[Cover photo credit to Jayleigh Harkai]
Alternative Rock band Cartel has announced their fifth studio album, Learning How To Cope, set to be released September 18, 2026, via Field Day Records. Featuring previous singles “Oxy Moron” and “Give Or Take”, Learning How To Cope marks the band’s first full-length release since 2013’s Collider.
Along with the album announcement, the band released two new singles “Deadbeat Drag” and “Shirts & Skins”, which were unveiled in the wake of Minneapolis ICE murders.
Pugh shares:
This music saved me. It helped me reconnect with empathy, with community and with the idea that everybody belongs. That ethos – honesty, openness, and taking care of your people – is what this record is built on. It feels different, but it still feels like Cartel.
We’re way past the point of being able to sit back and just provide the safe space that people can go and get away from everything. Society has been doing that long enough and not having difficult conversations – and that’s just kind of over. If you’re not going to say something now, when are you ever going to fucking say something?
Fans can look forward to hearing new music live as the band prepares for appearances at Vans Warped Tour Montreal, Soundtrack Of Your Summer Festival, Riot Fest, Four Chord Music Festival, and Furnace Fest. They’ll also be celebrating their new record Learning How To Cope with a release day performance in their hometown of Atlanta on this year’s Shaky Knees, followed by a special late night album release show at Masquerade.
Later this year Cartel will be on the road as direct support for State Champs on their Around The World And Back Again Tour, kicking off November 5, 2026.
Upcoming Festival Appearances
August 22 – Montreal, QC – Vans Warped Tour Montreal
August 29 – Boston, MA – Soundtrack of Your Summer Festival (w/ Boys Like Girls)
September 18 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees
September 18 – Atlanta, GA – Album Release show at Masquerade (Purgatory) **
September 20 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
September 26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Four Chord Festival
October 10 – Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest
** – Indicates headline show
Upcoming Tour Dates w/State Champs:
November 5 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall
November 6 – Buffalo, NY – Riverworks
November 7 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Centre
November 8 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
November 10 – Dallas, TX – Echo Lounge
November 12 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
November 13 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
November 14 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium
November 15 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
November 17 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
November 18 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
November 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rockwell at The Complex
November 21 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
November 23 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
November 24 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
November 25 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
November 27 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
November 29 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall
December 1 – Richmond, VA – The National
December 3 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
December 5 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
December 6 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
