Sam Smith will release their fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, on August 21, 2026, via Capitol Records UK. Co-produced alongside Simon Aldred and David Odlum, the 12-song collection serves as an ode to New York City and explores themes of romantic vulnerability and artistic freedom.
A New Chapter Rooted in New York City
The 12-song project stands as a heartfelt ode to New York City, which Smith now calls home, capturing a period of real-life upheaval, relocation, and falling in love.
The album rollout was preceded by the release of the lead single “My Guy,” which arrived via Capitol Records alongside an official music video. Co-written by Smith alongside Feist and Shahzad Ismaily, the atmospheric track delivers a modern fairytale of requited love.
Smith noted in a press release that the track was written with beautiful friends on a summer’s day in New York, capturing the warmth and glow of love.
Collaborators and Artisanal Production at Electric Lady Studios
Sessions took place in storied rooms including New York’s Electric Lady Studios.
The creative process leaned heavily on a close-knit circle of contributors. The record also pulls in the 28-member TwoCity Chorus vocal collective, adding a feverish intensity to tracks such as “Oh Mother.”
Genre-Blending Sonics and Complete Tracklist
- Everlasting Love
- Hazel Eyes
- Moondance (feat. Feist)
- My Guy
- When He’s Gone
- Thief
- Love Is A Stillness
- Sugar Rush
- Oh Mother (feat. The TwoCity Chorus)
- Constant Companion
- Hold On
- To Be Free
Global Live Residencies and Special Performances
The new music has taken shape on stage through Smith’s ongoing “To Be Free” global residency, which launched with 24 sold-out nights at Warsaw in Brooklyn. The stripped-back series of performances also reopened San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre as one of its first performers on the refurbished stage, according to BroadwayWorld.
Along the road, Smith has welcomed a rotating cast of surprise guest performers including Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, Kim Petras, and Sienna Spiro. The residency schedule continues with dates heading to the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, followed by September UK dates featuring two nights at Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight nights at the London Coliseum.
Artistic Evolution and Personal Revelation
Reflecting on the three-year writing process behind the project, Smith shared insight into how the record reshaped their perspective on songwriting and self-expression. Across previous releases like 2014’s In the Lonely Hour—written before experiencing a breakup—Smith often drew on hypothetical pain. With Hazel Eyes, the approach shifts toward direct, unguarded honesty about falling in love and embracing emotional transparency.
That evolution toward sincerity defines the broader rollout of the album, which includes high-profile appearances at the MAJ Awards in Japan, BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland, and an intimate performance at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center to kick off New York City Pride Weekend. As fans await the full release on August 21, 2026, questions remain regarding how these intricate live arrangements will translate once the complete 12-song narrative is finally out in the world.
