Madonna Confessions II Review: A Powerful Dancefloor Comeback After Years
Few artists can redefine the pulse of pop music like Madonna, and her latest release signals exactly that kind of shift. With Confessions II, she leans into rhythm-heavy production while revealing a more introspective side rarely seen at this scale. Created alongside Stuart Price, the album bridges nostalgia with forward-thinking soundscapes. Beneath its club-ready beats lies a deeper emotional core that adds new dimension to her artistry. It’s a project that doesn’t just revisit the past – it reshapes it for a new era of listeners.
After a seven-year hiatus from releasing an album, Madonna is finally making her grand return. The Queen of Pop unveils the very house-influenced Confessions II this Friday, July 3, 2026 , a follow-up to the phenomenal Confessions on a Dance Floor , released in 2005. We listened to it in Paris with her producer, Stuart Price. Here’s our verdict.
On June 24, 2026, in the middle of a heatwave (it was nearly 40 degrees in the French capital), we were invited to a highly confidential and very private event: the listening of Madonna ‘s new album , Confessions II , which is released this Friday, July 3, 2026. And not only were we able to listen to the long-awaited opus – seven years after Madame X – in advance, but in addition, we were (along with about thirty journalists), in the presence of Stuart Price , the British producer behind the cult classic Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).
Confessions II , the highly anticipated new album from superstar Madonna
This album by Madonna of pop won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album, sold 10 million copies, and includes the hits “Jump” and “Hung Up .” And this brand new album, once again conceived with Stuart Price, is a continuation of that success.
While we were settled in – without phones or computers, but with speakers blasting the sound – at the Artistic Palace , a studio located on Boulevard Ney in Paris ‘s 18th arrondissement , the artist told us about the making of this unreleased album, teased by several singles in recent months and a stunning music video of over thirteen minutes. “ Madonna wanted a continuum between the songs, the videos, the images, and the performances,” explains the artist, also known as Jacques Lu Cont. “ Then we had to adapt this concept for streaming .”
Madonna for the album Confessions II (2026) . © Alex Antonioni.
A new album produced by Stuart Price, the architect of Confessions on a Dance Floor
Stuart Price, known for projects like Les Rythmes Digitales and Zoot Woman, recounts that initially, he didn’t know this album, recorded in London between 2024 and 2025, would be a direct follow-up to Confessions on a Dance Floor , until Madonna posted the title on Instagram. This album was born from their collaboration on the superstar’s last tour (the producer even says he doesn’t think this album would have existed without the Celebration Tour (2023-2024) because it had been a long time since they had worked together).
As for their sound (deep house/ house /disco/ pop / dance /techno/electro/trip-hop), it stems from their shared love of house music and club culture. “ Detroit and Chicago house music is one of our biggest commonalities. Except Madonna, she was really into the clubs back then (laughs). Not me. She was turned away by a bouncer at the entrance of the New York nightclub Dancetaria (which gave its name to a track on the album where she lists all the people she met there) before becoming one of its icons .”
Madonna wearing Messika jewelry at the Saint Laurent men’s spring-summer 2027 show. © Getty Images / Messika.
An album tailor-made for the dancefloor
Initially, the singer wanted to record an album entirely dedicated to the dance floor . But as the recording progressed, little changed. Stuart Price explains: “ Madonna wanted to make a dance album. But in the meantime, life happened. She lost her brother, Christopher Ciccone, and her stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone. It’s an album about the power of vulnerability. For someone known for her strength and hard work, it’s all the more powerful. ”
While Madonna and Stuart Price weren’t aiming to recreate Hung Up II, the album features numerous hits, including the irresistible “Good for the Soul” and “One Step Away .” It also contains many sonic allusions to different periods in the diva’s career, notably the Erotica era and the Bedtime Stories era . Confession II is packed with dancefloor anthems, but the lyrics are intimate and profound. Some tracks are quite melancholic, such as ” Fragile” and “Bizarre .” There’s also a song written with her daughter, Lourdes Leon ( “The Test “), and what sounds like an evocation of her tumultuous relationship with Sean Penn.
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (2026).
The power of vulnerability
“ Madonna ’s music has always been a mirror of society,” notes Stuart Price . “She expresses her ideas and deep feelings through music, often blending joy and sadness. And I find it very powerful that someone so well known for her strength and work ethic (she worked even harder than I did on this album. She listened to it even more often to refine every detail) shows her vulnerabilities so openly. This album speaks to the power of vulnerability. ”
On this album, the star addresses her relationship with her younger brother, who passed away in 2024, and her vision of love. She also discusses her image and the prejudices surrounding her. “When I asked Madonna what the biggest misconception about her was, she told me about her controversial and scandalous side. She never sought to shock and never used controversy as a marketing strategy. She simply wanted to push boundaries to move things forward and change mindsets. That’s what the song ‘ My Sins Are My Savior’ is about. ”
The star seems to be addressing the blasphemy accusations leveled by the Vatican after the release of her music video ” Like a Prayer . ” “I wasn’t lost, just broken,” the star sings on this track, which could be translated as: ” My sins are my saviors . “
Madonna for Confessions II (2026). © Rafael Pavarotti.
Sabrina Carpenter and Stromae, special guests on the album
On this track, you can hear the voice of Stromae , a singer Madonna is a fan of, according to the producer. “ He’s supposed to be a reclusive genius, but he showed great generosity by coming to London to record this track,” recalls Stuart Price . “And he didn’t just translate his part and sing it, he embellished and transcended it. ”
Another prestigious guest? Sabrina Carpenter : “ Sabrina and Madonna have been exchanging messages on Instagram for a long time. There’s a mutual respect between them. ‘Bring Your Love’ is a somewhat hard-hitting track for which Sabrina was perfect. Their meeting at Coachella was magical, as was the chemistry between them when Sabrina entered the studio. And besides, it’s a way for Madonna to reach a new audience. ”
With Confessions II , which, despite its unevenness, remains Madonna’s best album in twenty years, the star, who already counts FKA twigs and Addison Rae among her successors, is sure to inspire a new generation. And she proves that at 67, there’s no shame in shaking your booty in a corset on the dance floor…
Madonna’s Confessions II (2026) is available.
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