Top Summer Songs on Billboard's Global Charts, 2026

As summer 2026 drew to a close, Billboard's annual retrospectives on global music trends revealed a season marked by impressive chart-toppers and notable international collaborations. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day witnessed Ariana Grande and Shakira, alongside Burna Boy, capturing global audiences with their standout releases.

Ariana Grande's "Hate That I Made You Love Me" emerged as a defining track on the Billboard Global 200 chart for this summer. The single, which debuted at number one in early June, maintained a strong presence in the chart's upper echelon for several weeks. This success coincided with the release of Grande's studio album petal, which secured her seventh number one on the Billboard 200, underscoring her continued impact on the music industry.

Meanwhile, "Dai Dai," the official FIFA World Cup anthem for 2026 performed by Shakira and Burna Boy, dominated the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. Holding the top spot for ten consecutive weeks from early July through early September, the song's prominence was amplified by its association with the World Cup festivities. Shakira and Burna Boy's live performance at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca during the tournament's opening ceremony captivated over 80,000 attendees.

The World Cup final further elevated "Dai Dai" when Shakira joined an ensemble of artists including Justin Bieber, BTS, and Madonna for the event's inaugural halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This 11-minute spectacle featured a rendition of the anthem, reinforcing the song's status as a unifying global hit tied to the sport's premier event.

Billboard's comprehensive tracking of streaming and sales data from over 200 territories allowed for a nuanced view of musical preferences worldwide. The Global 200 chart integrates data from all territories, while the Global Excl. U.S. chart omits the United States, offering insights into international trends separate from the U.S. market.

The summer charts also highlighted the resurgence of catalog tracks, with notable spikes in streams and sales for Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber. Michael Jackson’s renewed popularity correlated with the release of his biopic Michael, which shattered viewing records, while Bieber's appearance at Coachella propelled interest in his previous work.

The 2026 summer season was also shaped by the absence of songs that topped the charts in prior years, as tracks from 2024 and 2025 were ineligible for this year's seasonal tallies. This rule ensured fresh music dominated the summer playlists and charts.

Reflecting on summer hits from recent years, Billboard notes that Alex Warren's "Ordinary" was the top global track for summer 2025, succeeding Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 hit "Espresso" and Jung Kook’s 2023 chart leader "Seven" featuring Latto. Additionally, Ella Langley’s "Choosin’ Texas" was named the top song of the summer on the U.S.-focused Billboard Hot 100, illustrating distinct regional preferences.

Overall, the summer of 2026 solidified Ariana Grande’s and Shakira's continued relevance on the global music stage. Their chart performances underscored the power of combining pop sensibilities with major cultural events like the FIFA World Cup to achieve worldwide reach. As music consumption continues to diversify across streaming platforms and live events, these chart-topping artists demonstrate the evolving dynamics of global music popularity.

While detailed breakdowns of other top-charting songs were not fully disclosed, the summer’s highlights reflect a blend of new releases and revived classics shaping the global soundtrack for the season. The data affirms the significance of seasonal trends in music, influenced by large-scale cultural moments and artist visibility across continents.