Ayra Starr will release her third studio album, Starr Girl, on August 14, 2026, through Mavin Records with support from Roc Nation and Republic Records. The album marks her first full-length project since 2024's The Year I Turned 21 and is one of the most anticipated Afrobeats releases of the year.
Announcement and Cover Art
Starr first announced the album during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show in April 2026, revealing both the title and an initial July release window. The date was later moved to August 14, alongside the unveiling of the official cover art. The artwork, shot by Paris-based photographer Axle Jozeph, features Starr in a purple gele — a deliberate nod to her Nigerian roots. The cover was produced by Oyinkan Adeshoye with creative direction from Peter Famosa, Richie Igunma and Ola Badmus.
A Creative Shift
Starr has described Starr Girl as a broader creative statement, moving away from the age-and-numbers concept of her first two projects. In her own words, she spoke about 'existing in multitudes,' encouraging fans to expect variety. Confirmed genres span Afrobeats, R&B and dancehall-influenced pop, marking a departure from her earlier thematic constraints.
Confirmed Songs
Four tracks are officially confirmed on the album. 'Gimme Dat', her Grammy-nominated collaboration with Wizkid, was released in April 2025. 'Who's Dat Girl', her first official pairing with Rema, followed in October 2025. 'Where Do We Go' came out in March 2026. Most recently, 'Tornado', a Latin-percussion-inflected Afrobeats track produced by Skillies, Shizzi and RiotUSA, was released on June 12 after a live preview at her NPR Tiny Desk performance. No complete or official tracklist has been released by Mavin or Roc Nation as of publication.
Additional Tracks from Vault FM Session
Listeners who attended a live session on Vault FM on July 29 reported that Starr referenced two further songs: 'Misunderstood' and 'Ms. Paper', the latter reportedly a collaboration with artist Theodora. Neither track has been officially confirmed by Mavin or Roc Nation, so they remain unverified beyond attendee accounts.
Features: Confirmed vs. Rumoured
Wizkid and Rema remain the only fully confirmed collaborators, both through already-released singles. Theodora's reported feature on 'Ms. Paper' would mark a third, pending official confirmation. Other names, including Zayn and Leon Thomas, have circulated online after a leaked info in June that reportedly previewed snippets, but neither has been confirmed. Earlier reports from April also floated possible appearances from Doechii and Asake, though neither has resurfaced in recent coverage.
What's Next
With the release just over two weeks away, further confirmations on the tracklist and features are expected in the coming days. Starr is also scheduled to perform at All Points East in London on August 21, where she may premiere additional album material.
