What Is 2026’s Song of the Summer? Here Are Vogue’s Picks

It’s almost August, which means it’s high time we sorted out the song—or songs—of the summer. While Role Model, Haim, and Addison Rae dominated last year’s list, 2026 has plenty of hits to rival country singer Ella Langley’s mega-viral “Choosin’ Texas.”

Here, find a roundup of the many songs Vogue staffers are dancing (or introspectively head-nodding) to this season.

Maybe it’s the Alabama in me, but nothing beats a little country-pop in the summertime, and Kelsea Ballerini and Marshmello’s “Another Drink” is the perfect windows-down anthem for golden-hour drives, late nights, and every summer moment in between. —Molly Barstein, associate manager, audience development

What’s better than one pop diva? Two pop divas. It was the collab of the summer—and the dance-floor banger that played non-stop at all the gay clubs. Plus, that music video? Iconic. —Christian Allaire, senior fashion & style writer

The whole thing. It’s better than Brat. We should all be having a Confessions summer. —Greg Birkhofer, visuals producer

Just imagine the incredible lowercase sad-bro chemistry that produced this ballad-banger from mgk and honestav. The latter is Avrey Freeman, a strummy, tattooed, emo-and-hip-hop-influenced songwriter from Missouri who had a breakout hit with 2024’s “I’d Rather Overdose” (put Noah Kahan on tumble dry with Linkin Park and XXXTentacion to get the idea). Honestav was opening for mgk on tour when the two wrote “Crash First,” which is about drugs, dead dads, partying hard, and not giving a fuck—a phrase you may catch yourself singing along with at top volume if you’re not careful. —Taylor Antrim, global network lead & US deputy editor

Rose Gray’s Louder, Please was one of my favorite records from last year, so I’m hoping that the killer dance-pop track “Club to Your Arms” she dropped last month is a teaser for another album to come. It’s got four-to-the-floor beats, Gray belting like a proper house diva, and a chorus so infectious it should probably be classified by the CDC—essentially, it’s a perfect summer banger. —Liam Hess, senior lifestyle & weddings editor

It’s a bit cliché to say that I, a gay man, love Madonna’s Confessions II, but I do. The whole album, which is laid out as a singular aural experience (as opposed to collection of songs), is stellar, a career high for a woman whose past is littered with them. “Danceteria” is a clear winner because it’s a rare walk down memory lane for the legend, a remembrance of her origin story in the seedy clubs of ’80s downtown New York. It’s anything but wistful, though—utterly bouncy, dance-y, joyful (though there is something poignant about her looking back at age 67). —Max Berlinger, senior fashion news editor

I’ve been playing New York duo Fcukers’ latest album, Ö, pretty much nonstop since it dropped in the spring. But this record was made for summer—especially the hypnotic vocals and sexy beats of the aptly titled “if you wanna party, come over to my house.” Listen on for the perfect sweaty summer dance-floor bop. —Hannah Jackson, senior fashion writer

As this very magazine declared in June, it’s a Gracie Abrams summer, and “Look at My Life” from her new album Daughter from Hell has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks. With sparkly synths and lyrics like “But, oh well, look at my life / Bet you can’t tell, but it’s kind of a bad time / A new spiral every night / Bawling my eyes out / No, but I’m so fine,” the song feels reminiscent of Melodrama-era Lorde. It sort of makes me want to dance, scream, and cry at the same time—and if that’s not perfect for summer, then what is? —Anna Lee, lifestyle writer

The album I’ve been listening to on repeat this summer is Madonna’s Confessions II, and while there isn’t a single dud track, I truly think “Love Sensation” is an instant Madge classic with that euphoric, French house-y chorus. I’m still yet to hear it on a dance floor, but when I do, I’m going to be spinning around like that GIF of Scarlett Johansson dancing in Marriage Story. —L.H.

I’m not sure if anyone else is on the Pilé side of TikTok, but I have the World Cup to thank for introducing me to this masterpiece. It’s a Pilé (Gospel) summer, my friends. I’d also like to give an honorable mention to every single song on SWAG LIVE FROM COACHELLA (Weekend 1). —Taylor Lashley, senior manager, social media

Kim Petras was my favorite comeback story of 2026. (She finally managed to get out of her long-term record deal and released her third—and best—album, Detour, in May.) There are plenty of songs I could have put here, but her gnarly hyperpop-meets-trap banger “Polo” has been my go-to when stomping through the crowded streets of London this summer—volume turned all the way up, obvs. —L.H.

You know it’s a hit when the fans have to beg for the song to be freed from the prison that is a Soundcloud exclusive unofficial release. The booming maximalist production from electronic duo Frost Children, combined with Kim’s aggressive confrontation of her past label struggles, will get any girl, gay, or they on their feet. —Edward Horgan, associate, content business operations

Did you even attend a party in Brooklyn if you didn’t hear a chorus of twenty-somethings screaming in unison: “Boy, go in that Goyard bag!” While I’m personally hoping and dreaming for a City Girls reunion—and will be for eternity—I’ll be having a Spend Dat Summer until then. —Edgar Gatsinzi, associate manager, social media

Music, Fashion, Film definitely isn’t Brat, and—hear me out—that’s okay! Good, even! It would be borderline annoying for Charli to try to recreate her summer-of-2024 virality, but her latest album is admittedly more subtle…with the exception of “Wink Wink,” which arguably goes as hard as “Club Classics” ever did. —Emma Specter, culture writer

Time blooms on the standout single of Downtown Boys’ new album Public Luxury: the nostalgia of its stunning guitar riff, the gratitude it expresses for those who struggle in the present, the inevitability of our future freedom in its beautiful refrain. The trees grow in every direction. —Alexandra Di Palma, senior producer, The Run-Through