Justin Bieber teases 2026 pop album after releasing introspective Swag project

Justin Bieber has returned to the music scene with the surprise release of his seventh studio album, Swag, via Def Jam on July 11—his first full-length project since 2021’s Justice. The album was teased earlier this week with cryptic billboards spotted in Reykjavík, Los Angeles, and Times Square.

Described by People and Consequence as “darker, more vulnerable and less polished,” Swag embraces a stripped-down, emotionally raw tone shaped in part by Bieber’s experience as a new father to 10-month-old son Jack Blues. A source told People that while the album explores deeper emotions, it remains “in no way depressing.”

With a rich mix of collaborators and producers, Swag stands apart from Bieber’s earlier work. The 21-track set includes features from Gunna, Sexyy Red, Cash Cobain, Lil B, Dijon, Druski, Mk.gee, Daniel Caesar, Eddie Benjamin, and Marvin Winans. Production credits include Bieber himself, alongside Dijon, Mk.gee, Carter Lang, Knox Fortune, Harv, and others.

According to HITS, this introspective style is intended to pave the way for a more mainstream pop album, which is expected in late 2025 or early 2026. The upcoming release will likely signal Bieber’s full return to polished, chart-driven music.

Since halting his Justice Tour in 2022 due to Ramsay Hunt syndrome, Bieber has kept a low profile, with limited performances—including a surprise appearance with SZA at SoFi Stadium in May. During this period, he also settled a financial dispute with former manager Scooter Braun and sold his music catalog in a deal reportedly worth $200 million.

Swag is now streaming worldwide, offering fans a raw and reflective chapter in Bieber’s evolution—just ahead of what may be his most ambitious pop reinvention yet.