This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in rhythm and blues for the year 2026.
Events January On January 28, Bryan Loren died at the age of 59.
February On February 1, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held. Kendrick Lamar and SZA won Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Luther". Olivia Dean won Best New Artist. Kehlani won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for "Folded". Leon Thomas won Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Vibes Don't Lie" and Best R&B Album for Mutt. Durand Bernarr won Best Progressive R&B Album for Bloom. Samara Joy won Best Jazz Vocal Album for Portrait. Mariah Carey received the MusiCares Person of the Year award. Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Brandy and Kirk Franklin received the Black Music Icon Award. Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan received the Lifetime Achievement Award. On February 3, Lamonte McLemore died at the age of 90. On February 11, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson, "Trouble in Mind" by Bertha Hill, "Jesus Gave Me Water" by The Soul Stirrers, and Maggot Brain by Funkadelic were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. On February 28, John P. Hammond died at the age of 83. On the same day, the 57th NAACP Image Awards were held. 803Fresh and Fantasia won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for "Boots on the Ground (Remix)". Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller and Usher won Outstanding Soul/R&B Song and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for "It Depends". Tyla won Outstanding International Song for "Is It". Kendrick Lamar and SZA won Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for "Luther". Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) won Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film and Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album. On the same day, the Brit Awards 2026 were held. Olivia Dean won British Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, British Artist of the Year and Best Pop Act. Sault won Best R&B Act.
March On March 1, Bob Power died at the age of 73. On March 26, the MOBO Awards 2026 were held. Olivia Dean won Song of the Year for "Man I Need", Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, and Best Female Act. Raye won Video of the Year for "Where Is My Husband!". Wizkid won Best African Music Act. Ayra Starr won Best International Act. Flo won Best R&B/Soul Act. On the same day, the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held. Kehlani won R&B Song of the Year for "Folded". Chris Brown won R&B Artist of the Year. Leon Thomas won R&B Album of the Year for Pholks and Best New R&B Artist. Moliy won World Artist of the Year.
April On April 16, D4vd was arrested for the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
May On May 8, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. On May 13, Clarence Carter died at the age of 90. On May 25, the American Music Awards of 2026 were held. Bruno Mars won Best R&B Song for "I Just Might", Best R&B Album for The Romantic, and Best Male R&B Artist. SZA won Best Female R&B Artist. Leon Thomas won Breakthrough R&B Artist. On May 31, Dexter Wansel died at the age of 75.
June On June 1, Davido and Organized Noize were inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. On June 2, Peabo Bryson died at the age of 75. On June 3, James Blood Ulmer died at the age of 86. On June 5, Talay Riley was killed at the age of 35. On June 13, the intersection of Grumman Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue in Newark, New Jersey was named Faith Evans Way. On June 16, Flo was awarded the ASCAP Vanguard Award. On June 22, Clive Davis died at the age of 94. On June 25, Leon Thomas was awarded the ASCAP Vanguard Award. On June 28, the BET Awards 2026 were held. Kehlani won Video of the Year for "Folded" and Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. Mariah the Scientist won the Viewer's Choice Award for "Burning Blue". Leon Thomas won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Olivia Dean won Best New Artist. Teyana Taylor won Video Director of the Year and received the Icon of the Year Award. Lauryn Hill received the Living Legend Icon Award.
September On September 1, Cassandra Wilson died at the age of 70. On September 26, Angela Stribling died at the age of 58.
November On November 14, Luther Vandross and Sade will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On November 26, the 2026 Soul Train Music Awards are scheduled to be held.
Released albums
January +DayArtist(s)AlbumRecord label(s)Entering chart position 9 Sault Chapter 1 Forever Living Originals The Kid Laroi Before I Forget Loma Vista Debuted at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart Debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Yung Bleu Therapy Moon Boy, Stem 16 Ady Suleiman Chasing AWAL Elijah Blake The Gemini RKeyTek, MNRK NSG Sounds Of The Diaspora Self-released The James Hunter Six Off The Fence Easy Eye Sound, Concord The Sha La Das Your Picture Diamond West 21 Jada Kingdom Just A Girl In A Money Man's World Kingdom Mab Ragz Originale Keepsake Santa Anna 23 Ari Lennox Vacancy Interscope Debuted at No. 172 on the Billboard 200 BBE Naive Melodies BBE DJ Harrison ElectroSoul Stones Throw Jason Derulo The Last Dance (Part 1) Creative Genius, Create Solomon Hicks How Did I Ever Get This Blue Artone, Provogue Van Morrison Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge Exile Wizkid & Asake Real, Vol. 1 Starboy, Giran, Empire 30 Joel Ross Gospel Music Blue Note, UMG Jordan Ward Backward ARTium, Interscope Labrinth Cosmic Opera: Act I Columbia Soulive Flowers Floki Terrace Martin Passion Sounds of Crenshaw, Empire
February DayArtist(s)AlbumRecord label(s)Entering chart position 6 Aquakultre 1783 Next Door Charlotte Day Wilson Patchwork Stone Woman, XL Cory Wong Lost in the Wonder Roundwound Ella Mai Do You Still Love Me? 10 Summers, Interscope Debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 Jaymin Sweet Nothings Warner Joji Piss in the Wind Palace Creek, Virgin Debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 Kareen Lomax Ijan Music is Fun Kayla Brianna Lover Girl Empire Marc Broussard S.O.S. V: Songs of the '50s Gman Raahiim Pray for Me MNRK Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard Sweet, Sweet Spirit Motown, Blue Note 13 Ariel Amatoria Mello Music Group Brent Faiyaz Icon ISO Supremacy Debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Jill Scott To Whom This May Concern Blues Babe, Human Re Sources, The Orchard Debuted at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 JP Cooper Just A Few Folk Island, Universal Momoko Gill Momoko Strut Terrace Martin Peace Sounds of Crenshaw, Empire The Olympians In Search of Revival Daptone Tiana Major9 November Scorpio +1 16 Willow Petal Rock Black Three Six Zero 19 Gabriela Richardson Isola Virgin Music Spain 20 Choker Heaven Ain't Sold Jet Fuzz Dominique Fils-Aimé My World Is The Sun Ensoul Leigh-Anne My Ego Told Me To Virgin Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart Meg Mac It's My Party ONErpm Moonchild Waves ONErpm Naïka Eclesia AWAL 27 Altered Five Blues Band Hammer & Chisel Blind Pig Bruno Mars The Romantic Atlantic Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Gena (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) The Pleasure Is Yours Lex GoGo Morrow Set MNRK Lindsey Webster Music In Me Shanachie Michelle David & The True-Tones Soul Woman Record Kicks
March DayArtist(s)AlbumRecord label(s)Entering chart position 1 DJ Dmg & October London Midnight in Houston The Colleagues 4 Eliza The Darkening Green Log Off Records 6 Arima Ederra A Rush to Nowhere RCA Gnarls Barkley Atlanta Loma Vista Lloyiso Never Thought I Could (Part 1) Ndlovu, Empire Murkage Dave Brut Thoughts The Outlet Pimmie Don't Come Home OVO, Santa Ana Shabaka Of The Earth Self-released Terrace Martin Purpose Sounds of Crenshaw, Empire Ty Dolla Sign Girl Music Vol. 1 Atlantic Waterbaby Memory Be A Blade Sub Pop Yebba Jean RCA 12 P1Harmony Unique FNC Entertainment Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 13 Anjimile You're Free to Go 4AD Jack Harlow Monica Atlantic Debuted at No. 40 on the Billboard 200 James Blake Trying Times Good Boy Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart Leven Kali LK99 Def Jam Olive Jones For Mary Nettwerk 20 Alessia Cara Love Or Lack Thereof Def Jam Alex Isley When The City Sleeps Free Lunch, Warner Chris Standring Time Of Change Ultimate Vibe Ego Ella May Good Intentions Believe Keri Hilson We Need To Talk: Redemption Audible Art Club, Create MT Jones Joy Emdmm Naomi Scott F.I.G Alter RealestK Forgive To Forget Standard Son Little Cityfolk Anti Tedeschi Trucks Band Future Soul Swamp Family, Fantasy Debuted at No. 166 on the Billboard 200 Terrace Martin Perspective Sounds of Crenshaw, Empire 27 Adrian Quesada Trio Asenino Electric Deluxe Recorders, ATO Elmiene Sounds for Someone Polydor, Def Jam Debuted at No. 46 on the UK Albums Chart Fetty Wap Zavier RGF, 300 Debuted at No. 169 on the Billboard 200 Irreversible Entanglements Future Present Past Impulse, Verve Jozzy Soundtrack 2 Get Her Back Dope By Accident, RBC, BMG Justine Skye Candy Warner Raye This Music May Contain Hope Human Re Sources Debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 Rum.gold Is There Anybody Home? Independent Co Tom Misch Full Circle Beyond the Groove, AWAL Debuted at No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart Victory Boyd Confessions of a Lonely Girl Roc Nation Yung Bleu World At War Broke Genius
April DayArtist(s)AlbumRecord label(s)Entering chart position 3 Arlo Parks Ambiguous Desire Transgressive Debuted at No. 13 on the UK Albums Chart Omah Lay Clarity of Mind KeyQaad, Warner Swae Lee Same Difference Eardruma, Interscope TheArtist DND No More Heroes, Santa Anna Thundercat Distracted Brainfeeder Debuted at No. 116 on the Billboard 200 Tory Lanez LOL: Slutty Bass PRSL 10 Isaia Huron Mr. Lovebomb Slang, Itola, RCA Jacob Banks Limerence Nobody Kumail Mudbrown Tru Thoughts Les Imprimés Fading Forward Big Crown Mamas Gun Dig! Candelion, Blue Élan Momo Boyd Miss Michigan Roc Nation Simone Ashley Songs I Wrote In New York Abbey Road, Universal Tink Fuck, Marry, Kill Winter's Diary, Empire Tiwayo Outsider Record Kicks Wesley Joseph Forever Ends Someday Secretly Canadian 15 King Promise & Mr Eazi See What We've Done emPawa 16 Crystal Murray Anatony Of A Cry Self-released Honey Dijon The Nightlife SOS 17 Adrian Younge Younge Linear Labs BombayMami Peaceful Attitude MNRK Dan Penn Smoke Filled Room Last Music Immanuel Wilkins Quartet Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 2 Blue Note Marc Broussard Chance Worth Taking Keeping The Blues Alive MarcLo 11 Days Self-released Pastels & Jessica Domingo Blue Fantasy Nettwerk Protoje The Art Of Acceptance In.Digg.Nation, Ineffable Rjtheweirdo At Least She's Beautiful Ezmny, Create Yaya Bey Fidelity Drink Sum Wtr Zayn Konnakol Mercury Debuted at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 24 Adam Hawley Electric MBF Akon Beautiful Day Konvict Kulture Angélique Kidjo Hope!! Parlophone, Warner Music France Dianne Reeves Star Child Arkadia Ebony Riley Beautiful Tragedy Interscope Esa Williams Dala What We Must BBE Gareth Donkin Extraordinary Drink Sum Wtr Jai'Len Josey Serial Romantic Def Jam Jordan Rakei Between Us Fontana Kehlani Kehlani Atlantic Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Liam Bailey Shadow Town Home for Us Lolo Zouaï Reverie Because Norah Jane & Mor.lov Godspeed Tru Thoughts 29 Duendita Existential Thottie 10k Global
May