I listen to music every day – these are the 5 best albums of 2026 | Music | Entertainment

Music is a huge part of everyday life for most people, whether that be something they put on while travelling to work, out getting steps in or at the end of the day to unwind. For me, it’s all of the above. Each year when Spotify Wrapped comes in, I know the minutes listened will be a ridiculous amount because there is always music playing in the backdrop.

Much like the sense of achievement you get from completing a chapter of an audiobook or tuning into a podcast episode, I enjoy listening to new albums from start to finish in one sitting and enjoying it the way the artist curated it. This year has been pretty interesting for music; lots of singles dropped in the first four to five months of the year, but I believe the summer has helmed the most exciting record releases.

We’ve seen the return of big names such as Madonna and Kanye West, not one but two albums from Charli xcx and Harry Styles’ latest offering prior to his Wembley record run.

But for me, it has been all about pop with a twist… Here are my top five albums of 2026 so far.

Kicking off the summer of music was a new discovery for me. Namasenda is a Swedish singer-songwriter who has been around the industry for the best part of 10 years and has now finally released her first studio album. From start to finish, the pop/eletronic album is so easy to listen to, each song a part of the same theme but offering something different. It is rare for me to enjoy every single song on an album, but this album is best enjoyed in its entirety.

HorsegiirL never fails to impress. Nature is Healing is best described as a fun intro to summer, the perfect soundtrack for the excitement that comes in the early days of the season. I think as an artist she can be underestimated, but I can’t understand why, as so many of her songs are hits. I was surprised to see how much music she has released, all staying on the theme of horses, nature and farm life. Some of my favourite tracks from this album include that’s my beach!, karma is and MUSIC GOES ON.

This is definitely the album I have been most highly anticipating this year and even last. With Kelela’s previous record released in 2023, we have been waiting on tenterhooks to see what was coming next, and the result was the most beautiful sound. She has returned to her soft indie-alternative roots to give us a commentary on the chaotic political climate. Kelela has blended the indie sound with R&B and electronic notes – I don’t know any other artist doing it like she is. The album is super original and probably my favourite of the year.

Nia Archives has been smashing it this year; each single she has dropped has been iconic, honestly. In fact, her song Danger will most likely be my most played song of the year. Emotional Junglist is a monster album with 15 songs, but there are a few that really stand out. The album closer Boys in Blue, is based on quite a serious personal experience but uses tongue-in-cheek to convey the story. Her song with Jorja Smith, Get Me Down, is another standout; their voices blend perfectly, and it is just really cool to see them work together.

I have been eager to hear this album as a huge fan of Charli’s music for years now. Music, Fashion, Film is similar to her other albums, a rebellion against the last record she released. It contrasts majorly with brat, as she has taken on a new rock sound, using guitars, which is something we haven’t really heard from her since the early days. While there are a couple of songs I haven’t quite made my mind up about at this early stage, she is using her natural wit and poetic talent more than ever in this release, and it is very impressive. Wink Wink, Magic Metal Montana and No One Lasts Forever are my top tracks so far.