Modest Mouse fans have been waiting for new music, and the wait is nearly over. The band announced their upcoming album An Eraser and a Maze will arrive on June 5, 2026, through Glacial Pace and Virgin Music Group. This release marks their first full-length project since The Golden Casket in 2021, ending a five-year gap between studio albums.
Frontman Isaac Brock shared insights into the creative process behind the new record in a statement, saying, “For this one, I turned off my filter and just let it all happen.” He described the album as an exploration of thoughts and emotions, comparing the experience to being “the soup” where ingredients are not always easy to pick out. Brock added that although he doesn’t dwell on things or grieve much, singing helps him uncover feelings he wasn’t aware of, noting, “Oh, there it is. Oh — it’s in there.”
Alongside the album announcement, Modest Mouse revealed an expanded North American tour itinerary for 2026. The trek begins in the spring with dates in Spokane, Missoula, Bozeman, and Salt Lake City, followed by summer shows across the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest. The fall leg kicks off in Clearwater, Florida on September 16 and includes Canadian stops in Ottawa on October 4 and Toronto on October 5, with support from Caroline Rose.
Tickets for the tour head on general sale this Friday, April 24, at 10 a.m. Local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also access a visualizer for the new single “Picking Dragons’ Pockets” and view the full tracklist for An Eraser and a Maze, which includes 15 songs such as “Remember Yourself,” “Life’s a Dream,” “Third Side of the Moon,” and “Rotten Fruit” featuring Justin Raisin.
The album follows The Golden Casket, which was released in 2021 and described by Pitchfork as “a procession of pinging, clanging, reverberating tactile pleasures” that served as an inventive backdrop for Brock’s blend of forced optimism and unforced paranoia. That record came six years after their previous album, Strangers to Ourselves, and was noted for its luxurious textures and experimentation with vintage instruments and percussion.
In interviews around the time of The Golden Casket‘s release, Brock spoke about using binaural beats to ward off perceived thought interference, referencing past experiences with gangstalking. He explained that the headphones facilitate bring his focus back when he feels like someone has “turned up the knob,” comparing the effect to a microwave attack. These comments highlighted his ongoing engagement with themes of paranoia and mental privacy, which have long characterized Modest Mouse’s lyrical content.
The band’s history includes a breakthrough with the hit “Float On,” which elevated them to alternative rock’s A-list. After that success, their output slowed, with eight years passing between 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and 2015’s Strangers to Ourselves. Despite promises of quicker follow-ups, The Golden Casket took another six years to complete, reflecting the group’s preference for lengthy, unhurried tinkering over frantic bursts of inspiration.
Modest Mouse’s 2026 tour spans multiple countries and festival appearances. Early summer dates include performances at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee on June 14, and Canadian festival stops at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival in Saskatoon on July 7 and Calgary Stampede on July 5. The trek continues through August with shows at Outside Lands in San Francisco, The Salt Shed in Chicago, and Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., where they will share the bill with My Chemical Romance on August 18.
The fall leg features co-billed performances with Caroline Rose in cities including Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Austin, Irving, San Antonio, Phoenix, Hollywood, Avila Beach, and Sacramento. Additional special guests include Pinback for the Seattle shows on July 10 and 11, denoted by the “@” symbol in the tour itinerary.
As of now, the band has not announced any further album details beyond the tracklist and release date, nor have they shared plans for additional tour legs beyond those listed. Updates on ticket availability, venue changes, or potential added dates would come through official channels such as the band’s website, social media, or authorized ticket vendors.
For fans eager to experience the new material live, the combination of a fresh album and an extensive tour offers multiple opportunities to engage with Modest Mouse’s evolving sound. Whether attending a spring warm-up show, a summer festival appearance, or a fall theater date, audiences across North America will have chances to hear songs from An Eraser and a Maze in concert settings throughout 2026.
Stay tuned to official band communications and trusted ticket platforms for the latest information on Modest Mouse’s 2026 activities. Share your thoughts on the upcoming album and tour plans in the comments below, and spread the word to fellow fans who might be looking forward to the return of one of indie rock’s most enduring acts.