Confessions II
2026 studio album by Madonna
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Confessions II (also referred to as Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II) is the upcoming fifteenth studio album by American singer Madonna. It is scheduled to be released on July 3, 2026, through Warner Records. Conceived as a sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), the album continues Madonna's exploration of dance and electronic music. She was inspired by familial and professional challenges, in addition to the sociopolitical state of the world, which led her to record an upbeat album as a distraction. She reunited with producer Stuart Price, who co-wrote and co-produced the original album. Additionally, she worked with Martin Garrix, Cirkut and Andrew Watt. The album also features guest appearances by Sabrina Carpenter, Feid and Stromae.
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| Confessions II | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 3, 2026 | |||
| Studio | Stuart Price's studio, London[1] | |||
| Length | 63:51 | |||
| Label | Warner | |||
| Producer |
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| Madonna chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Confessions II | ||||
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Partially a visual album, Confessions II was accompanied by a short musical film, Confessions II, built around its first six songs. Directed by TORSO, it premiered on June 5, 2026. The album was preceded by two singles, "Bring Your Love", in collaboration with Carpenter, and "Love Sensation". Madonna promoted the album through several live performances. She also held on a series of club appearances with Price, Club Confessions.
Background and development
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In 2005, Madonna released the studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor, recorded mainly with Stuart Price in his London flat.[2] It was a dance-pop album with disco influences, recorded in a non-stop mix.[3] Before its release, Price secretly tested the tracks they were creating by slipping instrumental dubs into his DJ sets.[3] During its promotion, Madonna played a series of intimate performances in nightclubs.[3] The album met with critical acclaim and won Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.[3][4]
After finishing promotion of Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna did not speak with Price for about 15 years.[5] In 2023, she hired him as a musical director for the Celebration Tour, her retrospective concert series.[6] After finishing the tour, she resumed working on her biographical film, which was ultimately scrapped by Universal Pictures due to budget constraints.[5] Afterwards, Netflix reached out to her about creating a television series based on her life, but its development got longer while she was trying to find a proper showrunner.[5] She decided to make a dance album as a distraction from waiting for both projects to materialise.[7] Feeling that "the world is in a very dark place and people need to dance", she reached out to Price to record a sequel of Confessions on a Dance Floor.[5] Previously, she wanted to record an album with other producers and "have other experiences", but their collaborative work on the Celebration Tour made them remember "how much we loved working with each other, how aligned we are not only sonically but also intellectually and emotionally".[8]
In September 2024, Madonna announced on her Instagram account that she was working on new music with Price.[9] The following February, she confirmed that her new music would be a follow-up to Confessions on a Dance Floor and teased its release in 2025.[10] She continued to document the recording sessions on social media, posting pictures in the studio with Price throughout 2025.[11] In September 2025, she announced a reunion with her original record label of over 25 years, Warner Records, with the album slated for release in 2026.[12] In the same month, she revealed the titles of two songs from the album: "Fragile" and "Forgive Yourself", in a podcast interview on an episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty.[13] Additionally, in advance of the sequel album, she released a twentieth anniversary edition of Confessions on a Dance Floor on streaming and digital retailers in November 2025.[14]
Writing and recording
Madonna moved from New York City to London, where she started working with Price in his studio in Maida Vale.[5][1] While the re-release of Confessions on a Dance Floor was planned, they thought the new album has "got to be as good as or better than this".[5] She described the creative process as "medicine for my soul" and said that songwriting allows for full artistic freedom without having to "ask anyone for their permission".[15] She described that a lot of songs on the album were "confessional", but she "curated the record based on how much it made me move".[5] According to her, its main themes are consciousness and freedom, which she expained: "Dance floors are a ritualistic space where you are free in your body and mind, you let go of anxiety and hopefully it elevates you to a higher level of consciousness."[8] With Price, the pair pointed to Detroit techno and Chicago house as their inspirations for the record.[1]
The album was inspired by the illnesses of her brother, Christopher Ciccone, and stepmother, Joan Ciccone, who died in late 2024.[5][16] She started working on the album by writing songs about family trauma.[5] She wrote "Fragile" right after a phone conversation with Christopher, calling the experience "cathartic" and "like an exorcism".[17] Her daughter, Lourdes Leon, approached her to create a song together, which would become their first music collaboration.[18] They co-wrote "The Test", with Madonna describing it as a "healing moment" between them, which "solidified the idea that now is the time to make" the album.[5][7] She approached Sabrina Carpenter over an Instagram direct message to record a collaboration for the album, which ended up being "Bring Your Love".[19] She also collaborated with Dutch DJ and music producer Martin Garrix on "Bizarre".[20] Belgian musician Stromae provided guest vocals on "My Sins Are My Savior".[5] While working on the album, Madonna recorded a song "What Will Save Me" with Price and Arca, but it was ultimately scrapped from the tracklist.[5] She revealed that she recorded eight songs that didn't make it onto the album, hinting "they're gonna find their way out into the world".[19]
Madonna and Price published a "manifesto" about the album's concept,
We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies. These are things that we've been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It's a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It's about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people. Sound, light, and vibration/ Reshape our perceptions/ Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don't just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.[21]
Composition
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The album will be released as a non-stop mix, echoing Confessions on a Dance Floor.[22]
"I Feel So Free" is a deep house song "with Madonna uttering a soliloquy over the top".[23] It interpolates the acid house song "French Kiss" (1989) by Lil Louis,[24] and received comparisons to Madonna's 2005 song "Future Lovers" and the work of Donna Summer.[22][24] Madonna described it as a "little confessional moment", inspired by the difficulty of trusting people and understanding her place in the world.[5] "Bring Your Love" features Sabrina Carpenter and has a "house-pop vibe".[25] It samples Inner City's 1988 song "Good Life".[26] The lyrics address criticisms about Madonna's and Carpenter's public personas,[27] which was inspired by Madonna's reluctance to think about the charts and streaming numbers.[8] "Danceteria" was inspired by her early days and partying at the Danceteria.[5] In the lyrics, she mentiones her friends from that time, including Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Martin Burgoyne, Debi Mazar and Mark Kamins.[8] The song intepolates the hook from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side".[28]
"Love Sensation" is a house song with "pulsating electronica".[29][30] "Fragile" and the song tentatively named "Forgive Yourself" are about Madonna's relationship with her estranged late brother Christopher Ciccone.[13] She explained, "We have to forgive others but we also have to forgive ourselves and stop beating up on ourselves about things, choices we've made in the past that haven't worked out for ourselves or other people".[13] "My Sins Are My Savior" was inspired by "narrow-minded people who are ignorant, who judge first before investigating".[5]
Release
On April 14, 2026, Madonna cleared her Instagram profile and uploaded a blurred profile picture.[31] Her website was updated to display a series of designs, followed by a static image of a silver speaker in between Madonna's legs.[32][33] In the photo, she was wearing a "glittery update" to custom-made lace-up Yves Saint Laurent boots from the first Confessions era.[34] The following day, Madonna officially announced Confessions II on Instagram.[21][35] Simultaneously, its preorder started, including CD, vinyl and cassette,[36] and wheatpaste posters appeared in major cities.[32] On May 14, 2026, the standard track list for the album had appeared on posters in major global cities, containing 12 tracks.[37]
On April 24, 2026, Madonna announced an exclusive picture disc vinyl edition of the album as a part of her partnership with Grindr.[38] On May 27, 2026, she announced exclusive limited-edition vinyl version as a part of her partnership with Bilt Rewards, released exclusively for member release night parties.[39] On June 29, 2026, she announced a limited edition vinyl, distributed exclusively on the TikTok House of Confessions events.[40] She is also set to release the alternative digital versions of the album, subtitled Icon Edition and The Film Edition.[41][42] Icon Edition includes an additional song "Hot Sauce", released as a part of her partnership with Absolut Vodka.[41][43]
Artwork and packaging
The album's visuals, including the cover and lead imagery, were photographed by Rafael Pavarotti, under styling by Ib Kamara and creative direction by Raw Materials.[8][44] Madonna commented that she was drawn by Pavarotti's "distinctive style" and ability to bring people's personality out in bold colours.[8] New York City-based studio Special Offer, Inc. designed Confessions II's artwork and packaging.[32] It uses a bright pink, red, and purple color scheme to echo the Confessions on a Dance Floor album art.[32] The digital and deluxe edition employs an "editorial look", with "Madonna" and "Confessions II" written in Helvetica.[32]
Wanting to reference the artwork of Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna wore similar clothes, including Yves Saint Laurent boots and Gucci jackets.[5] On the cover, she is perched on a platform of speakers in a lavender lace bodysuit and matching fishnet stockings with a contrasting pink veil over her head.[45] While doing the fittings, she found the veil and decided to wear it for the photoshoot.[8] She referenced the cover as "a kind of religious image, a revelation", comparing her image to the saint Madonna.[8]
Promotion
On April 24, 2026, Madonna's partnership with geosocial networking app Grindr to promote the album campaign was revealed, introducing exclusive behind the scene content. Her image referring the album's artwork along with a voice message were displayed in the app.[38] Starting on May 1, 2026, the album's commercial starring Madonna and Anna Wintour, filmed during the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Milan, was shown in selected theaters ahead of The Devil Wears Prada 2.[46] On June 12, 2026, Madonna announced a partnership with Absolut Vodka called Absolut Icon, featuring a menu of four different cocktails available in various bars, clubs, and nightlife venues made with Absolut Tabasco, inspired by the album.[47] An alternative version of "Read My Lips", subtitled FIFA version, was released on June 25, 2026, on the bonus edition of Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, the official compilation album of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ahead of Madonna's performance at its final halftime show.[48] On the following day, BBC One aired the television special Madonna & Graham, in which Madonna was interviewed by Graham Norton at the Koko in London, with guest appearances by Price and Kylie Minogue.[49][18]
On June 29, 2026, Madonna announced a promotional partnership with social networking service TikTok.[40] As a part of collaboration, she is set to host an interactive event on July 2, 2026, in London, with exclusive first listen to the album, live streamed by iHeartRadio radio stations and on TikTok.[40][50] On July 3–4, 2026, TikTok is set to hold immersive events TikTok House of Confessions in New York City and London, featuring exclusive merchandise and content creation opportunities inspired by the album.[40]
Singles and promotional singles
Madonna previewed the opening track "I Feel So Free" in a 60-second video alongside the album's announcement.[35] The full song premiered on iHeartRadio's Pride Radio on April 17, 2026, and subsequently was released on all streaming and digital download platforms the following day.[22][51] The song topped the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, becoming Madonna's first number-one hit on a Billboard radio chart in 18 years.[52]
"Bring Your Love" with Carpenter was released as the album's lead single on April 30, 2026.[53] The song was serviced to hot adult contemporary radio on May 4, and contemporary hit radio the following day.[54] The accompanying music video premiered on June 15, 2026.[55] The song reached number 91 on the Billboard Global 200[56] and number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.[57] In the United Kingdom, it reached number 29 on the UK singles chart[58] and debuted at number one on the UK Airplay Chart,[59] becoming Madonna's first song in 18 years to be included on BBC Radio 1's A-List playlist.[60] Additionally, it topped the Italy airplay chart[61] and reached top 20 on the Spain airplay chart[62] and in Wallonia.[63] The second single, "Love Sensation" was released on June 4, 2026.[29][64]
Live performances and appearances
On April 17, 2026, Madonna joined American singer Sabrina Carpenter on the main stage at Coachella 2026 as a surprise guest, where they performed "Bring Your Love" before its release, along with "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer".[65] On June 4, 2026, she played a surprise, free Pride Month concert at The Square in Times Square, produced and live streamed by Grindr. She performed "I Feel So Free", "Bring Your Love" and "Love Sensation", along with three Confessions on a Dance Floor songs.[66] On June 13, 2026, Martin Garrix debuted the song "Bizarre" during his performance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[20]
Madonna and Price embarked on the series of private club parties, Club Confessions, during which they played songs from the album. The first party took place on April 25, 2026, at The Abbey in West Hollywood, California, and included previews of "Love Sensation" and "One Step Away".[67] The second party, which took place on June 23, 2026 at the Paradis Latin in Paris, included Arca previewing her remix of "The Test".[68] Another party is set to be organized on July 2, 2026 in London.[69]
Accompanying film
The album's accompanying musical film, Confessions II, built around the first six songs, was directed by TORSO (David Toro and Solomon Chase). It stars Madonna, with appearances by Arca, Archie Madekwe, Benedict Cumberbatch, Carpenter, Cole Palmer, Debi Mazar, Gwendoline Christie, Honey Dijon, Feid, João Pedro, Julia Garner, Kate Moss, Odessa A'zion, Richard E. Grant, Shygirl, and Lourdes Leon.[70] The film premiered on June 5, 2026, at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, during the Tribeca Festival, followed by Madonna's conversation with Anderson Cooper.[71] It was released on YouTube on June 8, 2026.[72]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Feel So Free" | 5:03 | ||
| 2. | "Good for the Soul" |
|
| 3:08 |
| 3. | "One Step Away" |
|
| 4:23 |
| 4. | "Bring Your Love" (with Sabrina Carpenter) |
| 3:36 | |
| 5. | "Danceteria" |
|
| 3:55 |
| 6. | "Read My Lips" (with Feid) |
|
| 4:46 |
| 7. | "Everything" | 4:09 | ||
| 8. | "Love Sensation" |
|
| 3:48 |
| 9. | "Love Without Words" | 4:20 | ||
| 10. | "Bizarre" (with Martin Garrix) | 4:05 | ||
| 11. | "School" | 4:23 | ||
| 12. | "Fragile" | 4:19 | ||
| 13. | "My Sins Are My Savior" (featuring Stromae) | 3:20 | ||
| 14. | "Betrayal" | 4:08 | ||
| 15. | "The Test" (with Lola Leon) | 3:38 | ||
| 16. | "L.E.S. Girl" | 2:50 | ||
| Total length: | 63:51 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Hot Sauce" |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
- The tracks are mixed into one another, similar to Confessions on a Dance Floor.[22]
- "Love Sensation", "Betrayal", "The Test", and "L.E.S. Girl" are omitted on 12-track physical editions.[37]
- Apple Music includes a teaser video as track 17.[73]
- "I Feel So Free" samples "French Kiss" (1989), performed by Lil Louis.[24]
- "Bring Your Love" interpolates "Good Life" (1988), written by Shanna Jackson, Kevin Saunderson and Roy Holman, and performed by Inner City.[26]
- "Danceteria" interpolates "Walk on the Wild Side" (1973), written and performed by Lou Reed.[75]