Funsies
March 7, 2026
Zara Larsson by Charlotte Rutherford
With summer comes the annual, yet unofficial, contest that takes place in the music industry: the race to be the Song of the Summer. While never formally crowned, tracks decorated with the illustrious title are often remembered forever. Whether you’re “bumpin’ that” or sipping on a “me-espresso,” the song considered to be that year’s celebrated beach track will hold memories far after the tan lines have faded. While it is still a little too early to tell, here are some likely contenders for 2026:
PinkPantheress is certainly enjoying her biggest peak so far since releasing her hit album Fancy That, back in May of 2025. Yet, it is her most recent collaborative remix of her song “Stateside” with Swedish pop sensation, Zara Larsson, that has us all screaming, “Boots! That’s my ego boost!” at the top of our lungs. With the song’s ever-growing viral popularity, it would be unsurprising if this intercontinental track took home the crown this summer.
Harry Styles returned in full force at the beginning of 2026 with the announcement of his forthcoming album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. and his upcoming “Together, Together” tour. The lead single from the album, “Aperture” is an immediate contender for this summer’s big hit, as fans and critics alike prepare for his return to the global stage. While “Aperture” has Harry reminding us that, “we belong together,” it is just as likely that another song from the LP may end up taking the cake after its release on March 6th.
Bruno Mars also returned this year with the release of his new album, The Romantic. The lead single, “I Just Might” has us moving and grooving enough to make it an early contender for song of the summer. With levity filled lyrics and an extremely feel-good melody, it’s easy to imagine turning this one up while laying poolside. Who knows, it just might make the cut!
It’s easy to pair summer and MUNA together - the LA based band is famous for their undeniable summer hit from 2022, “Silk Chiffon.” The band announced their third album in February kicking it off with the single “Dancing on the Wall,” and while the song has some darker undertones, it still holds all of the elements of the chaotic whimsy and dance-filled energy that feels like summer in a bottle. With the album set to release on May 8th, it’s likely we will see more than one MUNA song fighting for its place at the top.
The summer of 2025 will always be remembered as a songless summer. Despite the plethora of incredible new music that seemed to be dropping every other day, there was no single stand out. Nothing finally appeared as the main contender despite weeks and months of keeping our eyes open for a winner. Maybe it was because the competition was just too hard? or maybe the post-Espresso bar was just too high? Either way, now that we have experienced what was once thought impossible, what can we do if it happens again?
Never fear! It is helpful to remember that while there is always hope that the Song of the Summer will be a new track, taking a look at older releases is no crime. While last summer did not have a 2025 top dog, Charli xcx’s 2020 release, “party 4 u” was everywhere, and was likely the closest we came to having a 2025 Song of the Summer. The track became so wildly popular that Charli herself re-released the song as a single and dropped a music video to celebrate its five year anniversary. Similarly, Zara Larsson’s newest album, Midnight Sun, is having a moment in the sun (no pun intended) despite being released in the fall of 2025. So, if no 2026 release is catching your eye this summer, breathe easy! Sometimes the best things just take time.
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