Sonic Youth tease 2026 news as they celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Washing Machine’

Sonic Youth seem to be teasing something for 2026.

The New York band, formed of frontman Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, guitarist Lee Ranaldo and drummer Steve Shelley, went their separate ways in 2011 after 30 years together. The band split following Moore and Gordon’s acrimonious divorce.

In the years since, a reunion has looked unlikely, though Moore did say earlier this year that their work seemed “unfinished”. Before that, Moore, Ranaldo and Shelley reunited on stage in New York.

Now, though, it seems that something new may be coming from the group next year. It comes after yesterday (September 26) marked 30 years since the release of their album ‘Washing Machine’.

To celebrate, the band shared a cryptic image of the washing machine illustration from the album’s cover with “2026” written in place of “Sonic Youth”. The picture was even shared on Gordon’s Instagram, prompting speculation that they’re planning something for next year.

Alongside her post, Gordon wrote: “this was my favorite recording experience with sonic youth, we went to memphis, ate a lot of barbecue, went to al greens church on easter sunday, made some hot jams!”

Back in March, Gordon teamed up with Kim Deal to perform Sonic Youth‘s ‘Little Trouble Girl’ from ‘Washing Machine’. The moment, which marked their first time ever performing live together, took place on the new Netflix talk show Everybody’s Live, hosted by John Mulaney.

Gordon was the first to perform, singing her song ‘Bye Bye’ taken from her 2024 solo album ‘The Collective‘. Deal then took to the stage to play her own track ‘Nobody Loves You More’ – the title track from her debut solo album, also released last year.

Then, the pair joined forces to play the Sonic Youth track, which Deal contributed vocals to on the band’s 1995 LP. The track is the only time Gordon and Deal have ever collaborated. Though Deal appeared in the song’s music video, she never joined the band to play it live before they broke up in 2011.

In June, Gordon shared, ‘BYE BYE 25!’, a remake of ‘BYE BYE’ from her second solo album, ‘The Collective’, but using words banned by Donald Trump.

In other news, back in February, Sonic Youth and Moore released ‘Hold That Tiger’, a rare live recording from 1987 that includes an introduction from the late Steve Albini, who introduced the band onstage before their performance as well as their four back-to-back Ramones live covers.

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