Saint Etienne Announces Final Album and 2026 Farewell Tour

Saint Etienne, the London‑based indie pop trio that has been shaping the genre since 1990, has officially declared that its 2025 release International will be the last studio album the band will record. The group will close its career with a 2026 farewell tour that will traverse the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

The announcement came just days after International hit stores on 5 September 2025 through Heavenly Recordings. Co‑produced with Tim Powell, the album has been praised by critics as a “pop music masterclass” that encapsulates the trio’s 31‑year journey. In a sit‑down with MusicNews.com, lead singer Sarah Cracknell explained that the record was conceived as a celebration of the band’s legacy and a way to “go out on a high.” She added that the decision to end touring followed a period of reflection, choosing to finish “when we’ve still got it.”

The farewell tour is set to launch in the UK in September, and the band has since added extra dates after the initial announcement. An NME report dated 27 January 2026 notes that the trio added another London show and several other UK venues, including Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle. The itinerary will wrap up in Australia and New Zealand in November and December, with stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland.

Cracknell’s interview also offered a glimpse into her personal life and her relationship with music beyond the band. She described herself as a lifelong fan, saying she still enjoys discovering new music and sharing it with her two sons, who are in their early twenties. “I keep giving my records to my sons because they play vinyl a lot more than I do,” she said, adding that she does not collect vinyl herself but appreciates the tactile experience of physical releases.

The conversation touched on Cracknell’s early experiences with drinking and nightlife. She recalled ordering a Jack Daniels and Coke in a club in the 1980s and later a kidney infection she attributed to excessive alcohol consumption. While these remarks are personal, they illustrate the singer’s candid approach to discussing her past.

Bob Stanley, the band’s co‑founder and primary songwriter, will continue to write and produce music after the group’s split. He has a long history of publishing and running record labels, and he is also a prolific author. Pete Wiggs, the trio’s DJ and producer, will focus on film scoring and other projects.

Cracknell said she has not yet decided what she will do after the tour. She mentioned the possibility of writing an autobiography with the help of Stanley, but she has not set a firm plan. “I haven’t got a clue,” she said, adding that she is content to let her sons pursue their own careers.

The farewell tour will showcase the band’s most recent single, “Glad,” released in 2025 as the lead track from International. The setlist will also feature songs from earlier albums such as Foxbase Alpha (1992) and The Virgin and the Veil (1995). The tour will run through the end of 2026, with the final shows in New Zealand on 1 December.

Fans who have followed Saint Etienne’s evolution from dance‑floor anthems to lush, cinematic pop have welcomed the announcement. The final tour offers a chance for audiences to experience the group’s music in person one last time.

As the band prepares to close this chapter, the music community will be watching to see how the members’ individual careers develop in the years to come.