Announced in May 2012 by the Estate of Michael Jackson, various formats of Bad 25 will be released simultaneously on September 18, 2012. The album, a two-disc set, will include the original album, as well as unreleased material recorded during the Bad sessions. The material includes early demo versions of songs from the album, demos of songs not included on the final album, and remixes. A DVD of Jackson's July 16, 1988 performance in Wembley Stadium, London will also be released. This performance from Jackson's Bad World Tour has often been hailed as one of Jackson's best performances, and has been petitioned for release by fans for years.

A box set, which includes booklets with photos, will include both the two-disc album and the DVD, along with a CD of the Wembley performance audio. A vinyl version of the original 1987 release (which does not include "Leave Me Alone") will also be released. Three songs: "Streetwalker", "Fly Away" and "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu" appeared on the 2001 special edition of Bad.

Bad 25 is the tenth album to be released by Sony or Motown or since Michael Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.