Beyoncé's 2022 album that opens a planned three-act project is Renaissance.
Renaissance was released on July 29, 2022, as Beyoncé's seventh solo studio album. It was announced as “act i,” indicating that it begins a larger three-act project. The album draws heavily on house, disco, dance, funk, and Black queer club traditions.
Its lead single, “Break My Soul,” became Beyoncé's eighth solo number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also includes “Cuff It,” “Alien Superstar,” and “Virgo's Groove.” Renaissance received the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album at the 2023 ceremony.
The title is sometimes confused with Cowboy Carter, which is the second act of the project and was released in 2024. Renaissance is not a greatest-hits collection or a soundtrack; it is a cohesive studio album centered on dance music, liberation, and club culture.