From “get ready with me” TikToks and Instagram notes to grocery store radios and beach towel speakers, these 3 albums have left their mark and defined the summer of 2026.
Olivia Rodrigo- You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Third time’s a charm as they say, and never has that statement been more true than in Olivia Rodrigo’s highly acclaimed third album, released on June 12. Ditching her signature purple covers, Rodrigo presents a more mature and sorrowful persona in this release.
The first half of the tracks describe a girl’s first experiences with love, riddled with butterflies, uncertainty and wistful dreams, standout songs include “stupid song,” prerelease “drop dead” and “maggots for brains.” The latter half depicts heartbreak and the reflection that comes after a breakup,with tracks like “the cure,” “cigarette smoke,” and “what’s wrong with me” featuring Robert Smith.
Rodrigo’s album spent two weeks on the Billboard top 200, charted four tracks in the Hot 100, and becoming 2026’s most streamed album by a female artist within a single day on Spotify. It is easy to see how this bold, sophisticated album consumed the summer.
Noah Kahan- The Great Divide
With an album that encompasses the carefree afternoons of June, screaming cicadas of July, and the bittersweet endings of August, Noah Kahan’s fourth studio album reminds us what summer is meant to feel like. Released on April 24, “The Great Divide” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and went certified platinum in the U.S. and gold in the U.K.
Doused in nostalgia and introspection, Kahan blends catchy, upbeat guitar with sorrowful lyrics. Popular tracks include “End of August.” “Porch Light,” “American Cars,” and “Doors.”
Olivia Dean- The Art of Loving
Olivia Dean’s charming, jazzy, lovey dovey songs have been virtually inescapable this summer, and for good reason! Released in September 2025, Dean’s sophomore album has seen immense success in the U.S., as well as where the singer calls home in the U.K.
“The Art of Loving” won Album of the Year at the 2026 Brit Awards, ranked fifth of Billboard’s Best Albums of 2025, and debuted at #1 on the U.K. Albums Chart. The world can’t seem to get enough of “The Art of Loving.” Songs like “Nice To Each Other,” “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” and “Man I Need” have made their rounds on TikTok and Instagram, sparking a rise in popularity this summer.
Along with Rodrigo, 2026 looks to be the year of Olivias!
