NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� What is 2026’s song of the summer?
There’s no easy answer. Algorithmic division is certainly a factor in why there isn’t an obvious pick this year. Where have the songs like in 2017 or in 2019 gone? Last year, some even wondered if 鈥� a ballad, not a banger 鈥� qualified, a departure from the usual up-tempo, feel-good hits.
Whatever your summer mood or flavor, The Associated Press has found a song to soundtrack the season, collected in a
Biggest song of the year and therefore the default song of the summer: Ella Langley
Ella Langley broke out just last year with the throwback, spoken-word track 鈥淵ou Look Like You Love Me,鈥� featuring Riley Green, but it鈥檚 her breakup banger 鈥淐hoosin鈥� Texas鈥� that has made her a crossover country star. Not only has it spent more time at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 than any other song this year, it also has some of the most distinctive lyrics of the year. 鈥淗e always loved 鈥楢marillo By Morning,鈥欌�� she sings in a particularly melancholic verse, referencing the George Strait classic. 鈥淚 should鈥檝e taken that as a warnin鈥�.鈥� Indeed.
Past champion: 鈥淟uther,鈥� Kendrick Lamar and SZA (2025)
Song of the summer for when you lose the beef but still have fight left in ya: Drake
For the better part of 2025, Drake mostly made headlines for . It鈥檚 safe to say but he鈥檚 clearly not going anywhere; he’s still one of the . 鈥淛anice STFU鈥� is the with its familiar Lykke Li interpolation and moody production.
Past champion: 鈥淣okia,鈥� Drake (2025)
Song of the summer that shares a title with a film: Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress
It’s the title of a 2018 romantic drama starring Bella Thorne and a term used to describe regions around the Arctic Circle. But in 2026, the phrase 鈥淢idnight Sun鈥� belongs to Swedish pop star Zara Larsson. It鈥檚 the title of her last album and lead single, the inescapable Eurodance-pop 鈥淢idnight Sun,鈥� with an elastic vocal performance. Last month, she released 鈥淢idnight Sun: Girls Trip,鈥� a collection of remixes featuring everyone from Shakira and Robyn to Kehlani and rapper JT and, of course, PinkPantheress.
Past champion: 鈥淏reakfast at Tiffany鈥檚,鈥� Deep Blue Something (1995)
Song of the summer for high-energy It Girls: Slayyyter
She鈥檚 the 鈥淲or$t Girl in America,鈥� if her cheeky album title is to be believed, but also one of pop鈥檚 great new provocateurs. At the album’s center is her buzzy electro-pop opus 鈥淒ANCE鈥�,鈥� perfect for those who鈥檝e been patiently awaiting her mainstream rise 鈥� and those who need a good excuse to hit the dance floor.
Past champion: 鈥淏ad Girls,鈥� Donna Summer (1979)
Song of the summer for the throwback crowd: Bruno Mars
Earlier this year, hitmaker returned with his first , anchored by the feel-good, disco-pop-soul single 鈥淚 Just Might.鈥� The throwback tune is a funky reprieve from slow or boring days 鈥� and one that will be heard on wedding dance floors for the foreseeable future.
Past champion: 鈥淩ed Red Wine,鈥� UB40 (1983)
Song of the summer that arrived at the beginning of the year: Tame Impala and Jennie
There鈥檚 a long tradition of the song of the summer arriving at the top of the year 鈥� looking at you, and 鈥淏oy鈥檚 a Liar PT. 2.鈥� This year, the title goes to Tame Impala鈥檚 鈥淒racula鈥� 鈥� particularly the remix with Blackpink鈥檚 Jennie. 鈥淩un from the sunlight, Dracula,鈥� they harmonize, in a vocal melody inescapable on TikTok and in the real world.
Past champion: 鈥淣UEVAYoL,鈥� Bad Bunny (2025)
Song of the summer for those looking for a club classic: by Aria Vega and Ryan Castro
A club-ready contender for song of the summer should be easy, breezy and amorous. Such is the case of Aria Vega and Ryan Castro’s 鈥淐h茅vere (premium_remix),鈥� where reimagined, romantic reggaeton is perfect for a house party or finding the love of your life. Ideally both.
Past champion: 鈥淏reak My Soul,鈥� Beyonc茅 (2022)
Song of the summer for people who know the power of a good bridge: Olivia Rodrigo
In the lead up to 鈥淵ou seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,鈥� Olivia Rodrigo released 鈥淭he Cure.鈥� It marked a giant step forward for the young songwriter, with dreamy guitars, orchestral strings and most impactful of all: its explosive bridge.
Past champion: 鈥淗ollaback Girl,鈥� Gwen Stefani (2005)
Song of the summer for people who love music, fashion and film in equal measure: Charli xcx
The contemporary pop landscape鈥檚 preeminent party girl is in for a bummer of a summer. 鈥淪S26,鈥� one of the first tracks released from forthcoming 鈥淢usic, Fashion, Film,鈥� is shockingly minimalistic, with little more than distorted guitar riffs and production that sounds like a simple Casio keyboard preset. It鈥檚 rock music, as she鈥檚 promised 鈥� but done her own way.
Past champion: 鈥淩hinestone Cowboy,鈥� Glen Campbell (1975)
Song for people who live like it’s summer year-round: Don Toliver
鈥淥n the highway with my significant lover (I love),鈥� the singer-songwriter-rapper Don Toliver declares with ease in the chorus of 鈥淓85.鈥� 鈥淗igh octane, more fuel for your consumption.鈥� If there is an image more primed for the hot summer months than rolling down the freeway on a trip with a loved one, we have yet to see it.
Past champion: 鈥淢i Gente,鈥� J Balvin and Willy William (2017)
Song of the summer for seaside dreamers: BTS
The game-changing returned after a nearly four-year musical hiatus The comeback was led by 鈥淪wim,鈥� a reserved, alt-pop track that brings a kind of intimacy to their stadium-sized output. The 鈥淪wim鈥� here is metaphorical 鈥� as is the 鈥渄ive鈥� in its chorus 鈥� of having a crush, but the aquatic language works in conjuring dreamy, poolside imagery, too.
Past champion: 鈥淲aterfalls,鈥� TLC (1995)
Song of the summer for the yearners: Dave ft. Tems
British rapper Dave and Nigerian singer Tems team up for the Afroswing single 鈥淩aindance,鈥� a sweet, sexy song about wanting to lock things down. 鈥淗old me close, don鈥檛 tell me goodnight / Are you down to get me?鈥� the pair dreamily duet on the second verse. 鈥淭ell me when you鈥檙e ready, I鈥檓 ready.鈥�
Past champion: 鈥淣ineteen,鈥� Tegan and Sara (2007)
Song of the summer for the sports crowd: Shakira and Burna Boy
This summer is all about soccer, so, of course, we had to include one of the official songs for 鈥淒ai Dai.鈥� The and team up on an energetic, undeniably global pop track. It exists at the intersection of all their strengths: Afrobeats and Latin rhythms, separate, complementary verses and a strong chorus about unity.
Past champion: 鈥淭he Final Countdown,鈥� Europe (1986)
Song of the summer for those ready to stop feuding and enjoy life again: Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert
Look, there鈥檚 no shortage of great songs from latest album, A case could be made to include 鈥淢exico Honey鈥� or 鈥淒ry Spell鈥� here, but what about a song with norte帽o accordions and slide guitar that doubles as a cheeky punchline to a fight? The capital-c country 鈥淗orses & Divorces鈥� brings musicians’ feud to an end over a shared love of drinking and What could be sweeter?
Past champion: 鈥淕irl, so confusing,鈥� Charli xcx and Lorde (2024)
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