The Flower Kings have announced their 18th studio album, ‘Hope’, due for release on 23 October 2026 via InsideOut Music, and shared its first single, ‘In A World Of Fools’. The progressive rock band say the record addresses division and declining empathy while ultimately offering a hopeful message, marking a return to their long-form, ambitious songwriting.

The follow-up to 2025’s ‘Love’ includes two extended pieces: the 18-minute ‘World Spinning – The Final Curtain’ and the 28-minute ‘The Gods Of Rome’, which explores power, conflict and ambition through ancient Roman imagery. Founding member Roine Stolt and keyboardist Lalle Larsson wrote the material, joined by Hans Fröberg, Michael Stolt and Mirko DeMaio; the album will be issued on CD, vinyl, digital formats and a limited CD/Blu-ray edition with Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes.