Prizefighter (album)
| Prizefighter | ||||
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| Released | 20 February 2026 | |||
| Recorded | 2025 | |||
| Studio | Long Pond (New York) | |||
| Length | 49:47 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Mumford & Sons chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Prizefighter | ||||
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Prizefighter is the upcoming sixth studio album by the British folk rock band Mumford & Sons, set to be released on 20 February 2026 via Island Records and the group's label Gentlemen of the Road. Produced by the band with Aaron Dessner, the group began writing songs for Prizefighter before the release of their previous album Rushmere (2025), and recorded the entire album in ten days at Dessner's studio in New York. It was preceded by three singles: "Rubber Band Man" (with Hozier), "Prizefighter", and "The Banjo Song". In addition to Hozier, the album features collaborations with Chris Stapleton, Gigi Perez, and Gracie Abrams.
Background and recording
After completing their fifth album Rushmere (2025), Mumford & Sons continued to write and record music.[1] During one of their sessions at Electric Lady Studios, the group ran into Aaron Dessner, who previously worked on their 2015 album Wilder Mind.[1][2] They shared demo recordings with him while he played them songs he had written with Justin Vernon and Jon Bellion.[1] Frontman Marcus Mumford travelled with Dessner to various parts of the world to write songs, including "Rubber Band Man".[1][2] The album was recorded in ten days at Dessner's Long Pond Studios in New York,[3][4] with the group writing "more songs than [they] had in the last seven years combined".[5]
Unlike previous Mumford & Sons albums, Prizefighter features several featured collaborations with other artists, including Chris Stapleton, Hozier, Gigi Perez, and Gracie Abrams; group member Ben Lovett attributed their desire to work with other musicians to "a place of security that was formed through the work with Pharrell [on 2024's 'Good People'] and with Dave Cobb on Rushmere."[2] The group sent a rough version of the album to Hozier, a longtime friend, and he asked to sing on "Rubber Band Man" after it "jumped out to him".[5] Abrams' involvement began when she heard a version of "The Banjo Song", which was not originally written by the group, and encouraged Mumford to record it. She became "a sounding board for the entire album", providing feedback on lyrics throughout its production. She was offered to appear on any track and selected "Badlands", which she "envisaged that song as a duet" and lead to the group approaching it as "a Bonnie and Clyde-style getaway song".[1] Mumford sent a demo of "Here" to Stapleton, his "favourite vocalist in the world right now", and asked him to feature on the track he described as their "Brokeback moment".[5] Justin Vernon, Brandi Carlile, and Finneas also contributed to the album.[2][5]
Release
Mumford & Sons released "Rubber Band Man", a collaboration with Hozier, as a single on 24 October 2025.[6] Prizefighter was officially announced on 29 October 2025,[2] seven months after the release of Rushmere.[7] The title track was released as the album's second single on 12 December 2025,[8] followed by the third single "The Banjo Song" on 9 January 2026.[9]
It is set to be released on 20 February 2026 through Island Records and the group's label Gentlemen of the Road;[1] it was initially scheduled for on 13 February.[4] To promote the album, Mumford & Sons is hosting listening events from 6–19 February 2026 at various American independent record stores.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Here" (with Chris Stapleton) | 3:11 | |
| 2. | "Rubber Band Man" (with Hozier) | 3:20 | |
| 3. | "The Banjo Song" |
| 3:49 |
| 4. | "Run Together" | 3:39 | |
| 5. | "Conversation with My Son (Gangsters & Angels)" | 5:29 | |
| 6. | "Alleycat" | 3:08 | |
| 7. | "Prizefighter" |
| 3:29 |
| 8. | "Begin Again" | 3:44 | |
| 9. | "Icarus" (with Gigi Perez) | 3:12 | |
| 10. | "Stay" | 3:23 | |
| 11. | "Badlands" (with Gracie Abrams) | 2:58 | |
| 12. | "Shadow of a Man" | 3:43 | |
| 13. | "I'll Tell You Everything" | 2:42 | |
| 14. | "Clover" | 3:42 | |
| Total length: | 49:47 | ||
Personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music.[11]
Mumford & Sons
- Ted Dwane – production (all tracks), double bass (2, 3, 7), background vocals (3), electric bass guitar (7)
- Ben Lovett – production (all tracks); piano, background vocals (2, 3, 7); Hammond organ, Mellotron (3); keyboards, synthesizer, acoustic guitar (7)
- Marcus Mumford – production (all tracks); lead vocals, background vocals (2, 3, 7), shaker (2, 3), percussion (2); drums, mandolin, tambourine (3)
Additional musicians
- Aaron Dessner – acoustic guitar (2, 3, 7); piano, Mellotron, drums, shaker, banjo (2, 3); synthesizer, drum programming (2, 7); electric guitar, bass, programming, synth bass (3); nylon-string guitar (7)
- James McAlister – Moog, tambourine (2, 3); maracas (2), acoustic guitar (2)
- Andrew Hozier-Byrne – vocals (2)
- Rob Moose – violin, viola (2)
- JT Bates – drums (3)
- Jon Bellion – background vocals (3)
- Josh Kaufman – electric guitar, mandolin (3)
- Benjamin Lanz – trombone, trumpet (3)
- Andrew Barr – drums, shaker (7)
- Justin Vernon – vocals, background vocals (7)
Technical
- Aaron Dessner – production
- Jon Bellion – co-production (3)
- Bella Blasko – engineering (2, 3, 7)
- Brandon Bost – engineering (2, 3, 7)
- Brendan Davies – engineering (3), engineering assistance (2)
- James McAlister – additional engineering (2)
- Rob Moose – additional engineering (2)
- Benjamin Lanz – additional engineering (3)
- Josh Kaufman – additional engineering (3)
- Serban Ghenea – mixing (2, 3)
- John Hanes – immersive mixing (2, 3, 7)
- Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (2, 3, 7)
- Emily Lazar – mastering, immersive mastering (2, 3, 7)
- Bob DeMaa – mastering assistance (3, 7)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Verrico, Lisa (5 February 2026). "Mumford & Sons: 'Being in this band was fun in the beginning…'". The Times. News UK. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Barilla, Chris (29 October 2025). "Marcus Mumford Says Mumford & Sons' New Album Is 'My Favorite Record We've Ever Made': 'At the Top of Our Game' (Exclusive)". People. People Inc. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ Jones, Damian (29 October 2025). "Mumford & Sons announce new album 'Prizefighter' featuring Gracie Abrams, Hozier and Chris Stapleton". Holler. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ a b Kelly, Tyler Damara (30 October 2025). "Aaron Dessner, Gracie Abrams and Hozier feature on Mumford & Sons' sixth album, Prizefighter". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d Trendell, Andrew (27 November 2025). "Mumford & Sons tell us about their 2026 BST Hyde Park show and new album 'Prizefighter': "We're all fired up"". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Jones, Damian (24 October 2025). "Mumford & Sons and Hozier team up for stirring new single 'Rubber Band Man'". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (30 October 2025). "Aaron Dessner, Gracie Abrams and Hozier feature on Mumford & Sons' sixth album, Prizefighter". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ Newton, Felicity (12 December 2025). "Mumford & Sons have unveiled their new single 'Prizefighter'". Dork. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (9 January 2026). "Listen to Mumford & Sons' bittersweet new single 'The Banjo Song'". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Mumford & Sons announce in-store 'Prizefighter' listening events". KPNT. ABC News. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ "Prizefighter - Album by Mumford & Sons". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 February 2026.