What’s the Song of the Summer for 2026? Here Are Our Picks
“Beaches In Tennessee” by Cage The Elephant, “Melatonin” by Tinashe, “Armor” by Medium Build, and “Twiggy” by Remi Wolf are all contenders for 2026’s song of the summer.
The song of the summer — it’s an elusive accolade. How do you judge who gets the crown? By popularity? Relevance? Artistry? Or is it defined by a quality even less tangible?
No matter how you choose what tracks are allowed into this revered musical subgroup, songs of the summer tend to share at least one thing: they capture the intoxicating energy of the hottest months of the year, filled with the highest highs and lowest lows.
So, what is 2026’s song of the summer? You’ve got your opinion. And we’ve got ours. Here are Off the Record’s staff picks for the songs that defined this summer.
“Lost Boys” by Phoebe Bridgers
Brooke Shapiro, Music Extras Co-Editor
It became a Phoebe Bridgers summer the moment a nondescript flyer for a Roswell, New Mexico pop-up show by the beloved indie stalwart was pinned to a bulletin board in May. Come June, the announcement of her first album in six years and the release of lead single “Lost Boys” certainly sealed the deal. A catchy chorus dipped in Peter Pan Syndrome mixed with verses of Bridgers’ signature confessional croon makes for a rousing track anyone can bob along to. As Lost Weekend becomes one of the buzziest records of the year, “Lost Boys” carries the torch of being a well-deserved cathartic song of the summer.
“Happy” by Yana
Claire Cole, Contributor
Most of the time, summer embodies the unmistakable freedom associated with hot sunny days and late sunsets. It is in this place that we get so many of our summer anthems. However, a true song of the summer acknowledges that other part of the season that often gets overlooked: when the heat becomes oppressive, the air becomes still, and angst settles deep in the bones. Yana’s “Happy” is written exactly in this sweltering juxtaposition. The song starts all at once, bright and sparkly, but with distinctly frustrated lyrics. As the song progresses, the bass becomes stronger and helplessness gives way to action. She may not be happy yet, but she will be, and that is what is important: deliverance by one’s own hand. With this track, Yana makes room for both parts of the season to coexist, creating the ideal, versatile summer song.
Watch the official music video for “brand new chanel$” on YouTube.
“brand new chanel$” by Slayyyter
Jackie Fortis, Music Reviews Co-Editor
It’s Slayyyter’s year, and we’re here for it. After a monstrous moment at her very first Coachella, Slayyyter’s popularity skyrocketed in every sense of the word. Her single “brand new chanel$” is a song that calls back to “BEAT UP CHANEL$” from her latest album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA. A track about getting cheated on and the violation of your most intimate moments, “brand new chanel$” is a headbanging, heart-throbbing gut punch that allows for true catharsis. Having revealed that the song is a result of getting cheated on just before that pivotal Coachella set, it’s clear that success is the best revenge. She has since launched up the charts, performed at legendary festivals like Lollapalooza, and received a VMA nomination. As Slayyyter stays on watch for Best New Artist this year, “brand new chanel$” absolutely remains a contender for song of the summer.
“oh yeah?” by Steve Lacy
Emily Cheyne, Contributor
What do you do when the summer days feel long, the weeks feel short, and nostalgia turns to resentment for the obligation-less days of yore in the sun? Listen to Steve Lacy, of course! “oh yeah?” off his most recent album encapsulates feeling a little lost in the summertime. Looking back on childhood memories can bring comfort, but inevitably shows that life continues to change and we must change with it. “oh yeah?” is a mellow track with a flowy guitar meant for feeling your feelings this summer. Its feature in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has also helped the track earn its place in summer 2026 pop culture history.
“Caught In A Jam” by Portraits of Tracy
Madelyn Aiken, Contributor
As June releases began to dwindle, Portraits of Tracy, dressed in a 60s-style space suit, stepped in to save the summer. “Caught In A Jam,” which marked the 22-year-old artist’s first new release in almost three years, is a ‘60s-inspired pop-rock banger that signaled an enticing sonic shift from her previous hip-hop/indie-forward sound. She cites the electronic stylings of Gary Numan, the striking vocals of Carole King, and the bands Squeeze, Tom Tom Club, and Queen as influences she drew from during the song’s creation. Amid the captivating, thumping production that’s easy to lose yourself headbanging to, Tracy tells a creepy story of a psychoactive transaction gone wrong. The expansive originality in sound and storytelling puts Portraits of Tracy light years ahead of the mainstream.
Watch the official video for “Lovesick” on YouTube.
“Lovesick” by Wishy
Jane Flautt, Music Extras Co-Editor
Listening to “Lovesick,” you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to the heart-swelling dream pop of the ’90s along the lines of The Cranberries and Cocteau Twins. Wishy dropped this vibrant, joyous single in June ahead of the release of their upcoming sophomore album, Nature’s Pill, and it’s sure to sweep you off your feet in a haze of bubbly rock infused with the perfect hint of nostalgia. “Lovesick” captures that addictive, swoop-in-your-stomach feeling of the opening acts of love and all the heady endorphins that make you want to throw caution to the wind and give into the freefall. Blending bright, open guitar chords with an up-tempo beat and soaring, dreamy vocals, this track embodies the bewitching combination of joy and nausea that so often defines summer love: too sweet, too hot, and, as Wishy sings, so right yet so wrong (“Don’t the right words always seem so wrong?”).
“Sun Has Set” by beabadoobee
Reegan Johnson, Co-Editor-In-Chief
In anticipation of her fourth studio album, Pylon, beabadoobee hard-launched to the point of no return with the fierce lead single, “Sun Has Set.” As a leading contender for the frontwoman of the modern shoegaze era, she is doing everything right. “Sun Has Set” sees itself as a song of absolute finality through hits of pure adrenaline and golden distortion while remaining an uncompromising breakup anthem rooted in finality. It’s a cathartic, addictive song that fits well into festival lineups, with the song’s live debut at Lollapalooza and Hinterland — truly an explosive song, “Sun Has Set” is one that pairs well only with the summer’s most explosive crowds.
“Secret Language” by Ryan Beatty
Cassidy LaPointe, Music Reviews Co-Editor
Ryan Beatty has quietly established himself as one of the most seminal songwriters of our time. After over a decade in the music industry, Beatty earned a Grammy in 2024 for his contributions to Beyoncé’s era-defining Cowboy Carter following the release of his own breakthrough album, Calico, in 2023. With Sweet Fortune, Beatty finds new ways to lay his soul bare. “Secret Language” is pure magic – Beatty’s tight, effective lyricism and lush orchestration epitomize the simultaneous giddiness and anxiety of finally saying those three little words. Though “Secret Language” may not be a traditional song of the summer, the track’s triumphant climax and dreamy horn arrangements make it perfect for the summer yearners.
The Shortlist
“Rock Music” by Charli xcx
“better late than never” by almost monday
“The Masochist” by Olivia O'Brien
“Beaches In Tennessee” by Cage The Elephant
“Got Time” by Rum Jungle
“Melatonin” by Tinashe
“Armor” by Medium Build
“Twiggy” by Remi Wolf
“Bobby” by Phoebe Bridgers
“Wake Her Up” by American Football and Wisp
“Better Man” by Slow Pulp
“Molly In The Club” by Sophia Stel