The fall 2026 semester has started, which means summer is coming to a close. But while a new semester may mean a new routine and change in season, that doesn’t mean your music taste has to change with it. What better way to ring in the new school year, but still embrace the epic summer you just had, than by having the songs you loved over the summer on repeat as you walk to the quad, go to your next lecture, or head over to the library? Plus, even though it may not feel like summer while being in school, it really isn’t even technically over until Sept. 22.
All this to say, Spotify is well aware of how much people reminisce about summer in the early weeks of fall and aren’t ready to give it up their fav viral hits just yet. That’s why the streamer has created its own designated playlist featuring the top songs of the summer for 2026 for you to look back on and enjoy.Â
But which of the top songs are *the* top songs? Well, Spotify has an answer for that! For the past three years, Spotify has selected five tracks (based on data, cultural impact, and editorial insight) to name the songs of the summer. So as we put down the sunglasses and bathing suits and get ready for flannels and sweaters, here are the songs that shaped the summer that you can continue to have on repeat well into the fall semester.Â
“hate that i made you love me” by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” dominated the charts this summer. On May 29, it debuted at No. 1 and held strong as the No. 1 song on Spotify’s Global Chart for 22 days and 89 days in the Global Top 10. In fact, it took the crown as the most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify and achieved a 100 million monthly listener milestone in August. So, if there is one song that should define summer 2026, it’s this one. The song became an instant hit and coincided with Grande’s The Eternal Sunshine Tour that took place this summer. So literally from the time the spring semester ended to when school picked up again for the new year, this song was in the top 10, meaning it’s definitely a staple as we head into fall.
“Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley
If you’re looking for a country anthem to take you into the fall semester, then “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley is a top contender. The song actually gained a lot of international appeal as it was one of the most-streamed songs in the U.K. this summer. In the United States, it spent 70 days at No. 1 this summer and literally the entire summer (98 days) on Spotify’s Global Top 50.
“Rein Me In (with Olivia Dean)” by Sam Fender & Olivia Dean
“Rein Me In” by English singers Sam Fender and Olivia Dean had a record-breaking 75 day run at No. 1 in the U.K., but the song also gained popularity here in the States as well, specifically thanks to Fender and Dean’s performance at Lollapalooza, which helped propel the song into popularity on an international level.
“Dai Dai” by Shakira & Burna Boy
When thinking of summer 2026, there is one sporting event that comes to mind — and that is the World Cup. This 39-day tournament had everyone talking, whether you were a lifelong soccer enthusiast or a casual fan tuning in — from the watch parties to the celeb appearances to the halftime show and everything in between. With the worldwide cultural impact this event had, there is no question that the official 2026 World Cup song “Dai Dai” makes this list. This unifying global hit song spent 37 days at No. 1 in Spotify’s Global Charts and its biggest streaming day took place on July 20 (the day after the World Cup Final). It was also the summer’s most-streamed music video on Spotify as well. If one thing is for sure, Shakira knows how to deliver an iconic summer soccer anthem that the world can get behind.
“Spend Dat” by Yung Miami
“Spend Dat” by Yung Miami was one of the summer’s inescapable hip-hop hits. The song was paired with a viral dance trend, which definitely solidified its popularity over the summer. The artist experienced a major breakthrough because of this song, with listenership quadrupling from 1.6 million in May to 6.3 million in August. The daily streams of the song “Spend Dat” specifically surged 200% over the summer. So, if you’re looking for a party song as the semester kicks off, definitely keep “Spend Dat” in your back pocket.
The official Songs of the Summer playlist is now available on Spotify, featuring 35 songs in total, including the five mentioned on this list.