They Might Be Giants Announce New Album Due April 2026

If you grew up in the late 80s or 90s (or had cool parents who did), there’s a good chance your brain chemistry was permanently altered by two guys named John – both from Lincoln, Massachusetts. They Might Be Giants have been the weird, wonderful, and deceptively intellectual soundtrack to our lives for decades. Just when you thought they might be… done and finally taking a breather after 2021’s BOOK, they’re back and releasing a new album. The are reminding us why they are the undisputed kings of alt-rock nerdery.

They Might Be Giants Releasing Album The World Is to Dig: What We Know

It’s been a long five years since we last got a full-length studio project from the duo, and we can feel the anticipation. John Flansburgh and John Linnell have confirmed that The World Is to Dig will arrive on April 14, 2026. It’s not just a quick EP or a B-sides collection, either. We are looking at a meaty, 18-track project that promises to blend their signature melodic pop hooks with that “obtuse, snobby art rock sensibility” Flansburgh jokingly referenced in recent interviews.

The album is set to launch on streaming services and the band’s site first, with a special treat for physical media collectors: an exclusive 180-gram vinyl color variant hitting indie record shops on April 17. If you know TMBG fans, you know that vinyl is going to vanish faster than you can say “Particle Man.”

A New Single That Isn’t About What You Think It Is

To tide us over until April, the band has dropped the lead single, titled “Wu-Tang.” Now, before you start picturing Flansburgh and Linnell in baggy clothes dropping bars about the Shaolin style, hit the brakes.

In classic TMBG fashion, the song is a massive misdirection. It’s a 60s-style pop anthem that sounds nothing like the hip-hop collective it’s named after. According to Linnell, the track was inspired by the idea of writing a tribute to a genre or artist using a completely unrelated musical style. It’s a song about the power of the Wu-Tang Clan and how they can guide a fan through personal struggles, but delivered via sunny, buoyant power-pop. Huh. It’s weird and it’s catchy as hell – exactly what we’d expect from TMBG.

The Bigger Show Tour: A Night With The Johns

You can’t drop an 18-track album without taking it on the road. Seriously – you have to! TMBG is heading out on a spring trek they’ve dubbed “The Bigger Show Tour,” kicking off April 17 in Woodstock, NY.

This tour is shaping up to be something special for the die-hards. They are doing away with openers entirely for an “Evening with” format. That means two full sets of They Might Be Giants. The plan is to spotlight a specific album from their massive catalog during the first set, followed by a second set of fan favorites and deep cuts. Cool!

They are hitting major stops across the East Coast and Midwest, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, and Philly. If you’ve ever seen them live, you know their live eight-piece band (complete with a three-piece horn section) brings a level of energy that bands half their age struggle to match.

Why This Matters – Especially Now

There is something quite comforting about They Might Be Giants releasing a new album in 2026. In an industry that churns through artists and spits them out – and where music trends at breakneck speed, the band has remained steadfastly themselves. They Might Be Giants aren’t chasing TikTok trends; they are making music about digging holes and misinterpreting hip-hop history.

For those of us who have followed them from their self titled They Might Be Giants to the Apollo 18 album and beyond, new music feels like catching up with an old friend over a latte (or a microbrew) who still knows exactly how to make you laugh – and think at the same time. April 14 really can’t get here fast enough.