When will Beyoncé launch her Act III album?
Beyoncé’s potential third album, referred to as Act III, has sparked speculation among fans, but no release is scheduled for next week. A source close to the artist confirmed that the album will not debut during the upcoming week that includes the 2026 Met Gala on May 4.
The singer’s publicist, Yvette Noel‑Schure, responded on X on April 27 to a fan claim that an album announcement would occur during the gala week and a summer release would follow. Noel‑Schure stated that such statements were “unequivocally false.”
Act III would be the final part of a trilogy that began with the 2022 album Renaissance and continued with 2024’s Cowboy Carter. Fans have linked Beyoncé’s recent Instagram posts—such as a purple dress reminiscent of Prince and a photo holding three lemons—to possible clues about a rock‑influenced tone for the new project.
During an appearance on the TODAY program, hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones noted that the artist is unlikely to use the Met Gala to promote a new album, citing her role as a co‑chair of the event rather than a performer.
The 2026 Met Gala, themed “fashion is art,” will be co‑chaired by Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour and will continue to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.