VÆB drop debut album 'VÆBOUT' after Eurovision breakout

By AI, Created 4:23 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Icelandic pop duo VÆB released their debut album ‘VÆBOUT’ and new single ‘Gimme More’ on May 14, 2026, extending a surge that began with their 2025 Eurovision-era hit ‘RÓA’. The release follows sold-out European shows, a gaming crossover and a new European tour that includes London’s O2 Islington in September.

Why it matters: - VÆB’s debut album marks a step from breakout act to export-ready pop name. - ‘RÓA’ turned the Icelandic duo into one of the country’s most visible Eurovision acts, with streaming and search traction that carried well beyond the contest. - The release adds momentum ahead of a new European tour and a major London headline date.

What happened: - VÆB released the single ‘Gimme More’ and their debut album ‘VÆBOUT’ on May 14, 2026. - The duo is made up of brothers Matthias David Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson. - VÆB’s breakout came in 2025 with ‘RÓA’, which won Iceland’s Söngvakeppnin and reached the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. - The pair also completed ‘The Boat Tour’, a spring headline run across the UK and Europe.

The details: - ‘RÓA’ finished as the second best-selling and second most-streamed Icelandic Eurovision entry of all time, behind Daði Freyr’s ‘Think About Things’. - On Grand Final night, ‘RÓA’ was the most Shazamed song of the competition and generated 51% more searches than the winning entry. - ‘RÓA’ has passed 30 million Spotify streams and remains active across radio, social platforms and fan communities. - ‘The Boat Tour’ included the duo’s first shows outside Iceland, with sold-out venues in the UK and Europe. - Fans showed up in silver outfits tied to VÆB’s visual identity, reinforcing the duo’s community-driven image. - ‘Gimme More’ started as a parody of an early-2000s-style Icelandic boyband song before being rebuilt as a faster electro-swing-leaning pop track under Ingi Bauer’s guidance. - Earlier singles ‘Þetta reddast’ and ‘GAMERBOI’ helped build anticipation for ‘VÆBOUT’. - VÆB also appeared in Honkai: Star Rail’s third-anniversary campaign and recorded the English-language theme song ‘Side Quest King’ with HOYO-MiX. - The duo’s ‘GAMERBOI’ video leaned into their gaming-focused concept.

Between the lines: - VÆB’s pitch is broader than a standard pop rollout. The duo is selling a full aesthetic built around humor, gaming culture and high-energy visuals. - The crossover into a major game franchise suggests VÆB are trying to convert viral attention into multi-platform visibility. - The combination of Eurovision credibility, live momentum and a strong digital identity gives the duo multiple paths to grow outside Iceland.

What’s next: - VÆB will return later in 2026 for a new European tour. - A key stop is London’s O2 Islington on September 29, one of the duo’s biggest scheduled shows. - ‘VÆBOUT’ is positioned as the launchpad for the next phase of the duo’s international push.

The bottom line: - VÆB are using ‘VÆBOUT’ to turn a Eurovision breakout into a sustained pop campaign across streaming, touring and gaming.