Robbie Williams has delighted fans by releasing his highly anticipated album, BRITPOP, three weeks ahead of schedule. The surprise launch occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, featuring the album artwork projected onto several iconic landmarks in London. Originally set for release on October 10, 2025, Williams had previously postponed the album to February 6, 2026, due to the scheduling of Taylor Swift‘s album, The Life of a Showgirl, which could have hindered his chances of topping the charts.
This marks Williams’ 13th studio album, showcasing a strong return to guitar-driven sounds reminiscent of the era that inspired his early solo career. Announcing the release, Williams stated, “You thought it was gonna be then… then we decided it wasn’t… and now I’ve decided it’s now. Ladies and Gentlemen: BRITPOP – the album.”
The new album serves as a follow-up to 2019‘s The Christmas Present and 2016‘s The Heavy Entertainment Show. It features several singles, including “Rocket,” “Spies,” “Human,” “Pretty Face,” and “All My Life.” Notably, the album boasts an impressive roster of collaborators, including Chris Martin of Coldplay, Gaz Coombes, Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath, the Mexican pop duo Jesse and Joy, and former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow.
In discussing the creative process behind the project, Williams expressed that BRITPOP is the album he has always aspired to create since leaving Take That in 1995. He noted, “I set out to create the album that I wanted to write and release after I left Take That in 1995. It was the peak of Britpop and a golden age for British music.”
Williams further elaborated on the album’s sound, describing it as “raw” and “upbeat,” with a greater emphasis on guitars compared to his previous work. He stated, “There’s some ‘Brit’ in there and there’s certainly some ‘pop’ too – I’m immensely proud of this as a body of work and I’m excited for fans to hear this album.”
If BRITPOP succeeds in topping the UK charts, Williams will achieve a significant milestone, tying with The Beatles for the record of the most UK chart-topping albums. As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the impact this surprise release will have on the music landscape.
