If 2025 was the year reggae took a creative leap, then 2026 is shaping up to be the moment the entire movement goes airborne. Across the spectrum—from legacy giants forging new chapters to young disruptors rewriting what reggae fusion can sound like—the year ahead carries an electric sense of inevitability. The genre’s future feels wide open, and these are the albums fans and insiders are watching with hungry eyes.
Sublime
Few announcements have rattled both reggae and rock communities like the news of a new Sublime album—officially ushering in the Jakob Nowell era. The band’s first full-length of original material in decades isn’t just a release; it’s a cultural flashpoint. Early teasers point to a sound that honors the Long Beach DNA—dub, punk, hip-hop sneer—while allowing Jakob to carve out something unmistakably his. This is the dawn of Sublime’s next evolution.
Stick Figure
Stick Figure enter 2026 with an aura that few modern reggae acts can touch—part mystic retreat, part festival headliner gravity. Following a period of creative expansion and stripped-back experimentation, the next Stick Figure album is expected to lean deeper into atmosphere, texture, and emotional resonance. Scott Woodruff’s ability to fuse meditative calm with massive, bass-heavy uplift has never felt more dialed in, and if early whispers are any indication, this record could push the project into its most immersive, spiritually transported territory yet.
Dirty Heads
Dirty Heads enter 2026 as one of the most consistently inventive groups in modern alternative reggae, and their new album promises another shapeshift. Known for pivoting from breezy coastal jams to hip-hop-laced experimentation, the band has hinted at a record that leans deeper into melody, introspection, and psychedelic textures. With their crossover momentum at an all-time high, expectations are sky-high for what could become their most defining statement yet.
Slightly Stoopid
Every Slightly Stoopid record arrives with the weight of a movement behind it, and their forthcoming 2026 release is no exception. The SoCal veterans have been workshopping new material on the road, blending jazz, dub, funk, and sunburnt rock into something loose, expansive, and distinctly Stooped. Their next chapter seems poised to push their hybrid sound even further—an album built for both headphones and massive amphitheaters.
The Elevators
The Elevators are quietly positioning themselves for a defining moment in 2026. Known for their soulful vocals, polished musicianship, and a sound that bridges classic roots reggae with modern coastal sensibility, the band’s upcoming release is shaping up to be their most confident statement to date. There’s a sense of refinement here—bigger melodies, deeper grooves, and songwriting that feels lived-in rather than chased. If momentum keeps building, this could be the album that lifts The Elevators from fan favorite to full-on genre staple.
Pepper
Pepper’s upcoming record is already being whispered about as a return to form—rawer, punchier, and anchored by their trademark “Kona dub rock” swagger. After decades of touring, the trio continues to reinvent the emotional center of their music, balancing island grit with pop instinct. If early insiders are right, this album will carry the urgency and joy of a band who knows exactly who they are and still has something left to prove.
MAKUA
World champion surfer–turned–renaissance artist, MAKUA Rothman has quickly risen as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary alt music. His forthcoming record promises sweeping melodies, deeply personal storytelling, and the wide-open emotional landscapes of his Hawaiian roots. With his profile exploding globally, this could be the album that cements him as a genre-defining force, not just a standout.
Common Kings
Common Kings are no strangers to crafting majestic, arena-ready island soul, and their 2026 release is expected to amplify everything fans love: massive hooks, powerhouse vocals, and grooves that move the body before the brain can catch up. The band has been hinting at a stylistic evolution—a more mature, dynamic sound that keeps their core identity intact while reaching for something even bigger.
Sammy Johnson
Few artists deliver emotional resonance the way Sammy Johnson does, and his upcoming album has fans expecting a masterclass in modern island R&B. Smooth, vulnerable, and steeped in soulful reggae tradition, the new project is rumored to dive deeper into themes of self-discovery, relationships, and spiritual grounding. If executed with his usual finesse, it could easily become one of the year’s most beloved releases.
Jesse James Pariah
One of the most intriguing rising voices in reggae fusion, Jesse James Pariah enters 2026 with real momentum. His upcoming album is said to blend alt-rock grit with melodic reggae roots, wrapped in the kind of emotionally immediate songwriting that has quickly built him a cult following. This could be the breakout moment where Pariah moves from underground buzz to unavoidable force.
Strange Case
After turning heads with their guitar-driven alt-reggae hybrid, Strange Case are gearing up for their most ambitious record yet. The band—now aligned with Jakob Nowell’s SVN/BVRNT Records—has carved out a space that’s equal parts rock energy and reggae pulse. With new material already stirring excitement among insiders, their 2026 album could be the one that propels them into national spotlight territory.
Jakobs Castle
Jakob Nowell’s solo project Jakobs Castle has earned a reputation for its kaleidoscopic blend of indie-pop, surf rock, and left-field reggae influences. His next album is rumored to be even more experimental—psychedelic textures, digital grit, and the kind of boundary-surfing creativity that made his early releases so refreshing. Between this and the Sublime record, 2026 may be the year he fully steps into his generational moment.
If there’s a thread connecting these 10 releases, it’s this: reggae in 2026 isn’t just alive—it’s shapeshifting, cross-pollinating, and pulling the culture forward. From icons reclaiming their legacy to new voices rewriting the rules, the year ahead could mark one of the most exciting creative explosions the genre has seen in decades.
