande spoke frequently about wanting to take a break from releasing music to pursue acting more seriously.

“I’m going to say something so scary, it’s going to scare the absolute shit out of my fans and everyone. I love them, and they will deal, and we will be here forever. I’m always going to make music. I’m always going to go on stage. I’m always going to do pop stuff, I pinky promise, but I don’t think doing it at the rate that I’ve been doing for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years,” Grande said during her November 2024 appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast. “I think I love acting; I love musical theater. Reconnecting with this part of myself…I love comedy, and it heals me to do that—finding roles to use these parts of myself.”

By November 2025, Grande framed her Eternal Sunshine Tour as her “last hurrah” with music. “I do know that I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time,” she said during her appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. “So I’m going to give it my all. I think that’s why I’m doing it, because I’m like, ‘One last hurrah. For now.’”

Michael Buckner

In January 2026, the Wicked star questioned her fans for thinking she had the energy to record another music project before her Eternal Sunshine Tour. “I love [my fans] so much, but sometimes I want to ask, ‘Do you think there’s another version of me out there who had time to write an album?’” she told Variety. She outright denied that new music would arrive before the first half of the year, adding, “No—definitely not. Nothing is coming before May.”

After Grande’s comments for Variety made the rounds, she course-corrected on Instagram.

“Welp I never said ‘but soon enough’ or mentioned any months ! lol my goooooodness,” she wrote in the comments section of an Instagram post. “All I said was ‘no’ and ‘do they think there’s a clone of me out there somewhere’! there must’ve been a zoom glitch or something.” She added, “Ma’am I would need an extra brain and four more arms.”

Instagram

That same month, the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer told Vogue Japan that a break is in her future.

“I think that it would probably be healthy to [take a break],” Grande told the outlet. “I'm not used to taking breaks. But I do know that I grew so much from taking space from music while I was filming Wicked… But yeah, these past few years have been pretty nonstop. And by few, I mean 15.”

She added, “Balance is the goal for the next 15 years. I don't think they will look like the previous 15 years. I think there will be more balance.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”