Shawn Mendes Reveals He’s ‘Working on a New Album’ & Announces Rock In Rio Performance

A Shawn Mendes comeback is imminent. In a stripped-back Instagram post Thursday (March 7), the 25-year-old singer-songwriter revealed that he’s returning to the stage with new music in tow, confirming plans to release a new album in the near future.  

Sharing a black-and-white photo of him playing the guitar outdoors — sans shirt — Mendes wrote, “It’s been a really long time since i last played live.”  

“I’m so excited to share that I’ll be headlining Rock In Rio on Sept 22nd,” he continued. “I’ve missed being on stage and seeing you all in person so much!” 

According to a poster Mendes included in his post, the “Stitches” singer will perform Sept. 22 at the two-weekend Rio de Janeiro festival, which kicks off Sept. 13. Also on the lineup are Travis Scott, Imagine Dragons, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and more. 

The star, who hasn’t released an album since 2020’s Billboard 200-topping Wonder, went on to reveal that a new LP is underway. “I’ve also been working on a new album and i can’t wait to play these new songs live for you,” he added in his post. “See you there. eu te amo!!!!” 

The news comes almost two years after Mendes canceled his 2022world tour, citing struggles with his mental health. “After speaking more with my team and working with an incredible group of health professionals, it has become more clear that I need to take the time I’ve never taken personally, to ground myself and come back stronger,” he said in a statement at the time.  

Since then, the “Treat You Better” musician has released a couple singles, including June’s “What the Hell Are We Dying For?” and “Witness Me” with Jacob Collier, Stormzy and Kirk Franklin. 

See Mendes’ announcement below.