Duran Duran has unveiled their first new music of 2026, sharing the high-energy single “Free To Love” — a vibrant collaboration with longtime creative partner Nile Rodgers. Released alongside a striking new visual directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the track marks the band’s latest evolution while staying rooted in their signature dance-driven sound.
Built around a euphoric groove, “Free To Love” leans into a bold, cyber-funk energy, immediate, uplifting, and unmistakably designed for the dancefloor. The single carries a clear message of openness and unity, offering a moment of light in an increasingly divided world.
Frontman Simon Le Bon describes the track as “disco for the 2020s,” adding that it’s “about freedom; about loving the modern world instead of hating it, and that is something we need right now.”
Photo credit: Stephanie Pistel
Longtime bandmate Nick Rhodes echoed that sentiment, highlighting the creative chemistry behind the collaboration. “Every time we plug in and play with Nile, the electricity he generates could light up a whole city,” he said. “‘Free To Love’ is our call to those who want peace, hope and understanding to prevail.”
The release continues a creative partnership between Duran Duran and Rodgers that stretches back over four decades, beginning with his iconic remix of “The Reflex.” Reflecting on their latest work together, Rodgers describes the collaboration as rooted in something deeper: “True love is free and unconditional. Whatever chaos is going on outside, inside the studio we’re free to love our peace.”
Photo credit: Stephanie Pistel
The accompanying video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, known for his work with artists like Madonna and Beyoncé, expands the track into a fully realised visual experience. Styled by Bea Åkerlund and starring Clara Amfo, the clip channels a retro music show aesthetic with a modern, high-fashion twist.
Åkerlund describes the collaboration as a natural fit: “They don’t just make music, they build a visual world around it. Always bold, always pushing for more.”
The video also forms part of an ongoing creative partnership with Italian fragrance house Xerjoff. Inspired by the band’s co-created scent NeoRio, the visuals mirror the fragrance’s luminous and technicolour identity. A continuation of the world first introduced with “Black Moonlight.“
Photo credit: Stephanie Pistel
With over 100 million records sold worldwide and a catalogue that includes classics like “Rio,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “Ordinary World,” Duran Duran remain one of pop’s most enduring forces. Since their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the band, comprising Le Bon, Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, have continued to balance legacy with reinvention.
“Free To Love” arrives just ahead of a packed run of live dates, including U.S. shows, a performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” and a return to Europe this summer. Among the highlights is a headline slot at London’s BST Hyde Park on July 5, marking their second appearance at the iconic festival.
If “Free To Love” is any indication, Duran Duran isn’t just revisiting their legacy, they’re actively redefining it, one euphoric anthem at a time.
Photo credit: Stephanie Pistel
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 05/01 – BeachLife Festival – Redondo Beach, CA 05/02 – Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV 05/06 – Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV 05/08 – Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV 05/09 – Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV
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