Written by Maya Davison
Illustrated by Jessica Chan
We all love to soundtrack our lives, whether that’s pretending to be in the Hogwarts library while studying to a dark academia playlist, or spiralling about a soul-wrenching crush to songs that perfectly articulate that dizzying feeling. My personal soundtrack takes shape in transitory, fleeting moments, with songs becoming inextricably intertwined with specific memories and eras.
Summer is one of those moments, and an old playlist can transport us back in time. It’s very hard to put a whole season into one playlist, and the past few months have personally been very eventful, but I have tried to put it into 15 tracks.
Here are all the songs that I have had on repeat, tried to get out of my head but couldn’t, and that encapsulate the warmer months. A complete menagerie, it includes familiar big hits, smaller songs to add to your playlists, and tracks worth rediscovering. This is my Summer 2026 in Song:
The vibe: Watching a sunset on Primrose Hill with your friends, having a picnic.
Favourite lyric: “Some left but the right ones stay / A good end to a Saturday”
For Fans Of (FFO): Tiny Habits, Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers
The vibe: Late night drives, screaming out the window with your friends.
Favourite lyric: “Oh, I hope you’re happy now / ‘Cause I won’t stick around”
FFO: Ryan Beatty, ROLE MODEL, The 1975
The vibe: Girls’ night in with your besties.
Favourite lyric: “I’d rather be a nobody than to be like everyone.”
FFO: Charli xcx, Addison Rae, Slayyyter
4. brand new chanel$ – Slayyyter
The vibe: Entering the club for the first time after exam season.
Favourite lyric: “I’m holding it alone just for tonight”
FFO: Charli xcx, ADÉLA, Rose Gray, Tiffany Day
5. Rocksteady/HeavyMetal – Emma Ogier
The vibe: Montage of the older sister in her bedroom in a coming-of-age movie.
Favourite lyric: “I’m on your side, just keep on rocking”
FFO: Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, boygenius, Del Water Gap
6. oh yeah? – Steve Lacy
The vibe: Moving to the big city for the first time and taking it all in.
Favourite lyric: “Feels like life is moving on / I don’t wanna lose again”
FFO: Frank Ocean, Malcolm Todd, Omar Apollo, Daniel Caesar
7. Wink Wink – Charli xcx
The vibe: Making mistakes but it’s okay because you’re still in your 20s.
Favourite lyric: “I’m not a bad girl anymore / Wink wink, wink wink”
FFO: Slayyyter, Kim Petras, PinkPantheress, Troye Sivan
8. Purple – Olivia Rodrigo
The vibe: That one all-consuming relationship that you’ll never get over.
Favourite lyric: “It’s crazy, I had big dreams ‘til I tied myself to you”
FFO: Taylor Swift, Paramore, Gracie Abrams, Alanis Morissette
9. Jeep – Kim Petras
The vibe: Thinking about that one vice you just can’t quit.
Favourite lyric: “He’s like a jack and coke, he’s a little sweet / Little rough around the edges when he needs to be”
FFO: Troye Sivan, Addison Rae, Charli xcx
10. Green Light – Lorde
The vibe: The encore song of the festival you’ve been waiting for since Autumn Term.
Favourite lyric: “But honey I’ll be seein’ you down every road”
FFO: Billie Eilish, Caroline Polachek, Charli xcx, Lana del Rey
11. Silver Jubilee – Audrey Hobert
The vibe: Telling a girl in the club bathroom (who you met that night) that you love her and you must get coffee together next week.
Favourite lyric: “Imma live it up like my life starts now, / blink and you could miss it…”
FFO: Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift
12. SUPERMODEL – LAUNDRY DAY
The vibe: Finally getting to wear that summer outfit because it’s hit 20ºC in London.
Favourite lyric: “I’m like a rookie, they just sent me to the Major Leagues”
FFO: Kevin Abstract, Dominic Fike, ROLE MODEL, Bleachers
13. 4EVA – KAYTRANADA, Amine
The vibe: The summer trip you’ve been planning with your friend group since Winter Break.
Favourite lyric: “Not a place or a face we done see like Ciesay”
FFO: Steve Lacy, Frank Ocean, Justice, Channel Tres
14. iPod Touch – Ninajirachi
The vibe: Freshers week.
Favourite lyric: “It sounds like first day, hallway, startin’ year eight”
FFO: Tiffany Day, underscores, Charli xcx
15. Sadder Days – Ruby Plume
The vibe: It’s just turned September and you’ve realised that summer is finally ending.
Favourite lyric: “I spend my better days, betting on a chance of rain”
FFO: Lizzy McAlpine, Kacey Musgraves, Phoebe Bridgers
