Europe documentary has finally received a release date. In a new interview with Metal Hammer España , drummer Ian Haugland confirmed that the film will be released in early 2026.
The project, which has been in development for years by producer and director Craig Hooper (known for his work with Deep Purple and Saxon ), will tell the story of the Swedish band from its formation in the suburbs of Stockholm to the present day. The production promises to cover their meteoric rise to success in the mid-80s, the difficult times with the arrival of grunge, and their triumphant return in the new millennium.
“We’ve been working on this for many years. It will be in the format of a film, about an hour and a half long,” explained Haugland (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net ). “The plan is to release it on major streaming services like Netflix and others. It will come out early next year, so 2026 will be very busy for Europe, because we’ll have a new album, the documentary, and also the 40th anniversary of The Final Countdown . We better get ready! [laughs].”
Regarding the Europe documentary
Lead singer Joey Tempest also gave more details about what fans can expect. According to him, the team found a box with old VHS tapes, recorded by the band's first manager. The material, which has never been seen before, includes behind-the-scenes footage and hotel room shots from 1983 to 1992, capturing the youth and energy of the group at their peak.
The rare footage includes iconic moments, such as the recording sessions for the album The Final Countdown in San Francisco and the band's visit to Japan during their first world tour. “Our first manager used to walk around with a huge VHS camera when we were just kids. We were like, ‘What are you doing with that? Stop filming,’” Tempest joked. “But he kept filming, and this footage is incredible.”
The documentary will also feature appearances by important names in music, such as Benny Andersson from ABBA and members of the band Ghost , who will give their testimonies about the impact and career of Europe. The narrative promises to be a moving story about "young punks from Stockholm conquering the world, then the arrival of grunge, and then the reconstruction of everything to where we are today."
A new album is on the way.
In addition to the film, the band is preparing to release their first studio album since Walk The Earth . This will be the longest gap between albums in Europe's career, something that, according to Tempest, will make the new work even more special. "We've had time to live with the music, almost like a debut album. We know that some songs are really strong because they've stood the test of time," explained the vocalist.
He explained that the musical direction will not be a direct continuation of previous albums, but rather a "new adventure," with strong melodies, a lot of heaviness, and a connection to the past. "I'm writing with everyone [...] and I'm very excited. There are great songs emerging. We like to follow our own journey, but always carrying our past with us," he concluded.
READ ALSO: Europe: New album is in development, says Joey Tempest