Renaissance was the Beyoncé album released in 2022 that began her three-part album project.
Released on July 29, 2022, Renaissance was Beyoncé’s seventh studio album. It is also known as Act I, identifying it as the opening part of a planned trilogy. The album draws heavily from house, disco, dance, funk, and R&B, and its songs often celebrate Black and queer dance-music traditions.
The lead single, “Break My Soul,” became Beyoncé’s eighth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. Renaissance received nine Grammy nominations and won four awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Music Album. Its follow-up, Cowboy Carter, was released in 2024 and was presented as Act II. Renaissance is therefore distinct from Lemonade, Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album, and from her self-titled 2013 release.