All the Clues We Have for Olivia Rodrigo’s Third Album (OR3)
When Did the Teasers Start?
The first major hint of a new era for Rodrigo came on August 3, 2025, during her final festival performance on the GUTS world tour at Osheaga Festival in Montreal. She stepped on stage wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with a large rhinestone “3”, a gesture widely interpreted as signalling the end of her second album era and the beginning of something new.
After the show, she posted to Instagram:
“rings off!!!!! that’s a wrap on Guts tour!!! until next time I love y’all 💋🎸🎂”
In the clip she handed out her silver “GUTS” rings—widely seen as a symbolic end to the era.
On August 11, 2025, she sent a fan newsletter stating: “the end of the Guts era feels bittersweet, but I’m sooooo excited for all that’s y3t to come!!!!” — the deliberate “y3t” strongly playing on the numeral “3”.
And during a special performance for American Express on October 23, 2025, she declared: “This is definitely going to be the last Guts show,” further confirming the transition.
All of this signals clearly that the GUTS era is ending and the third album—OR3—is in motion.
What Will the Title Be?
Rodrigo has admitted she has not yet locked in a title for the forthcoming album. In an October 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said:
“I had the titles of GUTS and SOUR at the beginning of the album-making process, but for this album, I’m kind of still finding it right now … I have a few options that are twirling around in my brain. I have one that I’m feeling good about, and I think that’ll be the title, but I am not 100 percent positive yet. … It has to feel right in your body. I have to sleep on it a few nights before I really decide that that’s the one.”
Rodrigo also recalled in a 2023 interview that her previous albums followed a four-letter word pattern (SOUR, GUTS) and hinted her next one likely would too.
Fans have floated several contenders, among the most popular: LUCK, KISS, DARE, STAR, LOVE. The “LUCK” theory is strongly backed by imagery of ladybugs and polka dots (symbols of luck), as well as her remark “the luckiest girl in the world” in May 2025.
If the title CARD was proposed by fans (because Rodrigo often carries a deck of cards), she has explicitly dismissed it.
What Is the Theme / Sound of OR3?
In past interviews Rodrigo has signalled that this third album will reflect growth, reinvention, and more maturity. In a June 2025 interview with the Daily Star UK she shared:
“As I just grow as a person, and I learn more about music, and I have different perspectives, it’s impossible for that not to be reflected in your songwriting … hopefully by the time I put out my next album, it’ll feel more mature and like a different take on things.”
She told Elle in October 2025:
“I’m working on new music and I’m having a lot of fun. It’s nice to be home from touring, to really get to sink my teeth into new songs and new sounds and new stories.”
Thus, audience expectations are for an evolution from her previous breakout sound into something perhaps richer, more experimental, or at least more self-reflective.
What Is the Visual / Colour Palette for the Era?
With her first two albums, Rodrigo embraced a purple-centric visual world. She confirmed “purple” as her favourite colour in a 2023 Wired interview.
However, an important shift is signalled: she now says red is “my new fave colour” (in a 2025 “In The Bag” video with Vogue), and her official website’s branding changed from purple to include bold red accents around August 2025.
Fans also picked up on her wardrobe leaning more into red, especially during the latter part of the GUTS tour, and the presence of ladybug / polka-dot motifs (tying into “lucky” theory) further support the changing aesthetic.
In short: expect a red-tinged visual era, possibly with luck and renewal motifs.
Has She Recorded the Album Yet?
Yes — at least in part. While she joked in April 2025: “everywhere but that damn studio” (referring to a trip to Marrakesh) implying she wasn’t writing on the road.
But she also posted in March 2025 behind-the-scenes shots of her in the studio with her longtime collaborator Dan Nigro and told Elle:
“It feels so different [than SOUR and GUTS]. Just by virtue of, I guess I’m a little older now and I feel like I have more experience. I think the tour and all the festivals were really educational for me and taught me a lot about who I am and what kind of music I want to make and what music I want to play for people. I’m taking all those lessons into the studio with me.”
She has also said she struggles to write songs while on the road and prefers being at home in Los Angeles to create.
So while the full album may not be finished or publicly revealed yet, the work is clearly underway.
When Could the Album Drop?
No official release date has been confirmed. But several clues point to “sooner rather than later”:
- She has kept a roughly two-year gap between albums: SOUR (May 2021) → GUTS (Sept 2023).
- In a promo video with American Express (Oct 2025) she said: “Now I’m home and I’m working on my new album.”
- She told Nylon:
“I won’t say too much, but I think 2026 is going to be a busy year for me.”
Given all that, many believe a release either very late 2025 or in the first half of 2026 is plausible. If she aims for submission eligibility for the 2027 Grammys, the album would likely need to arrive before August 31, 2026.
Why This Matters
Rodrigo’s first two albums were both major cultural moments. SOUR introduced her as a generational voice of teenage heartbreak; GUTS expanded that scope with more live-band energy, rock inclination and personal storytelling. Now, with the GUTS era closed, the next album represents what could be a defining chapter: the transition into adulthood, musical evolution and broader thematic territory. The way she teases her eras — via visuals, color shifts, wardrobe, social-media clues — suggests the rollout for OR3 will be intentional, layered and immersive.
Summary of Key Clues
- August 3 2025: Wore a red “3” T-shirt at Osheaga, handed out GUTS rings – first public clue.
- August 11 2025 newsletter: used “y3t” with a “3” in place of the “e”; announced GUTS era end.
- Visual shift: Website colour palette changed, purple to red; wardrobe lean red; ladybugs/polka-dots appear.
- Four-letter title pattern: Rodrigo hinted at it being a “four-letter word” again.
- Fan-favorite title theory: “LUCK” (fits four letters, lucky symbols).
- Recording in progress: Studio posts March 2025, admitted songwriting mostly at home.
- Release timeframe: Unconfirmed, but the trend + her comments suggest late 2025 or early 2026.
Bottom Line: Olivia Rodrigo has officially closed the GUTS chapter and is gearing up for a new era—one marked by red visuals, maturity in songwriting, and carefully placed clues. While the album title and exact release date remain unconfirmed, the signs are strong: OR3 is coming, and the rollout has already begun. Fans should keep an eye on wardrobe choices, social-media details and live-event visuals for more Easter eggs.
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