Tori Amos will release her 18th studio album In Times of Dragons on 1 May 2026 via Universal Music Group’s Fontana division. The project was first announced in January, with artwork and details revealed as Amos launched her latest world tour, which began on 8 April in the UK.
A politically charged album rooted in the present
In Times of Dragons continues Amos’ long-standing approach of pairing personal storytelling with wider political themes. Built around a cast of characters, the album explores power, resistance and the struggle for autonomy in a fractured global climate.
Amos said:
“In Times of Dragons is a metaphorical story about the fight for democracy over tyranny, reflecting the current abhorrent, non-accidental burning down of democracy in real time by the ‘dictator-believing lizard demons’ in their usurpation of America.”
She added:
“We are having trauma thrown at us every day,”
The record leans into that sense of instability, positioning itself as both a narrative work and a response to current events.
Artwork created using analogue process
The album artwork, revealed alongside the announcement, was created by photographer Kasia Wozniak using a vintage RA-4 direct positive process shot on a large-format camera.
Wozniak explained:
“Each photograph was slowly composed, photographed, and processed. It felt magical to weave Tori’s work and vision with my own. We moved from photograph to photograph with an intuitive rhythm, aligned in every shot. The process became a kind of ritual”.
Amos said of the collaboration:
“To work with Kasia and stylist Karen Binns to bring the story and characters to life was a truly moving experience. Seeing our collaborations come to life will live with me forever.”
12 million albums
With more than 12 million albums sold worldwide and eight Grammy nominations, Amos has built a catalogue defined by independence and consistency. In Times of Dragons extends that trajectory, maintaining her focus on layered songwriting while engaging directly with the current political climate.
The album arrives as part of a wider live cycle. Her UK and European tour, which began on 8 April, marks her most extensive run across the region in a decade, spanning 17 countries. A US leg follows later this summer, with live shows featuring longtime collaborators Jon Evans and Ash Soan, plus backing vocalists Liv Gibson, Deni Hlavinka and Hadley Kennary.
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