Michael Kiwanuka, 39, Reveals Stroke Ahead of Fifth Album

Michael Kiwanuka, 39, said Tuesday he suffered a stroke months ago caused by a bleed in his brain linked to high blood pressure, according to an Instagram post reported by the BBC. The Mercury Prize-winning singer-songwriter called the recovery "a long, tough journey" and confirmed the health scare forced him to cancel recent US tour dates.

What did Kiwanuka say caused the stroke?

In the Instagram message, cited by the BBC, Kiwanuka wrote that he suffered "a stroke brought on by a bleed in my brain brought on by high blood pressure" a few months before the announcement. He described the brain injury as "quite severe," adding "there's a lot of rehab to be done."

The London-born artist said the stroke explained why he missed shows in the United States. "It's a long journey recovering from a stroke, which is why I missed some gigs recently out in the US, but I look forward to seeing you all soon," he wrote, according to the BBC.

How is Kiwanuka's recovery going?

Kiwanuka told fans he does not know when he will return to touring. "I'm not sure when I'll be able to be back out on the road or what that will look like," he wrote. He called the stroke "one of the toughest challenges I've faced" and said, "It has been a difficult few months I must say but it feels like I'm on my way there now."

He thanked "all the incredible NHS staff and every single medical professional" who treated him, along with friends and family, the BBC reported.

What is the new album Fudge?

Kiwanuka paired the health disclosure with the announcement of his fifth studio album, titled Fudge. The record was recorded before the stroke, according to the BBC. "I'm very happy to be announcing to you my new album Fudge," he wrote. "I'm especially happy because the last few months I've been battling some health problems which would heavily hinder and get in the way of me making music for the foreseeable future."

No release date or track list details appeared in the source material.

What is Michael Kiwanuka's career timeline?

• 2012 — Named the BBC's Sound of 2012.
• His first three albums were each nominated for the Mercury Prize, the award for best British or Irish album of the year.
• 2020 — Won the Mercury Prize for his self-titled third album, Kiwanuka, which also drew Brit Award nominations for best male solo artist and album of the year and a Grammy nomination for best rock album.
• 2024 — Performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.
• Recent months (2026) — Suffered a stroke; canceled scheduled US gigs.
• This week — Revealed the stroke publicly and announced the album Fudge.

How have fans and other musicians responded?

Well-wishes followed the announcement. BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne replied, "So sorry to read this, Michael. What a time you must have had. Really glad you have good care and wishing you a full recovery asap. One day at a time," according to the BBC.

Singer Miguel wrote, "Man, take your time healing, you are needed brother," the BBC reported. Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien posted, "Sending love to you Michael."

Kiwanuka has been nominated for five Brit Awards over his career and remains one of Britain's most acclaimed songwriters, per the BBC. He closed his message with a note to fans: "Until then I wish you all well and look forward to seeing you further down the road."

The BBC's report did not specify a timeline for Kiwanuka's return to live performance or further details on his ongoing treatment.

What song is Kiwanuka best known for?

Beyond his Mercury Prize wins, Kiwanuka is also known for his song "Cold Little Heart," the BBC noted in reporting the health update. The BBC report, written by culture reporter Ian Youngs, was published Sept. 23, 2026, at 16:58 BST and updated roughly three hours later as reaction to Kiwanuka's post continued to arrive from fans and fellow musicians.

The BBC's account did not include further detail on the song's chart history or specific milestones tied to it, focusing instead on Kiwanuka's stroke disclosure, his recovery message and the new album announcement paired with it.

Smorgi Challenge — A live iOS party game. Random alarms drop dares. Not a wake-up alarm.