The Spice Girls stirred fresh speculation about a possible reunion or new music on Wednesday after posting a cryptic video on social media that caught fans off guard.
The official accounts of the group, originally formed by Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham, shared a short clip on Wednesday afternoon with a message teasing an announcement for Thursday, September 10 at 14:00 British time (13:00 GMT). The clip played their signature 1996 song "Wannabe" in the background.
The video also nodded to that same song, having been filmed on the steps of the hotel where the original "Wannabe" music video was shot.
In the clip, a newspaper lies on the steps. When zoomed in, it reads: "Are you a Spice Girls fan with the ability to sing and dance? Are you a superfan, a collector, a music lover?"
Fans dissect the clues
Fans of the girl group immediately began scrutinising every detail of the message, floating theories about a possible reunion tour, a new album or an anniversary edition, since 2026 marks 30 years since the release of "Wannabe."
The newspaper shown in the clip is The Stage, the same publication that in 1994 carried the original advertisement seeking members for a new girl group, a search that led to the formation of the Spice Girls. Alongside the Thursday date and time, the ad in the clip states that whatever is revealed will require "no sheet music, but you will need a vinyl or CD player."
Other fans also spotted what appears to be a phone number at the end of the cryptic message. Breaking it down, the first part, 1009, is thought to point to Thursday's date, while the remaining digits, 061126, may refer to November 6.
A legacy of chart-topping hits
The Spice Girls are among the most successful girl groups in recent music history, with nine number one singles in the United Kingdom and more than 100 million records sold worldwide.
Geri Halliwell, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton last toured together as the Spice Girls in 2019, playing 13 stadium concerts across the United Kingdom and Europe. Victoria Beckham, the group's fifth member, has not performed publicly with the group since the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Reunion speculation builds
Rumours of a full Spice Girls reunion have persisted for years, but a video posted in February by Victoria Beckham's son, Cruz Beckham, showing four of the five members, all except Mel B, singing "Viva Forever," appeared to bring the possibility of a reunion tour closer.
Visiting the group's official website now automatically opens a pop-up featuring the mysterious video alongside a sign-up form inviting fans to receive "the latest updates" from the Spice Girls.
