Legendary UK progressive rock band Yes have announced their 24th studio album, AURORA, scheduled for release on June 12, 2026 via InsideOutMusic in partnership with Sony Music. The announcement is accompanied by the release of the album’s title track, presented with an animated video created by Matt Hutchings.
The current lineup — Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen — described the album’s creation as a collaborative and exploratory process. According to Howe, who also produced the record, the goal was not to replicate the past but to continue evolving the band’s musical language.
Work on AURORA began shortly after the conclusion of the Classic Tales of Yes tour in 2024. Instead of traditional studio sessions, the band adopted a decentralized workflow, developing ideas independently in home studios before assembling them collectively. This approach allowed compositions to evolve organically from initial fragments.
The album’s concept was not predefined, but the title “Aurora” quickly emerged as a central theme. As Jon Davison noted, the name evoked imagery of light, emergence and expansiveness, influencing the visual direction developed by Roger Dean and Freya Dean.
Geoff Downes and Steve Howe acted as the primary creative axis, with Howe overseeing the final integration of all musical elements. The result is an album where each track maintains its own identity while contributing to a cohesive whole.
AURORA will be released in multiple formats, including deluxe vinyl editions, CD, Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround and high-resolution stereo mixes, as well as digital versions. This range reflects a strategy aimed at both collectors and modern listeners.
