U2’s ‘Days of Ash’ EP: Bono on Defiance, Dismay & New Music Release

U2 has surprised fans with the release of a new EP, Days of Ash, a collection of songs born from a desire to respond to what the band describes as maddening times. Released on February 18, 2026, coinciding with Ash Wednesday, the EP isn’t intended as a preview of their upcoming album – expected later in 2026 – but rather as an urgent expression of defiance, and dismay.

According to Bono, the tracks couldn’t wait. these songs were impatient to be out in the world. He characterizes them as songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation, a sentiment echoed by The Edge, who believes the new music arrives at the right time. The EP’s release is accompanied by the revival of Propaganda, U2’s fan magazine, offering a deeper dive into the themes and inspirations behind the music.

The songs themselves grapple with specific instances of global injustice. American Obituary directly addresses the January 7th shooting of Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a deportation operation. Song of the Future honors the memory of Sarina Esmailzadeh, a 16-year-old Iranian schoolgirl killed during protests in 2022. Another track, One Life At A Time, is dedicated to Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian man killed by an Israeli settler in the West Bank last year.

Beyond specific tragedies, the EP explores broader themes of compassion and resistance. The Tears Of Things draws on Jewish prophetic writings to contemplate how to live ethically amidst violence and despair, framing a dialogue between Michelangelo’s David and his creator. The EP also includes a reading of the poem Wildpeace by Israeli author Yehuda Amichai.

Perhaps the most striking collaboration on Days of Ash is Yours Eternally, which features contributions from Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia, a Ukrainian musician who is currently serving as a soldier. The collaboration stems from a meeting facilitated by Sheeran in the spring of 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bono and The Edge traveled to Kyiv at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and performed in a subway station, an experience that forged a connection with Topolia.

The story behind Yours Eternally is particularly poignant. Bono, Topolia, and The Edge first met on a subway platform and have maintained a friendship since. Topolia’s experiences as a soldier inspired the song, which Bono describes as a letter from a Ukrainian soldier. A short documentary directed by Ukrainian cameraman and filmmaker Illya Mykhailus, accompanying the release of the song, is scheduled to premiere on February 24, 2026.

The band emphasizes that while these songs are deeply engaged with current events, they represent a distinct emotional and thematic direction from their forthcoming album. Bono assures fans that songs of celebration will follow, but felt compelled to address the awfulness we see normalized daily before turning towards more optimistic themes. He believes it’s crucial to stand up to these challenging times before regaining faith in the future and each other.

The return of Propaganda, the band’s fanzine, adds another layer to the release. Born from the punk-era zine culture, the publication – now a 52-page edition titled U2 − Days of Ash: Six Postcards from the Present … Wish We Weren’t Here – includes song lyrics, notes from the band members, an interview with Topolia, and commentary from director Illya Mykhailus and his producer, Piotr Verzilov. It’s a deliberate echo of the band’s early efforts to connect directly with fans, bypassing traditional media channels.

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. Believes the new songs represent some of U2’s best work, while bassist Adam Clayton shares his enthusiasm for the timing of the release. Days of Ash arrives as U2 continues to evolve, demonstrating a continued commitment to using their platform to address social and political issues, even as they prepare to move forward with a new album and, presumably, a return to more celebratory musical territory.