August 2026 saw GRAMMY®, BRIT, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning artist and songwriter Sam Smith releasing their latest album Hazel Eyes, a stunning album that transforms a real-time love story into a visionary meditation on what it means to live with an unguarded heart. With Smith embracing the role of co-producer for the first time — and working with the same collaborators across a project for the first time — they’ve made their most emotionally direct and daring work yet, soundtracked by an exquisitely unpredictable mix of genres including baroque pop, British folk, outlaw country, and left-field R&B.  

Hazel Eyes arrived as Smith continued their acclaimed To Be Free global residency, which kicked off in late 2025 at Brooklyn’s Warsaw, inspired by the intimacy of the music taking shape on the album. After reopening San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre in early 2026, the residency reached Mexico and later Manchester’s Albert Hall and the London Coliseum. Across their UK dates, they have also partnered with BBC Introducing and featured surprise appearances from Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Brandi Carlile, SIENNA SPIRO, Norah Jones and Kim Petras.