Summer is here. Weather is nice. Days are long — and so are the nights.
And most importantly, the tunes are on.
Traditionally, the song of the summer has been a rap song—literally, in 2024, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” ruled everything—but the genre has struggled recently.
Now we’re back. This is mainly due to Drake’s three-headed monster release of Iceman, Maid of Honour, and Habibti, which has come and injected some energy into the game. The Drake stimulus is still real, and this time it’s lifting up the genre.
Trying to handicap a ranking of what will be the song of the summer is tricky, though. Yes, you have Drake, but what about everything else? The evolving landscape of how we consume music complicates things: the rise of catalogue music—often sparked by a well-placed sync in a show or film—keeps older songs in the zeitgeist, blocking out new hits.
This year, we’re expanding our criteria beyond new releases—because song of the summer doesn’t care about a release date. From new hits from Drake and Yung Miami to classics from Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber, here is our ranking of the songs most likely to define summer 2026.
20.
Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj, “Beauty and a Beat”
Producer: Max Martin & Zedd
Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance is reverberating into the summer. “Beauty and a Beat,” which features pre-MAGA Nicki Minaj, is doing massive numbers on streaming—it basically hasn’t left the top of the global Spotify charts since Coachella—to the point where it could really dominate the summer. —Will Schube
19.
Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
Producer: Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
Speaking of catalogue songs. Powered by the success of Michael, the King of Pop’s music has been all over the charts the last couple of years. “Billie Jean” has been the big winner, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 more than 40 years after its release. Lie and say you wouldn’t want to hear this at a barbecue. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
18.
Jay Wheeler & Omar Courtz, “De Lejitos” (Remix)
Two Puerto Rican stars, Jay Wheeler and Omar Courtz, connect for this seductive song for the baddies, “De Lejitos.” Don’t be surprised if this one’s still playing come Labor Day. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
17.
KATSEYE, “Pinky Up”
Producer: “Hitman” Bang, Dwilly & Frants
This summer is all about fine dining and classy manners, at least according to KATSEYE.
On “Pinky Up,” they pay homage to the Spongebob method of “when in doubt, pinky out,” and seemingly got a boost by debuting this song at Coachella. On the track, KATSEYE makes clear that “Pinky Up” is less a bodily action than a way of life. —Will Schube
16.
Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula”
Producer: Kevin Parker
JENNIE from BLACKPINK breathed new life into this Tame Impala banger. Might seem like an odd mix, but her inherent sweetness cuts against the track’s spooky undertow in a way that just clicks. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
15.
Gracie Abrams, “Hit The Wall”
Producer: Gracie Abrams & Aaron Dessner
Gracie Abrams and The National’s Aaron Dessner continue to cook up magic, and “Hit The Wall” is another grade-A hit to be featured on Abrams’ new LP, Daughter from Hell. While father JJ might disagree with the title, it’s surely made for good fodder as the culture continues to debate on the nepo baby allegations. —Will Schube
14.
Omar Courtz, “KOKO”
Producer: Sky Rompiendo, Vaih & KARBeats
Omar Courtz has been making waves ever since his star making appearance on Bad Bunny’s “VeLDÁ.” The sensual “KOKO” is one of the standouts off of Por Si Mañana No Estoy, led by an infectious groove that only sounds better with a cold drink in your hand. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
13.
Olivia Rodrigo, “Drop Dead”
Producer: Dan Nigro
“Drop Dead” is the lead single from Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, and the anthemic chorus from the smash hit are kinda at odds with the album title. “The most alive I’ve ever been/ But kiss me and I might drop dеad,” Rodrigo sings during the chorus. Live in love or die trying. —Will Schube
12.
Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller, “It Depends”
Producer: RiotUSA & Nico Baran
Chris Brown stays with a hit. And his latest features a slick nod to his tourmate Usher, flipping “Nice & Slow” into something that feels both modern and nostalgic. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
11.
Rick Ross, French Montana, Max B, “Minks In Miami”
Producer: damn james!
Summer sounds better when soundtracked by Ricky Rozay.
He’s just got a voice that works well with oppressively warm days and long nights. On the Masta Ace-sampling “Minks in Miami,” he links up with rap’s revived hottest duo, French Montana and Max B, offering up toasts during the chorus when they chant: “Pop bottles of Belaire and let’s go celebrate.” —Will Schube
10.
Drake & Sexyy Red, “Cheetah Print”
Producer: SkipOnDaBeat, Smash David, Digital Jet & Sean Turk
Out of the 43 songs Drake dropped this year, “Cheetah Print” might be the strangest. The song is driven by an ’80s-inspired electro beat before transforming into a track that samples a cruise classic, Mister C’s “Cha Cha Slide.” The weirdness might be exactly what makes it stick. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
9.
Fenix Flexin & Purps On The Beat, “RUBBERZ”
Producer: Purps On The Beat
This song has only been officially out for a couple of days, but it’s all over. Fenix, who cut his teeth as a member of Shoreline Mafia, shows off his versatility with an 80s-inspired bop so off-kilter that some fans were wondering if it was actually AI. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
8.
BossMan Dlow, “Motion Party”
Producers: DB!, K6WYA, Gitt Fai & Dub tha Prodigy
Props to BossMan Dlow for actually trying to make both sexes dance. “Motion Party” samples one of the great XXX anthems of all time, Khia’s “My Neck, My Back (Lick It),” but does so in a way that lets the song stand on its own. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
7.
BTS, “Swim”
Producer: Tyler Spry & Leclair
The BTS Army endured a four year hiatus and were repaid with one of the K-pop group’s biggest singles to date. “Swim” is the band’s latest statement of intent, a declaration that they’re back and not going anywhere. — Will Schube
6.
Don Toliver, “E85”
Producer: 206DEREK, Aaron Paris, Jaasu & Travis Scott
If it wasn’t for Drake, Don Toliver would be the rapper of the year. He has four songs all over the Billboard charts. “E85” is of course the real winner, super addictive and one you’d expect to hear all summer long. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
5.
Pinkpantheress & Zara Larsson, “Stateside”
The fun thing about the modern internet is that a song can go viral at any time. There’s rarely a method to the madness, but once in a while, a deserving song gets a nod. Cue the Zara Larsson-featuring remix of Pinkpantheress’ “Stateside,” a standout from Fancy That that is making its mark months after its release. —Will Schube
4.
Yung Miami, “Spend Dat”
Producer: J. White Did It
This started out as an internet joke, with people making fun of the heavy-handed way Jadakiss and Fat Joe were responding to the song, which made its premiere on their podcast.
But look who’s laughing now? That was April. The song hasn’t gone anywhere and it’s now on the Billboard Hot 100. A win that Joe and Jada gladly accept. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
3.
DaBaby, “Pop Dat Thang”
Producer: KayoTheWizard & Sean Da Firzt
Some people are simply uncancellable. After saying a bunch of stuff that would make others outcasts and pariahs, DaBaby has weathered the storm, returning to the upper echelon of rap for the first time in a few years. Also, don’t sleep on the remix, which gets some help from GloRilla and YKNIECE. —Will Schube
2.
Drake, “Shabang”
Producer: Maneesh & 40
It’s nice hearing Drake and 40 reunited.
After a few years in the wilderness, Drake returned home on ICEMAN, again linking up with his longtime right hand man 40 on some standouts from his latest era. “Shabang” is one of those hits, a joyous, R&B-rap hybrid with a memorable title that removes Drake from his beefs and squabbles and presents him as a hitmaking extraordinaire.
This would be our pick for song of the summer, if it wasn’t for another Drake song… —Will Schube
1.
Drake, “Janice STFU”
Producer: b4u, FNZ & Rogét Chahayed
Drake is back where he belongs.
The No. 1 rap record of the last couple weeks is a song that blends old-school Drake — flipping Lykke Li — with newer instincts, leaning into exaggerated vocal inflections. Don’t let the catchy chorus fool you, this is also an elite, razor-sharp rap performance, among the best on Iceman. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
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