Ed Sheeran Reveals New Album’s Release Date, Calls ‘Play’ a ‘Response to the Darkest Period of My Life’

The forecast for Ed Sheeran fans is looking especially bright this week, as the megastar is entering his “big pop” era with new album Play.

After much teasing, Sheeran has announced on Thursday (May 1) that his eighth studio album will be released on Sept. 12 via Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records, marking his first full-length effort since 2023’s Autumn Variations. The record will feature the Persian-influenced hit “Azizam,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in April and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring,” he wrote in part of the new album in an Instagram post. “It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father.”

The announcement also coincides with the release of emotive single “Old Phone,” which was preceded by the launch of a new Instagram account on Tuesday (April 29). With dozens of never-before-seen pictures, texts and lyric notes, @teddysoldphone offers an intimate look back through the four-time Grammy winner’s mobile phone that he retired a decade ago, including snaps with Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and more.

“I wrote the song ‘Old Phone’ on my own at 2am whilst jet lagged in India finishing the album, and recorded it that morning,” Sheeran shared on the account. “It feels like a song that should’ve been on my debut album, but also a song I couldn’t have written until I experienced real life things happening to me.”

A tracklist for Play has yet to be announced; pre-orders are available via the musician’s official website. The album’s neon pink artwork, meanwhile, features a manifesto of sorts: “Play is leaving the past behind. Play is colourful. Play is dancing. Play is nostalgic. Play is mirror images,” it reads.

“Play is capturing moments. Play is knee jerk reactions. Play is telling people you love them while you have the chance. Play is longing. Play is getting lost in the night. Play is everlasting. Play is youth. Play is a gift. Play is now.” See the artwork below.

In an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this year, the 34-year-old revealed that Play will form part of a coordinated series. “When I was like 18, I had an idea for 10 albums. It’s Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals and then Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind and Stop,” he explained. 

“So, I wanna do my 10 and then every now and then do a side project,” added Sheeran, who has released the aforementioned Autumn Variations and 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project and in addition to his mathematical series.

In May, Sheeran will kick off an extensive European tour in support of his new LP. Kicking off in Madrid, Spain on May 30, he will perform in stadiums across the continent through September, with support from rising British star Myles Smith.

Sheeran made a surprise appearance at this year’s Coachella festival with the creation of his bespoke pop-up British pub, The Old Phone, where he performed the song live for the first time.