Play (Ed Sheeran album)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:28:00 PM Wikipedia source
Play is the eighth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 12 September 2025 through Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records under license to Warner Music. It is the first of Sheeran's planned pentalogy of albums with titles based on media control symbols, with Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind, and Stop to follow, along with a planned sixth, Eject, which Sheeran stated he would like to be released on the day he dies. Sheeran co-wrote and produced Play with various producers and musicians, including Ilya, Blake Slatkin, Cirkut, Omer Fedi, Savan Kotecha, Elvira Anderfjärd, Dave and Arijit Singh, as well as his frequent collaborators Johnny McDaid and Fred Again. The album experiments with sounds from Indian and Persian music, while also continuing the electropop sound Sheeran explored in his album =. Play was supported by six singles: "Azizam", "Old Phone", "Sapphire", "A Little More", "Camera", and "Symmetry". Play became Sheeran's ninth consecutive chart-topper in the United Kingdom. It also topped the charts in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium (Flanders), Poland, Australia, and New Zealand. The album received mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated its production and global influences but criticised the lack of artistic reinvention for Sheeran. Play won Album of the Year at the Los 40 Music Awards. An EP, Play (The Remixes), featuring Indian artists like Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla, Hanumankind and Jonita on remixes of four songs from the album was released on 17 October 2025. To promote Play, Sheeran is set to embark on the Loop Tour from December 2025 to November 2026. The deluxe edition of Play with 27 tracks was released on 28 November 2025.
Infobox
Released
12 September 2025 (2025-09-12)
Genre
Pop
Length
44:38
Language
EnglishPunjabiPersianHindi
Label
Gingerbread Man Atlantic Warner
Producer
Ed Sheeran Elvira Anderfjärd Louis Bell Jo Caleb Cirkut Kyle Evans Omer Fedi Fred David Hodges Ilya Savan Kotecha Johnny Leslie Steve Mac Johnny McDaid P2J Santan Dave Blake Slatkin Andrew Watt
Tables
Play ratings · Critical reception
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
5.5/10
Metacritic
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
60/100
Review scores
Review scores
Aggregate scores
Review scores
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
The Arts Desk
The Arts Desk
Aggregate scores
The Arts Desk
Aggregate scores
Associated Press
Associated Press
Aggregate scores
Associated Press
Aggregate scores
The Guardian
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
The Independent
The Independent
Aggregate scores
The Independent
Aggregate scores
The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Aggregate scores
The Irish Times
Aggregate scores
NME
NME
Aggregate scores
NME
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
4.3/10
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Aggregate scores
Rolling Stone
Aggregate scores
The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Aggregate scores
The Telegraph
Aggregate scores
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 5.5/10 |
| Metacritic | 60/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Arts Desk | |
| Associated Press | |
| The Guardian | |
| The Independent | |
| The Irish Times | |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 4.3/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Telegraph | |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (2025)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (2025)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2025)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peakposition
1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2025)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peakposition
2
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
6
Croatian International Albums (HDU)
Croatian International Albums (HDU)
Chart (2025)
Croatian International Albums (HDU)
Peakposition
2
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Chart (2025)
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Peakposition
24
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Chart (2025)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Peakposition
2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
2
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (2025)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
42
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (2025)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
3
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2025)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
1
German Pop Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Pop Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2025)
German Pop Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
1
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Chart (2025)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Peakposition
4
Irish Albums (OCC)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Chart (2025)
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Peakposition
2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (2025)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
23
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)
Chart (2025)
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
31
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)
Chart (2025)
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)
Peakposition
18
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Chart (2025)
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)
Peakposition
74
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (2025)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
1
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Chart (2025)
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge)
Peakposition
7
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Chart (2025)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Peakposition
1
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Chart (2025)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Peakposition
7
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
3
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Chart (2025)
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)
Peakposition
6
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (2025)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Peakposition
7
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2025)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2025)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
1
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (2025)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
5
| Chart (2025) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 1 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 1 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 1 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 2 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 6 |
| Croatian International Albums (HDU) | 2 |
| Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) | 24 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten) | 2 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 2 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 42 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 3 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 1 |
| German Pop Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 1 |
| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) | 4 |
| Irish Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) | 2 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 23 |
| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) | 31 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) | 18 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) | 74 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 1 |
| Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge) | 7 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV) | 1 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) | 7 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 3 |
| Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI) | 6 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 7 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 3 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 5 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2025)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Position
34
| Chart (2025) | Position |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 34 |
Certifications for Play · Certifications
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
· Release history
Various
Various
Region
Various
Date
12 September 2025
Format(s)
CassetteCDdigital downloadstreamingvinyl LP
Edition(s)
Standard
Label
Gingerbread ManAtlantic
CDvinyl LP
CDvinyl LP
Region
CDvinyl LP
Date
Deluxe
CD
CD
Region
CD
Date
Japanese
Digital downloadstreaming
Digital downloadstreaming
Region
Digital downloadstreaming
Date
Extended
Amazon Music extended
Amazon Music extended
Region
Amazon Music extended
Portman Road
Portman Road
Region
Portman Road
28 November 2025
28 November 2025
Region
28 November 2025
Date
Digital downloadstreamingvinyl LP
Format(s)
Deluxe (27 tracks)
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition(s) | Label | Ref. |
| Various | 12 September 2025 | CassetteCDdigital downloadstreamingvinyl LP | Standard | Gingerbread ManAtlantic | |
| CDvinyl LP | Deluxe | ||||
| CD | Japanese | ||||
| Digital downloadstreaming | Extended | ||||
| Amazon Music extended | |||||
| Portman Road | |||||
| 28 November 2025 | Digital downloadstreamingvinyl LP | Deluxe (27 tracks) |
References
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/ed-sheeran-confirms-new-single-is-coming-next-month-reveals-upcoming-song-titles-3845335
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/pop/ed-sheeran-tease-new-album-title-play-1235902555/
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/ed-sheeran-release-date-play-shares-nostalgic-single-old-phone-3859854
- Peoplehttps://people.com/ed-sheeran-shares-next-five-album-titles-after-math-series-11705007
- los40.comhttps://los40.com/los40_music_awards/2025/ganadores/
- India Todayhttps://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/music/story/ed-sheeran-ep-play-remixes-with-karan-aujla-hanumankind-jonita-dhee-santhosh-narayanan-2804516-2025-10-17
- The Hollywood Reporter Indiahttps://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/ed-sheeran-drops-play-the-remixes-ep-featuring-karan-aujla-arijit-singh-jonita-gandhi-and-more
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-next-album-done-big-pop-1235202299/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-new-album-single-azizam-1235299927/
- "Ed Sheeran - Sapphire (Live from Marseille)"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GvjV7I-DEk
- "Ed Sheeran - Azizam (Live from Ipswich)"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MEvV3ha1_o
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-teases-new-single-azizam-next-album-done-1235926374/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-old-pics-taylor-swift-instagram-old-phone-1235957832/
- Newsxhttps://www.newsx.com/entertainment/like-fireworks-in-the-sky-sapphire-ed-sheeran-rides-an-auto-in-telangana-and-sings-in-punjabi-in-new-song-teaser/#
- Daily Janghttps://jang.com.pk/en/44286-ed-sheeran-announces-release-date-of-new-song-a-little-more-with-rupert-grint-news/
- "Ed Sheeran - Camera (Official Music Video)"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8WXFI_MSAI
- "Play (The Remixes) - EP"https://music.apple.com/gb/album/play-the-remixes-ep/1845342571
- "Play by Ed Sheeran reviews"http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/14416/Ed-Sheeran-Play.aspx
- "Play by Ed Sheeran Reviews and Tracks"https://www.metacritic.com/music/play/ed-sheeran
- "Play - Ed Sheeran"https://www.allmusic.com/album/play-mw0004532124
- The Arts Deskhttps://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-ed-sheeran-play
- "Music Review: Ed Sheeran returns to his roots on 'Play,' a cross-cultural playground"https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/music-review-ed-sheeran-returns-roots-play-cross-125501472
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/12/ed-sheeran-play-review
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/ed-sheeran-review-play-tracklist-b2824762.html
- The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/review/2025/09/12/ed-sheeran-has-just-released-an-album-why-didnt-he-want-the-irish-times-to-hear-it/
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/reviews/album/ed-sheeran-play-review-3892076
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ed-sheeran-play/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/ed-sheeran-play-review-1235425940/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/ed-sheeran-play-review/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/lists/ed-sheeran-play-album-songs-ranked/
- Music Weekhttps://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/ed-sheeran-lands-ninth-no-1-album-as-play-tops-rankings-in-busy-week-for-new-releases/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/twenty-one-pilots-breach-number-one-billboard-200-chart-1236071465/
- "Play (Deluxe) / Ed Sheeran / Credits"https://tidal.com/album/475280170/credits
- "Australiancharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2025.https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Austriancharts.at – Ed Sheeran – Play" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2025.https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – Play" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2025.https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – Play" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2025.https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2025.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Ed-Sheeran/chart-history/CNA
- "Lista prodaje 37. tjedan 2025"https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-37-tjedan-2025/
- "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 38.Týden 2025 on the field besides the words "CZ – Ahttps://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/14/?weekId=
- "Danishcharts.dk – Ed Sheeran – Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2025.https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Ed Sheeran – Play" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2025.https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Ed-Sheeran: Play" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 20 September 2025.https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Ed-Sheeran/Play
- "En exclusivité, voici les 10 premiers du Top Albums de la semaine!"https://x.com/snep/status/1969027535859028077
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Ed Sheeran – Play" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 September 2025.https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-553336
- "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Pop-Charts – 19 September 2025"https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/pop/for-date-1758287028000
- "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2025. 38. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 24 September 2025.https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista/2025/38
- "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/20250919/ie7502/
- "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 38 (dal 12.09.2025 al 18.09.2025)"https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/archivio-classifiche-settimanali/archivio-classifiche-per-settimana/?tipo=2&anno=2025&settimana=38
- "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-09-22/p/3" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 September 2025.https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2025-09-22/p/3/
- "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-09-22"https://archive.today/20250918042456/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2025-09-15/p/4/
- Billboard Japanhttps://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2025&month=09&day=29
- "2025 38-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)"https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s38-4/
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- "Album topp 100 − Uke 38, 2025"https://topplista.no/charts/albums/2025-w38/
- "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Changehttps://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/albumy
- "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 38 de 2025"https://audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2025-09-23-15-20-43.pdf
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20250919/40/
- "SK – Albums Top 100"https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/36?weekId=2992
- "Spanishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 September 2025.https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Swedishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2025.https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Swisscharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Play". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2025.http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=Play&cat=a
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20250919/7502/
- "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 September 2025.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Ed-Sheeran/chart-history/TLP
- "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts 2025"https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2025
- "British album certifications – Ed Sheeran – Play"https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/5124-2403-2
- store.edsheeran.comhttps://store.edsheeran.com/gb/ed-sheeran/collections/play/?pdshow=true
- musicjapanet.comhttps://www.musicjapanet.com/Music/Product/Ed-Sheeran-Play-CD-4943674415014
- "Play (Extended Edition)"https://music.apple.com/nz/album/play-extended-edition/1837753866
- "Play (Extended Edition) by Ed Sheeran on Amazon Music Unlimited"https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FQJXK6QK
- "Play (Portman Road Edition)"https://music.apple.com/us/album/play-portman-road-edition/1840413771
- store.edsheeran.comhttps://store.edsheeran.com/gb/play---deluxe-exclusive-book-lp/5021732888846.html