UPDATE — 1/7/26, 9:45 a.m. ET: After Bruno Mars announced that he has completed his new album, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly that the singer is in talks to perform its lead single at the 2026 Grammys on February 1, where he is nominated for three awards.
The highly anticipated follow-up to 2016’s 24K Magic is titled The Romantic and will be released on February 27.
Us Weekly has reached out to reps for Mars and the Grammys for comment.
Original story:
Bruno Mars has finally confirmed that new music is coming — and his fans used the moment to joke about his alleged gambling debts.
“My album is done,” the Grammy winner, 40, tweeted on Monday, January 5, without offering further details about a title or potential release date.
The news was met with excitement by his fans, who have been waiting for a new solo album from Mars for nearly 10 years, as his last solo project, 24K Magic, dropped in November 2016.
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER,” one happy listener wrote via X, while Rolling Stone’s official account tweeted simply, “Need it.”
Bruno Mars Jokingly Asks Fans to ‘Keep Streaming’ to Pay Off Gambling Debt
Other fans, however, took the opportunity to joke that Mars only went back to the studio to pay off the gambling debts that have allegedly followed him for the past few years.
“Bout to be debt free 🔥🔥🔥,” one X user quipped as another joked, “Vegas will be happy to hear 🤣.” A third person added, “Congratulations to the Bellagio for coming that much closer to being paid back their debt!”
Rumors about Mars’ gambling debts began circulating in 2024 when a report claimed that he owed $50 million to MGM, the company that owns the resort where he does his Las Vegas residencies. According to the report, Mars kept renewing his residencies with MGM in order to work off the debt.
MGM Grand, however, vehemently denied the report, with a spokesperson saying, “MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
Bruno Mars Jokes He’s ‘Almost Out of Debt’ After Blackpink Show Surprise
Mars, for his part, kept leaning into the joke, referencing it in interviews and on stage.
“I love the lore that I am a Las Vegas lounge singer in debt to the mob,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in June 2024. “I can work with that.”
Later that year, he joked about it during a concert in September 2024. “Ever since those articles came out about me owing the casino money you stopped picking up my calls,” he quipped while speaking into a prop phone. “It’s me, baby — I got money.”
In January 2025, when he became the first artist in Spotify history to reach 150 million monthly listeners, he used the milestone as yet another opportunity to to joke about his finances, writing via Instagram, “KEEP STREAMING! I’ll be out of debt in no time.”
MGM Reacts to Claim That Bruno Mars Owes $50 Million in Gambling Debts
While Mars hasn’t released a solo album in nearly a decade, he’s stayed busy collaborating with other artists. In 2021, he released a collaborative album with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic, which they supported with a residency at the Park MGM resort in Las Vegas.
He’s since had numerous hits with other artists, including “APT.” with Rosé and “Die With a Smile” with Lady Gaga in 2024 and “Fat Juicy & Wet” with Sexxy Red in 2025.
His latest Vegas solo residency, meanwhile, continued through New Year’s Eve and grossed more than $124 million over nine years.
