U2 release surprise ‘solo’ EP on Ash Wednesday featuring Ed Sheeran

Seemingly out of nowhere, U2 is back with new musicreleasing a special ‘solo’ EP called Dais of Ash on Ash Wednesday.

U2’s new EP was released on Wednesday 18 February 2026 and features collaborations with like Ed SheeranTaras Topolia, Adeola and longtime producer Jackknife Lee.

“This Ash Wednesday, Dais of Ash is being released as a standalone collection of five new songs and selected songs – ‘American Obituary’, ‘The Tears Of Things’, ‘Song Of The Future’, ‘Wildpeace’, ‘One Life At A Time’ and ‘Iours Eternalli the Poliena’ (Iours Eternalli thepoliena)” read “This new EP is a response to current events, inspired by the many extraordinary and brave people fighting on the front of freedom.

“Four of the five songs are about individuals – a mother, a father, a teenage girl whose lives are brutally cut short – and a soldier who would rather sing but is willing to die for the freedom of his country,” the statement said.

Currently, Dais of Ash can be heard on streaming services. It is not yet known if a physical release is coming. Bono said these songs “they’re very different in mood and theme to what we’ll be putting on our album later in the year.”

So 2026 is going to be a big year for U2 fans. They waited patiently, and now the band is back in full force.

A sneak peek of U2’s new EP

Finally, U2 is back with new material. Their last album of new songs, Songs of Experience, was released in 2017. Since then, they’ve done some one-offs like ‘Ahimsa’ (with AR Rahman) and ‘Your Song Saved Mi Life’ for Sing 2. ‘Atomic City’ was also recorded and released for the band’s Sphere233 residency.

Needless to say, it’s refreshing to have U2 back. Musically, Days of Ash sounds like a throwback to early 2010s-era No Line on the Horizon, with a heavy emphasis on The Edge‘s guitar.

Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience and Songs of Surrender are all great, but The Edge is back at the fore, and that’s the best for the business. “Atomic City” similarly returned U2 to their punk rock roots.

After “One Life at a Time” Teaser it’s valid to hear Bono’s latest lyrical masterpiece. “Yours Eternally” sounds like the title of an Ed Sheeran song, and fittingly, it’s featured. It really brings their strengths together. You could say that some of Sheeran’s songs, namely “Castle on the Hill”, sound like U2 songs. This makes “Yours Eternally” a genius collaboration

U2 has always been the best at creating current songs. Now they are back and louder than ever.