ABBA announce long-awaited 'Voyage' reunion with new album and live concert

2 September 2021, 18:45 | Updated: 22 September 2023, 11:27

ABBA are back! The Swedish pop legends have announced details of their new 'Voyage' project.

At a special launch event held at London's ArcelorMittal Orbit, ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson reunited to announce to fans about the group's long-awaited return.

ABBA's new song 'I Still Have Faith in You' was premiered, including an emotional video of vintage footage of the group. The gorgeous ballad sees Agnetha and Anni-Frid on lead vocals.

Watch the video below:

ABBA - I Still Have Faith In You

Voyage will be ABBA's first album since 1982's The Visitors, and will be supported by a special concert to be held in East London.

Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid will perform digitally with a live 10-piece band, in a purpose-built arena called The ABBA Arena in London from May 27, 2022, and will be supported by a brand new studio album.

The digital versions of ABBA were created via months of motion-capture and performance techniques with the four band members, and an 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by George Lucas.

Voyage will be released worldwide on November 5.

Pre-registration for tickets will open tonight (September 2) on abbavoyage.com, with tickets on general sale from Tuesday September 7.

ABBA said in a statement: "It’s been a while since we made music together. Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it.

"They say it’s foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we’ve recorded a follow-up to The Visitors. To tell the truth, the main inspiration to record again comes from our involvement in creating the strangest and most spectacular concert you could ever dream of.

"We’re going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs on a stage in a custom-built arena in London next spring. Weird and wonderful!"

ABBA Voyage: The Journey Is About To Begin

Benny said: “We simply call it Voyage and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future. It’s not easy to explain but then it hasn’t been done before.

"It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me with this project. If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years.

"I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat. When you come to the arena you will have the four of us together with an absolutely glorious 10- piece band. And even if not in the flesh, we will be right there, thanks to the work of the creative team and ILM.”

Benny said: “We simply call it Voyage and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future. It’s not easy to explain but then it hasn’t been done before.

"It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me with this project. If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years.

Read more: ABBA's 20 greatest ever songs, ranked

"I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat. When you come to the arena you will have the four of us together with an absolutely glorious 10- piece band. And even if not in the flesh, we will be right there, thanks to the work of the creative team and ILM.”