Robert Smith is already plotting the next chapter for The Cure, and it will not rely solely on the comfort of back catalogue staples. After spending a summer taking Songs of a Lost World across European fields and major festival stages, the bandleader has turned his attention to 2027. Fans can expect another stretch of tour dates, this time designed around a substantial influx of previously unheard material.
Smith spoke about the group's upcoming movements during an appearance linked to Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 6, where The Cure picked up a nomination on the station's 2026 Artist of the Year shortlist. Reflecting on recent highlights, Smith weighed that recognition alongside a busy and varied schedule. Over the preceding months, he handled curation duties for the annual Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall, and stepped out for an unexpected duet with Olivia Rodrigo to give her track What's Wrong With Me its live debut. Meanwhile, the band tackled major outdoor stops at Manchester's Wythenshawe Park, the Isle of Wight, and Barcelona's Primavera Sound, before bringing their summer commitments to a close at Rock en Seine in Paris.
Looking beyond those performances, Smith made it clear that he wants to get back on the road, even if he is holding the specifics close for now. He explained that he cannot yet reveal exact locations or dates for the 2027 concerts, but promised that the gigs will feature plenty of new compositions. That touring window aligns neatly with a long-term outline Smith discussed in the past, which suggested the band could maintain momentum right up to their 50th anniversary in 2028.
The songs destined for those future stages are not mere sketches. Six years ago, in 2020, Smith first mentioned working on two standard studio offerings alongside an experimental noise venture. The core studio sessions gained significant traction in March 2025, when the band settled into Rockfield Studios in Wales to cut 13 tracks. None of that material made it into their recent summer sets, yet Smith confirmed earlier this year that both full-length records are already finished and waiting in the wings.
Sonically, the two completed albums pull in entirely separate directions. The first leans into territory even bleaker than their latest output. Smith described the collection as more dismal than Songs of a Lost World, readily admitting that dismal carries serious weight as a descriptor, while explaining that these songs tackle familiar emotional terrain from a different, shadowy perspective.
The companion LP strikes a completely different tone, favoring upbeat tempos and lighter arrangements. Anticipating questions about whether sharing a stage with Olivia Rodrigo rubbed off on his writing, Smith noted that his idea of Cure Pop sits roughly 20 beats per minute slower than her tempo and follows its own logic. He still framed the finished tracks as weird, rocking, and banging, offering a sharp contrast to the dense weight of the group's recent work.
With two distinct records ready to roll out, Smith seems determined that the road leading to the band's fifth decade will be driven by new songs rather than pure nostalgia.
