I'm not necessarily taking this as meaning literally that the album will be in 2026 as that's a bit of a weird timeline. Greatest hits tour for 2025/2026 and then an album after? It's possible I guess, but that probably means no album tour. On the other hand, maybe it turns out they like releasing an album on a year with no tour (2015, 2021) and want to do that again. Album release in 2025 without a tour, full tour kicks off the following year. That seems less likely to me but it's odd for Bruce to mark 2026 as the year of touring.
I do read it as clearly referring to a new Maiden album though.
I do read it as clearly referring to a new Maiden album though.