Spotify predicts Drake, Zara Larsson and Ella Langley will dominate summer 2026

Spotify released a curated list of 30 songs tipped to become this year’s summer hits to identify biggest contenders

Spotify has unveiled its official Songs of Summer predictions for 2026, with Drake, Zara Larsson and country breakout star Ella Langley leading the platform’s list of tracks expected to soundtrack the coming months.

The streaming giant released a curated list of 30 songs tipped to become this year’s defining summer hits, combining streaming data, cultural momentum and editorial forecasting to identify the biggest contenders. Among the artists highlighted were Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, PinkPantheress, Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter.

One of the standout names on the list was Swedish pop star Zara Larsson, whose recent resurgence has continued to gather momentum globally. Spotify singled out her collaboration with PinkPantheress, “Stateside”, as a major contender after the track exploded across TikTok and streaming platforms earlier this year.

The remix became a global breakout success, reaching No 1 on Spotify’s Global Daily Chart and helping Larsson achieve the biggest streaming success of her career to date in the United States.

Drake was also heavily featured among Spotify’s predictions as the rapper continues his commercial dominance heading into the summer season. The company identified multiple tracks from the Canadian superstar as likely chart leaders thanks to strong early streaming numbers and social media traction.

Country singer Ella Langley emerged as another major favourite after her rapid rise over the past year. Spotify’s predictions suggest country music could once again play a huge role in defining the summer charts following the genre’s crossover success throughout 2025 and 2026.

Larsson’s inclusion reflects what many fans have dubbed a “Zara Larsson renaissance” over the past year. Her music has experienced renewed popularity following viral TikTok trends surrounding both “Lush Life” and tracks from her Midnight Sun era.

Spotify’s annual Songs of Summer predictions have increasingly become a closely watched indicator within the music industry, often accurately forecasting the tracks that dominate streaming, radio and social media throughout the season.