Neil Young announces Second Song album for September 2026
Published on 08/19/2026 at 20:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Neil Young is extending his late-career run with his band The Chrome Hearts. According to a detailed album announcement from Reprise Records and music outlets, his new studio album Second Song is scheduled for release on September 18, 2026.
New album Second Song arrives in September
Second Song is described as Neil Young’s second studio album with The Chrome Hearts and is set to come out on September 18, 2026 via Reprise Records in vinyl, CD and digital formats, including a hi-res edition through Neil Young Archives, as reported by Reprise-aligned coverage and music press.
Track listings published in early previews show a seven-song collection that includes new material alongside older compositions brought forward from Young’s archives. A recent feature notes that the record follows the Chrome Hearts’ live release As Time Explodes, which arrived in spring 2026 and documented a run of shows with the band.
German chart impact of As Time Explodes
For listeners in Germany, the most concrete new chart anchor comes from the live album As Time Explodes – Live Album. The Offizielle Deutsche Charts list the release, credited to Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, as having entered the German album charts in late May 2026 and reaching position 63, with Switzerland’s official chart registering a peak at 37 for the same record.
Those rankings continue a pattern of German chart presence for Young’s recent output. In 2025, studio albums such as Oceanside Countryside, Coastal: The Soundtrack and Talkin’ to the Trees all appeared in the Offizielle Deutsche Charts, with Talkin’ to the Trees in particular reaching ninth place and spending two weeks on the German list.
Neil Young’s current albums and chart history
For more background on Neil Young’s recent records, chart entries in Germany and his work with The Chrome Hearts, our archive offers additional reports and reviews.
What’s next for Neil Young and Chrome Hearts
Neil Young has been unusually active with The Chrome Hearts in recent years. In 2025 he released the studio album Talkin’ to the Trees, which combined political commentary with more intimate family themes and was produced by Rick Rubin in Malibu’s Shangri-La Studios.
Alongside that record, archival project Oceanside Countryside and soundtrack album Coastal added further dimensions to his catalog, with both records also appearing in the German charts. The 2026 live album As Time Explodes then captured the new band’s stage dynamic, setting up Second Song as a studio counterpart.
Current career status and live plans
Neil Young has no confirmed full tour schedule at present after canceling all previously announced 2026 European dates with The Chrome Hearts earlier this year, citing a personal decision to take a break from touring. The next officially announced appearance is his participation with The Chrome Hearts at the Farm Aid benefit concert in Virginia Beach on September 26, 2026.
Neil Young at a glance
- Act: Neil Young
- Genre: Rock, folk rock, country rock
- Origin: Toronto, Canada
- Active since: 1960s
- Lineup: Solo artist; recent band projects with The Chrome Hearts
- Label: Reprise Records
- Key works: Harvest (1972), After the Gold Rush (1970), Tonight’s the Night (1975), Talkin’ to the Trees (2025)
- Current album/single: As Time Explodes – Live Album, released May 29, 2026
- Charts / certifications: multiple German Top 10 albums including Harvest and Talkin’ to the Trees, with As Time Explodes – Live Album entering the Offizielle Deutsche Charts at No. 63 in 2026 and reaching No. 37 in Switzerland
- Next live date: September 26, 2026, Virginia Beach, USA – Farm Aid benefit concert
Frequently asked questions about Neil Young
When will Neil Young’s new album Second Song be released?
The new studio album Second Song, recorded with The Chrome Hearts, is slated for release on September 18, 2026 through Reprise Records in multiple formats.
Which Neil Young album most recently entered the German charts?
The live album As Time Explodes – Live Album by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts entered the Offizielle Deutsche Charts in 2026 and reached position 63, adding to a run of recent German chart entries.
Does Neil Young have any confirmed live dates in 2026?
After canceling his planned European tour dates, Neil Young’s next confirmed appearance with The Chrome Hearts is at Farm Aid in Virginia Beach on September 26, 2026.
This article was created with AI assistance and checked by editors. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications can change at short notice; correction notes are welcome via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.
