Fans of Harry Styles are eagerly anticipating the possibility of new music from the pop sensation, fueling a swirl of rumors and excitement across social media platforms. The speculation has reached a fever pitch, as many believe Styles may be dropping fresh tracks as early as next week, following a series of unexpected shifts in the music industry. These rumors have sparked hope among his followers, especially after noticing several artists pushing back their own album releases, leading many to wonder if these delays could be in response to an upcoming surprise release from the former One Direction star.
Styles’ last album, *Harry’s House*, was released in May 2022 and went on to win the prestigious Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting his next musical move, frequently scouring social media for any clues or hints that new music might be on the horizon. Recently, rumors began circulating that Styles would release new material on October 18, a date that initially seemed to come out of nowhere. While many dismissed the rumor as baseless, recent developments involving other artists, as well as a curious gap in the *Saturday Night Live* (SNL) schedule, have given fans reason to believe something big may indeed be coming.
The speculation intensified when *SNL* revealed the lineup for the first few episodes of its landmark 50th season. Notably, the show skipped the week of October 26, a break that many fans have interpreted as a possible opening for a major music event. One fan on X (formerly known as Twitter) pointed this out, writing, “So there’s still a gap on October 26 right??? AND people are talking about October 18… walk with me.” The suggestion here is that Styles might release new music on October 18, setting the stage for a possible performance on *SNL* the following week. While this theory has caught fire online, some have countered that the gap in the *SNL* schedule is nothing more than a routine break, as one X user explained: “It’s a fall break :/ every year a fandom tries to clown.”
Despite the skepticism, many fans are pointing to a series of other events that seem to align with the possibility of a surprise Harry Styles release. One of the most significant developments came when fellow musician Shawn Mendes announced that his upcoming album, *Shawn*, which was originally slated for release on October 18, had been delayed. In an Instagram story, Mendes explained the decision, writing, “Hey guys. My team and I have decided to push the album release date to November 15th.” He went on to add that the delay was needed to bring “some new inspiration and ideas to life,” thanking his fans for their patience.
This announcement sent shockwaves through Styles’ fanbase, as many began to wonder if Mendes had delayed his album to avoid competing with a surprise release from Styles. One fan on X even speculated, “Shawn delaying his album which is fully finished atp so like the only reason to delay it is if another bigger artist was putting out music and guess what the OG release date was…10/18…HS4 AT MIDNIGHT PEOPLE.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Joe Jonas, another major pop star, also delayed his own album, *Music for People Who Believe in Love*, which had been set for release on October 18 as well. Last month, Jonas posted on Instagram, announcing that he was pushing back the release date to work on “some final touches” for the project. While Jonas did not specify the new release date, the timing of his decision, coming so close to Mendes’ similar delay, raised eyebrows among fans who are now convinced that something significant is happening in the music world around October 18.
The sudden shift in release dates from both Mendes and Jonas has led many to believe that these delays aren’t merely coincidental. One fan voiced their suspicion on X, writing, “*laughs nervously* hahahaha what’s happening October 18.” Another chimed in, saying, “I wanna know who the heck is releasing a surprise album on October 18th cause there’s no way both Joe Jonas and Shawn Mendes delayed their album releases (both set for that very same day) just for creative reasons.”
However, not all fans are convinced that Harry Styles is the mysterious artist behind these changes. Some believe that another major player in the music industry could be preparing to release new material. A popular theory is that Taylor Swift might be gearing up to drop *Reputation (Taylor’s Version)*, the highly anticipated re-recording of her 2017 album *Reputation*. “Y’all are so dumb obviously rep tv is coming,” one user wrote, casting doubt on the idea that Styles is behind the rumored October 18 release.
Whether it’s Styles, Swift, or another major artist, the buzz surrounding October 18 has only continued to grow. Styles’ fans, in particular, are holding their breath, hoping that their favorite artist will finally break his musical silence and deliver new music to cap off an already remarkable year. With so many hints and potential clues in play, all eyes are now on the coming days to see whether Harry Styles will indeed surprise the world with a new album—or if the rumors will remain just that. Either way, the excitement and anticipation surrounding this date are palpable, and music lovers everywhere are eager to see what unfolds.