Multi-award-winning artist and songwriter Sam Smith has officially announced their highly anticipated fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, scheduled for a global release on August 21, 2026. The major announcement lands alongside the worldwide drop of the record's lead single, "My Guy", which is available now via Capitol Records UK.
Co-written in New York alongside longtime creative partner Simon Aldred, "My Guy" serves as a heartfelt ode to the city Smith now calls home. The atmospheric track delivers a modern fairytale of requited love, exploring complex themes of emotional vulnerability, self-reflection, and artistic freedom. The upcoming 12-song collection was largely recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios, with Smith expanding their creative horizons by serving as both a primary writer and producer on the album. The tracking list boasts specialized collaborations with indie-pop luminary Feist and experimental multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily.
Audiences were recently treated to a preview of the new material during Smith's intimate "To Be Free" global live residencies. This stripped-back series of acoustic performances launched at Brooklyn’s Warsaw before traveling to the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The exclusive live shows blended reimagined catalog hits with surprise guest appearances from major music tastemakers including Ed Sheeran, Hozier, and Brandi Carlile. Smith's live residency series is slated to continue throughout the summer with a highly anticipated run of dates at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City.
To kick off the promotional cycle, Smith has booked a series of high-profile global performances, debuting the new track at the MAJ Awards in Japan and performing on BBC Two’s Later... with Jools Holland. Later this month, the pop powerhouse will deliver a historic, intimate show at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center to celebrate the start of New York City Pride Weekend.
Over their decade-long career, Smith has accumulated over 64 million adjusted album sales and a staggering 57 billion digital streams. Advanced pre-orders for the new studio project are officially open now.
Photo credit: Collier Schorr
