In preparation of the Prince Celebrat10n Kick-Off party with the legendary Chaka Khan.

The story behind the iconic Prince mural in downtown Minneapolis that took seven years to complete

teased by L. Londell McMillan and Charles F Spicer Jr at the Celebrat10n 2026 Kick Off Party tonight! #Prince #Prince4Ever #PrinceLegacy #PrinceNewMusic @prince @PaisleyPark @LondellMcMillan @CharlesFSpicer

First Prince Album to Span Every Era of His Career, Featuring 10 Rare and Previously Unreleased Vault Recordings New Single "Stone" Out Now June 4, 2026 – Today, The Prince Estate announces the release of Timeless, a new posthumous Prince album, in partnership with Legacy Recordings, arriving August 28, 2026. Featuring 10 rare and previously unreleased recordings from Prince's legendary Vault, Timeless is the first Prince release ever curated to span every major era of his career, bringing together recordings created between 1977 and 2016 in a sweeping portrait of one of music's most innovative and influential artists. Available now for pre-order and pre-save, Timeless traces Prince's remarkable artistic evolution across nearly four decades, from his earliest studio recordings as a teenage prodigy in Minneapolis to one of his final recorded performances. The collection showcases the extraordinary consistency, curiosity, and creative ambition that defined his work throughout his life, offering fans a rare opportunity to hear previously unheard chapters of his creative journey. The announcement arrives alongside the release of new single "Stone," a previously unreleased recording from spring 1995 written by Sandra St. Victor, Tom Hammer, and Jules Van Even. Pre-order/Pre-save Timeless HERE. Listen to “Stone” HERE. Fans will get their first opportunity to experience Timeless during Prince Celebration 2026, taking place June 3–7, 2026 across Paisley Park and downtown Minneapolis. Serving as the official launch platform for the project, this year's Celebration will feature exclusive listening sessions, archival presentations, and conversations with Prince collaborators, offering unprecedented insight into the newly unveiled Vault recordings and the stories behind them. Highlights include a special event at The Armory in Minneapolis on Friday, June 5, featuring appearances from NPG, The Revolution's Bobby Z and Lisa Coleman, and more, offering rare firsthand perspectives on Prince's enduring creative legacy. For the latest information on ticketing and programming, please visit: https://www.paisleypark.com/celebration2026 As fans from around the world gather for the 10th anniversary year of Prince Celebration, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has officially proclaimed June 1–7, 2026, “Prince Celebration Week” in Minneapolis, recognizing Prince’s immeasurable impact on the city’s culture, identity and global legacy. In honor of Prince Celebration Week, the Minneapolis skyline will be illuminated in purple on June 6, creating a citywide tribute to Prince’s enduring influence and celebrating the artist who helped define Minneapolis on the world stage. Available across all major streaming platforms, Timeless will also be released in multiple physical configurations, including a D2C-exclusive limited-edition Purple Marble Vinyl, standard black vinyl, and CD. In conjunction with the album announcement, fans can also access exclusive retail offerings and limited-edition Timeless merchandise through Paisley Park and Prince.com, including collectible items created specifically for Prince Celebration 2026. Earlier this year, The Prince Estate previewed Timeless with the release of "With This Tear" on April 2, commemorating the tenth anniversary of Prince's passing. Originally recorded at Paisley Park in November 1991, the song stands as a testament to Prince's singular artistry—he produced, arranged, composed, and performed every instrument heard on the recording. Lauded by CBS News and more, Rolling Stone hailed it as "deeply personal," while Billboard praised its "stripped-back interpretation," highlighting Prince's vocal performance and piano arrangement. Released during the 10th anniversary year of Prince's passing, Timeless stands as both a celebration of his enduring legacy and a rare opportunity for fans to experience previously unheard chapters of his artistic journey. Nearly a decade later, Prince's influence remains as profound as ever, and Timeless offers a powerful reminder of the extraordinary depth, range, and timelessness of his life's work. Tracklisting: Timeless (Digital & CD) 1. I Am You - 1977 2. Tick Tick Bang - 1981 3. Heaven - 1985 4. I Wonder - 1989 5. With This Tear - 1991 6. Stone - 1995 7. Calabama - 2003 8. The Guilty Ones - 2007 9. Bestest Friend - 2012 10. How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore? (Live) - 2016 Timeless (1LP) Side A 1. I Am You 2. Tick Tick Bang 3. Heaven 4. I Wonder 5. With This Tear Side B 1. Stone 2. Calabama 3. The Guilty Ones 4. Bestest Friend 5. How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore? (Live) Prince Celebration is the official annual event honoring the life and legacy of Prince, welcoming fans from across the globe to come together in music, community, and remembrance. Held at Paisley Park and throughout the Twin Cities, Prince Celebration offers a rare opportunity for fans to experience curated programming including live performances, panel discussions, tours, and exclusive presentations. Since its inception, the event has served as a global gathering space for celebrating Prince’s artistry, cultural impact, and continued influence across music, fashion, and creative expression.

Welcome to the 2026 Celebration, we are so looking forward to sharing this wonderful event with you. Across the coming days we will be sharing videos, photos and going LIVE to share this experience with purple family world wide, in-joy 💜 Love4OneAnother ALWAYS

First Avenue Kickoff Party and Maya McClean Experience Sold Out; Single Tickets Remain Available for Celebration of Life Concert, Club 3121 and Select Events City of Minneapolis Proclaims June 1–7 “Prince Celebration Week” as Fans Gather for Prince Celebration's 10th Anniversary Concert, Club 3121 and Citywide Events CeeLo Green, Meli'sa Morgan & More Headline Free Block Party and Inaugural Prince Sing-Along on June 6 Prince Celebration 2026 Tops Previous Attendance Records, Reaching New Milestone in Its 10th Year June 2, 2026 - As Prince Celebration 2026 officially gets underway, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has proclaimed June 1–7 “Prince Celebration Week” in Minneapolis, recognizing Prince’s immeasurable impact on the city’s culture, identity, and global legacy as fans from around the world gather to honor the artist during the 10th anniversary year of Prince Celebration. The proclamation arrives as momentum continues to build across Minneapolis and Paisley Park ahead of a week of music, community and remembrance. In honor of Prince Celebration Week, the Minneapolis skyline will be illuminated in purple on June 6, as fans from around the world gather to celebrate Prince's life and legacy. "There are few artists as connected to a city as Prince is to Minneapolis," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "His music, style, and creativity helped define who we are and how the world sees us. Prince Celebration Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate the hometown legend who made purple our unofficial city color and put Minneapolis on the map in a way no one else could." L. Londell McMillan shares, "We appreciate the City of Minneapolis’ recognition of Prince’s legacy and the global fams community, who love him. The fams are already assembling from around the world, and it's an honor to join them as we come together in Minneapolis to celebrate Prince's life, legacy, and enduring impact." Among the Prince Celebration’s marquee events is Prince Celebration of Life 10th Anniversary Concert at The Armory on June 5, where members of The New Power Generation and The Revolution will unite on stage alongside Morris Day, Miguel, Tevin Campbell, Bilal, Kat Graham and more, for a special evening celebrating Prince's music and influence. Taking place the night before is Club 3121 Celebration & Jam Session on June 4, featuring DJ Rashida, Liv Warfield, Ashley Támar and special guest performers. For tickets and additional information, visit www.PaisleyPark.com/Celebration2026. Demand for this year's programming remains strong, with the Prince Celebration 10th Anniversary Kickoff Party at First Avenue featuring DJ Lenka Paris and special guest Chaka Khan officially sold out, alongside Maya McClean's "Awakening" Sound Healing & Spiritual Rejuvenation experience at Paisley Park. Prince Celebration Week will also bring the city together through a series of free community events, including the Prince Celebration Block Party and inaugural Prince Sing-Along on June 6 at the iconic Prince mural in downtown Minneapolis. Presented in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, the Prince Estate, Downtown Improvement District (DID), First Avenue, Meet Minneapolis, and local community organizations, the free, all-ages gathering is expected to draw thousands of fans on the eve of Prince's 68th birthday and feature performances by Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green, Liv Warfield, Purple Rain Musical star Kris Kollins, Jada LaFrance, Monique Blakey, and bakkwooddrift, alongside youth showcases from Purple Playground, Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA), and High School for Recording Arts. The evening will bring together Prince alumni, celebrated vocalists, Broadway talent, and rising local artists in a multigenerational tribute to Prince's enduring influence. For more information, visit: www.paisleypark.com/celebration2026blockparty. ABOUT PRINCE CELEBRATION Prince Celebration is the official annual event honoring the life and legacy of Prince, welcoming fans from across the globe to come together in music, community, and remembrance. Held at Paisley Park and throughout the Twin Cities, Prince Celebration offers a rare opportunity for fans to experience curated programming including live performances, panel discussions, tours, and exclusive presentations. Since its inception, the event has served as a global gathering space for celebrating Prince’s artistry, cultural impact, and continued influence across music, fashion, and creative expression. ABOUT PAISLEY PARK Paisley Park is Prince’s private estate, an active museum, recording studio, and concert venue in Chanhassen, MN. The museum is open for public tours, giving fans of the music icon the unprecedented opportunity to tour the legendary, 65,000-square-foot complex that served as the center of Prince’s creative universe. Guided tours lead visitors through the magical spaces of Paisley Park, including studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed many of his biggest hits; exhibit spaces that chronicle films like the global hit Purple Rain; Prince’s private NPG Music Club; and a massive soundstage and concert hall where Prince rehearsed for concert tours and held exclusive events and concerts. For more information, visit PaisleyPark.com. PAISLEY PARK ON THE WEB Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website

begin shooting the video for Eye Wish U Heaven with director Jean Baptiste Mondino (who also shot the Lovesexy album cover)

Prince’s historic debut performance in the United Kingdom at the Lyceum Ballroom on June 2, 1981 — a pivotal, under-attended but legendary show during the Dirty Mind era that marked his first breakthrough with British audiences and the music industry. EVENT DETAILS: Date: Tuesday, June 2, 1981 Venue: Lyceum Ballroom, The Strand, London Promoter: Alec Leslie Presents Ticket Price: £3.00 Attendance: Sparse (mostly music industry professionals – a few hundred people) Tour: Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour (First & Only UK Date) THE STORY To promote the show, Warner Bros. released the UK-exclusive single “Uptown” b/w “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (with “Head” on the 12" version) on May 29. The official press release described Prince as “the natural successor to Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger,” highlighting his multi-instrumental abilities and outrageous stage persona. Prince delivered a raw, high-energy performance with his classic Dirty Mind band. Eyewitness Martin Colyer (who attended with colleagues from Radio Times) described the show as “spectacular,” noting Prince’s outstanding guitar playing. He was close enough at the front to catch Prince’s plectrum. However, Prince appeared frustrated with the low turnout and reportedly left the stage in a petulant mood. SETLIST Do It All Night Gotta Broken Heart Again When You Were Mine Jack U Off Sexy Dancer I Wanna Be Your Lover Head Dirty Mind Uptown BAND LINEUP Prince – vocals, guitar, piano Dez Dickerson – guitar André Cymone – bass Lisa Coleman – keyboards Matt Fink (“Doctor Fink”) – keyboards Bobby Z. – drums New Musical Express (UK) Sounds (UK) FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Era: Dirty Mind (1981) Tone: Raw, sexy, high-energy funk-rock Stage Style: Band in underwear/trench coats with theatrical elements; Prince in bikini briefs and boots Significance: First UK show + UK-exclusive single release RELATED MATERIAL Prince (June 2, 1981) Original UK Concert Advert & Press Release Prince (June 6, 1981) “Half a million dirty minds can’t be wrong about this man” – NME Cover Story Prince (June 6, 1981) “Digging the dirt with Prince” – Black Echoes Cover Story Prince (June 6, 1981) “Some day your Prince will come” – Melody Maker Feature Prince (May–June 1981) Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour Also see tabs at the foot of this post. All magazine scans, photographs, adverts, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

In-depth profile in New York’s Daily News celebrating Prince’s rapid rise, multi-platinum success, and explosive live performances during the Dirty Mind era. PUBLICATION: Date: Sunday, March 29, 1981 Country: United States Section / Pages: Feature Title: Prince is Partying Up to the gold & platinum By: Clint Roswell THE STORY The article portrays the 20-year-old Prince as a groundbreaking, self-contained artist on the verge of major stardom. It details his mixed Italian and African-American heritage, his prolific talent (writing, arranging, producing, and playing all instruments on his albums), and his provocative stage persona. The piece highlights the success of his first three albums — For You, Prince, and especially Dirty Mind — which were achieving gold and platinum status. It also praises his electrifying live shows, referencing a recent high-energy performance at The Ritz in New York. CONTEXT AND NOTES Published just two months before Prince’s first European tour, this feature captures the growing mainstream excitement around him in New York. It emphasizes his refusal to be pigeonholed, his fusion of funk, rock, and disco, and his ability to attract diverse audiences — a key theme in early Prince coverage. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Era: Dirty Mind (1981) Tone: Admiring, celebratory, slightly sensational Photography: Striking portrait of Prince with his signature look and chain WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Full newspaper article with large headline, detailed text by Clint Roswell, a prominent photo of Prince, and surrounding advertisements. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (May 28–June 3/4 1981) “Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour” – First European Dates Prince (May 19, 1981) “With his high-heel boots, thigh-high stockings and black knickers…” – Evening Standard (UK) Prince (May 29, 1981) Gotta Stop (Messin' About) / I Wanna Be Your Lover – Single 7" / 12" UK Also see tabs at the foot of this post. “Prince is a cross-over artist musically who has broken the racial barriers.” All newspaper scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

Vivid 1981 Sounds magazine feature reviewing Prince’s explosive performance at The Ritz in New York, capturing the raw energy, provocative stage image, and cultural impact of his Dirty Mind era shows PUBLICATION: Date: April 11, 1981 Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Feature / Live Review Title: Downtown posing pouch chic THE STORY Sounds writer Tim Sommer delivers a colorful, detailed review of Prince’s show at The Ritz nightclub in New York. The piece describes Prince’s charismatic, androgynous stage presence — wearing a revealing outfit with high heels, stockings, and bikini briefs — and praises his ability to blend funk, punk, and rock elements. The article highlights the diverse audience (black, white, punks, college students) and Prince’s masterful showmanship, comparing him to icons like Hendrix, Bowie, and Johnny Thunders. CONTEXT AND NOTES This review was published shortly after Prince’s now-legendary Ritz residency in March 1981, just weeks before his first European tour. It reflects the growing buzz in the UK music press about Prince as a boundary-pushing new star. The provocative photo of Prince performing shirtless with a leopard-print guitar strap became one of the defining images of the Dirty Mind era. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Era: Dirty Mind (1981) Tone: Visceral, enthusiastic, slightly shocked Photography: Striking black-and-white live shot of Prince performing intensely at The Ritz “Downtown posing pouch chic” WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Full-page feature from Sounds magazine with a large live photo of Prince on stage and extensive text by Tim Sommer, capturing the excitement and controversy surrounding his early New York club shows. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (March 1981) The Ritz, New York – Live Performances Prince (March 29, 1981) “Prince is Partying Up to the gold & platinum” – Daily News (New York) Prince (May–June 1981) Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour Prince (June 2, 1981) Lyceum Ballroom, London – First UK Show Also see tabs at the foot of this post. All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. NME Review – The Ritz, New York (March 1981) In a detailed review for NME, Richard Grabel captured Prince’s explosive show at The Ritz, describing it as a dazzling, sold-out spectacle full of flash and attitude. He noted the diverse crowd — young Black girls at the front, old white hipsters at the back — and praised Prince’s magnetic stage presence, sharp band, and mix of funk, rock, and theatrical sexuality. Grabel highlighted Prince’s outrageous outfit (black satin jock strap, thigh-high leg warmers, fringed shirt, and bandana) and his ability to switch from high-energy band numbers to intimate solo piano encores. He concluded that Prince was “the leading candidate to be king of the real sex music” and a serious artist worth watching closely.