25 is the upcoming third studio album by English recording artist Adele, scheduled to be released on 20 November 2015.^[1] The lead single "Hello" will be released on 23 October 2015.

	When I was 7 I wanted to be 8. When I was 8 I wanted to be 12. When I turned 12 I just wanted to be 18. Then after that I stopped wanting to be older. Now I’m ticking 16-24 boxes just to see if I can blag it! I feel like I’ve spent my whole life so far wishing it away. Always wishing I was older, wishing I was somewhere else, wishing I could remember and wishing I could forget too. Wishing I hadn’t ruined so many good things because I was scared or bored. Wishing I wasn’t so matter of fact all the time. Wishing I’d gotten to know my great grandmother more, and wishing I didn’t know myself so well, because it means I always know what’s going to happen in the end. Wishing I hadn’t cut my hair off, wishing I was 5’7”. Wishing I’d waited and wishing I’d hurried up as well. My last record was a break up record and if I had to label this one I would call it a make-up record. I’m making up with myself. Making up for lost time. Making up for everything I ever did and never did. But I haven’t got time to hold on to the crumbs of my past like I used to. What’s done is done. Turning 25 was a turning point for me, slap bang in the middle of my 20s. Teetering on the edge of being an old adolescent and a fully fledged adult, I made the decision to go into becoming who I’m going to be forever without a removal van full of my old junk. I miss everything about my past, the good and the bad, but only because it won’t come back. When I was in it I wanted out! So typical. I’m on about being a teenager, sitting around and chatting shit, not caring about the future because it didn’t matter then like it does now. The ability to be flippant about everything and there be no consequences. Even following and breaking rules ... is better than making the rules. 25 is about getting to know who I’ve become without realising. And I’m sorry it took so long, but you know, life happened. Love Adele
—An open letter Adele wrote to her fans confirming the albums title.[2]

Prior to the albums release 25 was listed as one of the most anticipated albums of 2015. Publication Consequence of Sound placed the album at number four on their list of "most anticipated albums", the album was also included on Digitalspy and Stereogums list of highly anticipated albums.^[3][4][5] A release date for 25 was first suggested in early August 2014, when Paul Moss suggested that an album would be released in 2014 or 2015.^[6] However, in the October 2014 accounts filed with Companies House by XL Recordings, ruled out the possibilities of a 2014 release.^[7] On 27 August 2015, Billboard reported that Adele's label, XL Recordings, had intentions of releasing her third studio album sometime in November 2015.^[8]

In October 2015 numerous journalists speculated that other musicians had pushed back their albums in order to avoid chart competition with her, artists such as Justin Bieber, Sam Smith and One Direction would release their albums before Adele's, so that their sales would not be affected.^[9][10] Following the thirty second premiere of the lead single, the internet and Adele's fans were described as loosing their mind, according to Jason Merritt of Vanity Fair who also stated that Adele had "Stymied a Planet".^[11] After Adele's official statement regarding "25" the internet was described as being "emotional", Funny Or Die also responding to Adele's post creating a tribute video.^[12]

Prior to the albums official announcement, music journalists and fans speculated that the album would be titled 25 continuing the age theme from Adele's previous releases 19 and 21. On October 21, 2015 Adele released a letter to her fans through social media addressing the album, during the statement Adele confirmed that the album would be titled 25.^[13] Adele stated that the title is a reflection on her age and the frame of mind she was in during that age, describing the time as a "turning point" where she was in the centre of adolescence and adulthood and the start of a time where she would "go into becoming who I’m going to be forever without a removal van full of my old junk."^[14]

The lead single "Hello" will be made available for purchase and streaming on 23 October 2015, with its music video will be released on the same date.^[1] The announcement of the release date and its cover was made by Adele on her Instagram account.^[15]

• Official website