10 Albums to Look Forward to in February 2026

As we prepare to close the book on January, here’s a preview of our most anticipated February releases. While February is a shorter month, there are still four action-packed weeks of releases to choose from—and arguably more big hitters than we’ve seen in January. Indeed, it was hard to narrow the picks down to ten.

For a more comprehensive overview of upcoming releases, our Release Schedule has you covered:

Release Schedule

Our release schedule is a regularly updated guide to upcoming album and EP releases.

No RipcordDavid Coleman

6 February

Ratboys – Singin' To An Empty Chair (New West)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock 🇺🇸

Having hopped aboard the Ratboys hype train with Printer’s Devil, I found myself a little disappointed with 2023’s The Window. It seemed bigger in sound but diminished in spirit. If the early tracks are anything to go, Singin’ To An Empty Chair looks set to win me over again. If the rest of the record can match the standard of ebullient power pop bangers like “Anywhere,” it could be their strongest release yet. (DC)

Mandy, Indiana – Urgh (Sacred Bones)
[Bandcamp] Noise/Post-punk 🇬🇧/🇫🇷

The post-industrial post-punk of Mandy, Indiana’s debut really won me over back in 2023. They just sounded quintessentially Manchester—specifically, the gloomy, grey, rainy Manchester of The Fall and Factory Records. Urgh is their first release for venerable label Sacred Bones and even boasts a billy woods feature. The artwork looks phenomenal, too. (DC)

13 February

Cardinals – Masquerade (So Young)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock 🇮🇪

Cardinals are the next emerging band to come from Ireland—in this case, Cork—following in the footsteps of recent notable acts such as Fontaines D.C., Sprints, and The Murder Capital, the latter of which is one of No Ripcord’s favourites. Will the So Young Records-backed six-piece live up to the hype? Based on their terrific, accordion-flecked ballad “I Like You,” the chances of success are high. (JR)

Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights (Atlantic)
[Official] Experimental pop 🇬🇧

Even a casual observer of Charli’s career would have figured that the follow-up to brat would see her pursuing a radical change in direction. Even so, a darkly avant-garde collaboration with John Cale won’t have been on too many people’s bingo cards. Her Wuthering Heights soundtrack won’t be everywhere in the way brat was, but it’s another bold move from a singular artist who specialises in them. (DC)

20 February

Lucid Express – Instant Comfort (Kanine) 
[Bandcamp] Shoegaze/Indie pop 🇭🇰

Judging by their evocative advance single, the lush six-minute epic “Something Blue,” Hong Kong dream pop act Lucid Express has instantly caught our attention. And with Kurt Feldman assisting behind the boards, who has worked with the likes of Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Depreciation Guild, Instant Comfort is shaping up to be something special. (JR)

27 February

Bill Callahan – My Days of 58 (Drag City)
[Bandcamp] Indie/Folk 🇺🇸

Bill Callahan really needs no introduction. Once you hear his deep baritone, you're instantly compelled by whatever he’s brewing. And My Days of 58, his first album in four years following 2022's YTI⅃AƎЯ, adopts a more improvisational approach with a full band on board. (JR)

Heavenly – Highway to Heavenly (Skep Wax)
[Bandcamp] Indie pop 🇬🇧

Twee-pop legends and Sarah Records alumni Heavenly are back with their first album in 30 years, which continues the band’s endearing tradition of including their name in the title. A must-listen for indie pop fans. (DC)

Iron & Wine – Hen’s Teeth (Sub Pop)
[Bandcamp] Indie folk 🇺🇸

Fresh on the heels of his 2024 release, Light Verse, the veteran troubadour looks set to continue his late-career renaissance. The gentle “Robin’s Egg,” a collaboration with touring mates I’m With Her, promises a foundational base for what is to come. (JR)

Mitski – Nothing’s About to Happen to Me (Dead Oceans)
[Bandcamp] Indie 🇺🇸

Seemingly announced out of thin air, Mitski follows 2022’s slightly underwhelming release, Laurel Hell, with Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, moving in an exciting and new direction. She’s far too talented to strike out twice, and “Where’s My Phone?,” the first advance single off the album, has me very intrigued as to how the rest will sound. (JR)

Nothing – A Short History of Decay (Run For Cover)
[Bandcamp] Shoegaze 🇺🇸

Shoegaze is everywhere at the moment—in rap, dance, and even pop music—but Philadelphia’s Nothing were doing heavy shoegaze way before it became cool. Now fifteen years into their career, A Short History of Decay is the band’s fifth record, but their first since the genre surged in popularity. Decay promises to be a breakout release for this legendary band, and it’s nothing more than they deserve. (DC)

I’ve taken the liberty of compiling these picks in a short February 2026 Preview playlist on Spotify. Other streaming services are available.