Arctic Monkeys returned in 2026 with "Opening Night", their first new music since The Car. Recorded at Abbey Road and released in January for War Child, it opened the charity album HELP(2), which went to number one on the UK Compilation Albums chart in March.
Two decades after a few lads from Sheffield broke chart records, here is the story of one of Britain's great bands. Find tribute designs in our rock music collection.
Arctic Monkeys Fact File
| Formed | 2002, High Green, Sheffield, England |
|---|---|
| Members | Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders, Nick O'Malley |
| Former member | Andy Nicholson (bass, left in 2006) |
| Nationality | English |
| Genres | Indie rock, garage rock, psychedelic and lounge pop |
| Years active | 2002-present |
| Label | Domino |
| Studio albums | 7 |
| UK number one albums | 6 |
| Known for | The fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history |
Career History
| Year | Studio album | UK peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not | 1 |
| 2007 | Favourite Worst Nightmare | 1 |
| 2009 | Humbug | 1 |
| 2011 | Suck It and See | 1 |
| 2013 | AM | 1 |
| 2018 | Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino | 1 |
| 2022 | The Car | 2 |
All albums released on Domino. The UK peak is the highest position reached on the Official UK Albums Chart.
Sheffield Beginnings
Arctic Monkeys formed in High Green, Sheffield, in 2002, with Alex Turner on vocals and guitar, Jamie Cook on guitar, Matt Helders on drums and Andy Nicholson on bass. They built a following through gigs and demos that fans shared online, and signed to the independent label Domino.
Nick O'Malley replaced Nicholson on bass in 2006 and has been part of the line-up ever since.
Show your Sheffield pride with our Arctic Monkeys Men's T-Shirt.
A Record-Breaking Debut
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not arrived in January 2006 and sold 363,735 copies in its first week, the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history. It went on to win that year's Mercury Prize.
Favourite Worst Nightmare followed in 2007, and the band headlined Glastonbury the same summer.
Layer up with our Arctic Monkeys Men's Hoodie.
AM and Beyond
After recording Humbug in the desert with Josh Homme, the band kept evolving. AM (2013) brought a slicker, heavier sound and became their sixth straight UK number one, and they headlined Glastonbury for a second time that year.
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018) and The Car (2022) took them into a lounge-pop, orchestral direction. The Car Tour ran to 119 shows between 2022 and 2023, including their first tour of Asia and a third Glastonbury headline slot.
Opening Night and HELP(2)
In January 2026 the band released "Opening Night" for War Child, produced by long-time collaborator James Ford, with visuals made by Jonathan Glazer. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and opened HELP(2), the follow-up to War Child's 1995 album HELP.
Awards and Achievements
Awards
- Mercury Prize (2006), with further nominations in 2007, 2013, 2018 and 2023
- Seven BRIT Awards, including British Group and British Album three times each
Records
- Fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history
- First six studio albums all debuted at number one in the UK
- Glastonbury headliners in 2007, 2013 and 2023
Away From the Spotlight
Alex Turner also records with Miles Kane as The Last Shadow Puppets, whose second album Everything You've Come to Expect came out in 2016. The band's 2026 single was made to raise money for War Child, which supports children affected by conflict.
FAQs
Where are Arctic Monkeys from?
Arctic Monkeys are from High Green, Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England.
Who are the members of Arctic Monkeys?
Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley. Founding bassist Andy Nicholson left in 2006.
How many albums have Arctic Monkeys released?
Seven studio albums, from Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) to The Car (2022).
How many number one albums do Arctic Monkeys have?
Six. Their first six studio albums all debuted at number one in the UK, and The Car peaked at number two.
Have Arctic Monkeys released new music?
Yes. "Opening Night" came out in January 2026 for War Child's charity album HELP(2).
How many times have Arctic Monkeys headlined Glastonbury?
Three times: in 2007, 2013 and 2023.
Shop the Arctic Monkeys Collection
Our Arctic Monkeys pieces are fan-made tribute designs, printed to order in the UK.
See more bands in our rock music collection and the full music collection. Want your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Oasis: The Albums, the Reunion and the Road to Live '27 and The Beatles: The Fab Four's Albums, Story and Legacy.
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