The six-track project arrives just over 40 days after Days of Ash, extending a thematic and musical arc that reflects both global concerns and personal introspection.
Irish rock band U2 have released their second surprise EP of 2026, Easter Lily, marking a continued creative resurgence ahead of a forthcoming studio album later this year.
Frontman Bono described Easter Lily as emerging from “a more intimate place,” focusing on friendship, faith, endurance, and renewal. The opening track, “Song for Hal,” pays tribute to late producer Hal Willner, while the EP’s title references Patti Smith’s 1978 album Easter, which Bono cited as a formative influence.
The closing track, produced by Brian Eno, reflects on children growing up in war zones, underscoring the band’s ongoing engagement with global issues. This follows public statements by all four members: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. -on humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
Accompanying the EP is a digital edition of the band’s long-running Propaganda zine, featuring essays, conversations, and archival material.
After a relatively quiet period due to Mullen Jr.’s recovery from surgery, these releases mark U2’s first new material since 2017. Their upcoming album, described by Bono as “noisy, messy, and unreasonably colourful,” is expected in late 2026, signalling a renewed commitment to contemporary rock expression.
