The Best Albums of 2026 (So Far)

As 2026 kicked off, much of last year’s music continued to dominate: Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning reign and Super Bowl show, Olivia Dean’s Best New Artist win, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s unofficial Olympic anthem, and the steady radio play of Taylor Swift’s “Ophelia” all kept the 2025 vibes going. But sounds unique to this year soon began to emerge, whether it was Slayyyter’s alchemy of dance-rock bangers, Raye’s theatrical retelling of heartbreak, or even Charli XCX groaning, “I think I’m gonna die in this house…”

Robyn and Jill Scott, legends in dance and R&B, respectively, returned better than ever, while rising stars like Haute & Freddy delivered a breath of fresh air. And, of course, Olivia Rodrigo dropped her third album, dissecting a relationship from the butterfly-inducing first moments to the post-breakup spiral.

Below, ELLE editors wax poetic on our favorite new albums of 2026 so far.

---

You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love by Olivia Rodrigo

“Olivia Rodrigo has loved and lost—and is wiser for it. Her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, is a candid retelling of her first ‘big girl’ relationship, charting the lovesick highs and bitter lows of its genesis and subsequent unraveling. Rodrigo’s lyrics have expertly matured, as the youthful, lovelorn rage of songs like ‘Traitor’ (‘When she’s sleeping in the bed we made / Don’t you dare forget about the way you betrayed me’) and ‘Vampire’ (‘You can’t love anyone, ’cause that would mean you had a heart’) evolve into the self-aware reflections on ‘Begged’ (‘Nothing’s quite enough / When I know that to get it, I begged’) and ‘The Cure’ (‘It don’t matter how your love feels anymore / It will never be the cure’). Cinematic swells, expertly crafted bridges, and gut-wrenching ballads abound. Be sure to listen to this one in order—it’d be sacrilegious not to.”—Burake Teshome, senior social media editor

To Whom This May Concern by Jill Scott

“Jilly from Philly blessed us with an album this year, back like she never left, 10 years after her last. With To Whom This May Concern, Scott proved why she’s still the queen of neo-soul. The best track is her love letter to her hometown, ‘Norf Side,’ which features Tierra Whack and was produced by the legendary DJ Premiere. But also not to be missed are ‘Don’t Play,’ the sexy song that serves as an instruction manual for unsatisfying lovers, and the energetic ‘Right Here, Right Now,’ which will have you dancing and feeling yourself.”—Kayla Webley Adler, features director

Read Jill Scott’s interview with ELLE

Sexistential by Robyn

“Robyn wants to go out, wear something nice, and push, as she says in the title track of her latest LP. Working with fellow Swedish pop royalty Max Martin, the dance icon looks at the club through the lens of motherhood. Why can’t she be a mom who also likes to party? Sexistential works through those conflicting and layered feelings over the kind of euphoric tracks we’ve come to love from her.”—Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content

Wor$t Girl in America by Slayyyter

“When ‘Crank It’ came out off Slayyyter’s newest album Wor$t Girl in America, I knew we were in for a treat. The song felt perfectly made for a debaucherous little summer, and the internet seems to agree. With her newest project, Slayyyter is finally emerging as an artist to watch. Moreover, her press tour has proven she’s an artist that you want to root for. It’s just a matter of time until the worst girl in America becomes one of the most beloved.”—Samuel Maude, content strategy manager

This Music May Contain Hope. by Raye

“Raye’s sophomore album, This Music May Contain Hope., takes listeners on a healing journey through the seasons, one that closely mirrors the British sensation’s own personal journey. From its melancholic, big band opener, ‘I Will Overcome,’ to its triumphant, soulful climax, ‘Joy,’ which features her younger and also musically gifted sisters Amma and Absolutely, the masterful storybook album both showcases Raye’s incredible vocal and songwriting prowess and offers a little something for everyone. There’s the relatable ‘I Hate the Way I Look Today,’ the powerful ‘Nightingale Lane,’ the funny ‘Beware…The South London Lover Boy,’ and of course, who can forget the album’s infectious breakout single, ‘Where Is My Husband!’”—KWA

Read Raye’s ELLE cover story

Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks

“Arlo Parks’s latest album went a little under the radar this spring, but once you start it, you can’t stop. The Brit indie darling nearly hypnotizes you with her airy vocals, which blend refreshingly well with her more flickery, electronic production. ‘Jetta,’ ‘Get Go,’ and ‘2Sided’ are a few standouts to note, plus a collaboration with Sampha that makes perfect sense. Parks still carries the vulnerable lyric style fans love, but with a mellow yet lush new sound.”—EG

Big Disgrace by Haute and Freddy

“Haute and Freddy are fans of some clownery, but their album Big Disgrace is no joke. The duo received a sign-off from Lady Gaga, and for good reason, too. Their album is for fans of Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and any of the main pop divas. ‘Dance The Pain Away’ also has the makings of becoming a massive sleeper hit.”—SM

Dancing on the Wall by Muna

“Muna told ELLE that this album feels like ‘a gay club in hell,’ and who am I to disagree with that? With high BPMs that’ll have you sweating in your leather pants, Dancing on the Wall is a celebration of queerness and desire without ignoring the harsh reality we live in. (‘Big Stick’ is a modern protest anthem.) The track list is tougher and more energetic than ‘Silk Chiffon,’ but full of shout-at-the-top-of-your-lungs anthems nonetheless.”—EG

Read Muna’s interview with ELLE

Kehlani by Kehlani

“How did Kehlani follow up her Grammy-winning smash ‘Folded’? With a self-titled album. The Bay Area native marks a new chapter as she serenades us with smooth, soul-baring tracks that trace her growth as an artist and as a woman. As she prefaces in the spoken-word intro, ‘You’re about to hear a heart that’s been stretched, healed, and reborn.’ To make the milestone even sweeter, the album dropped on her 31st birthday. With features from Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Usher, Brandy, Cardi B, and more, it feels like a gift for us as much as it was one for herself.”—EG

The Great Divide by Noah Kahan

“Thanks to Noah Kahan, it’s officially a sad girl summer—and I wouldn’t want it any other way. The Great Divide, Kahan’s follow-up to his breakout Stick Season, is an unflinching reflection on how his meteoric rise to fame has impacted all of his relationships: with himself, his partner, his hometown, and his family. The album holds even greater resonance when paired with his Netflix documentary, Noah Kahan: Out of Body, in which the Grammy nominee reflects on his ascent and reckons with the life his success has afforded him as he attempts to write his next record.”—BT

Detour by Kim Petras

“I hesitate to call Detour by Kim Petras her debut album, which some have claimed, but it does feel like a resolute statement from the singer. Having recently left her label and mostly self-funded this new project, Detour feels like a fully formed Petras. She’s free, confident, and making a bold statement that she is destined to be a main pop girlie. Highlights include ‘DTLA’ and ‘Need for Speed,’ both of which are sure to get stuck in your head.”—SM

Wuthering Heights by Charli XCX

“If, like me, you’ve been an Angel for years, then you’ve always known that the follow-up to Charli XCX’s zeitgeist-defining Brat was never going to be Brat 2.0. By that logic, we should’ve expected the lush instrumentals and metaphorical songwriting of Wuthering Heights, a companion album to Emerald Fennell’s eponymous (if less inspired) film. Still, it’s a clever detour doubling as a ‘reinvention’ that showcases her dramatic flair and willingness to zag—both longstanding pillars of the ever-expanding Charli Cinematic Universe. It’s also the preamble to a potential two-part flex, setting the stage for her July 24 release, Music, Fashion, Film.”—Daniel Taroy, director, social and video

Midnight Sun: Girls Trip by Zara Larsson

“In accordance with never-ending midnight sun laws, Zara Larsson took a page from Charli XCX’s book and followed up her own commercial breakthrough album with this remix victory lap—and the resulting Midnight Sun: Girls Trip outdoes its counterpart in almost every way. Where the original LP felt underbaked in certain B-sides, Girls Trip reveals the true scope of Larsson’s pop ambitions and delivers a fully realized experience for listeners who might have missed it the first time. She could’ve slapped a few A-list features on the existing songs and little else; instead, she’s remade each track into a more interesting, perhaps more complete version of its past self. Just look at album closer ‘Puss Puss,’ the phone sex banger that—with the help of fellow countrywoman Robyn—transforms into an undeniable manifesto of Swedish pop imperialism. Appropriately so.”—DT

Sweet Fortune by Ryan Beatty

“Ryan Beatty is a generational talent, and his latest album is proof. Anyone can yearn, but on Sweet Fortune, Beatty’s sentiments are profoundly poetic. He’s a clear student of Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Solange Knowles, with melodies—and killer horn arrangements—that feel both timeless and innovative, not to mention supporting vocals from the ever-ethereal Clairo. The standout tracks? ‘Virtuoso,’ ‘Too Many Ways,’ and the titular ‘Sweet Fortune.’”—BT

Ca$ino by Baby Keem

“On his second studio album, Baby Keem reflects on his sudden success following 2021’s The Melodic Blue and pulls the curtain back to reveal his troubled past. As he says in ‘No Security,’ he’s ‘shakin’ off them battle stories, how I made my path to glory.’ He hones in on his upbringing in Las Vegas and his complicated relationship with his mother, who struggled with addiction, but he doesn’t blame her, proving that he’s in the process of healing. Of course, there are more hit-worthy collabs with his cousin and frequent collaborator Kendrick Lamar, as well as newcomer Momo Boyd and Bay Area royalty Too $hort.”—EG

The Nightlife by Honey Dijon

“Honey Dijon has the soundtrack for those who tend to get lost in the catacombs of the club. The Nightlife mixes classic house sounds with other genres, proving that Honey Dijon is one of the world’s underground visionaries. Let’s head into the club and dance, everyone.”—SM

Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves

As featured in ELLE’s Spotlight newsletter: “On her sixth studio album, Kacey Musgraves dives deeper into her country roots while honoring the melting-pot culture of a border state like Texas. Though she collaborates with titans of the genre like Willie Nelson and Miranda Lambert, her influences also include Norteño (regional Mexican music) and zydeco (Creole, blues-inspired music), reminding us that there is no single definition of ‘country.’ (‘Uncertain, TX’ is a must-listen!) ‘There’s just so many different beautiful currents running through country music,’ Musgraves told ELLE. ‘It’s really fun for me to explore that.’ It’s also fun for us listeners to hear the singer’s cheeky reflections on singledom and post-breakup life, especially on the lead single ‘Dry Spell.’”—EG

Read Kacey Musgraves’s interview with ELLE

Cerulean by Danny L Harle

“While you may not know Danny L Harle, you for sure know some of his songs. The music producer co-wrote much of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism, Caroline Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, and collaborated with Charli XCX on her pandemic-era banger ‘Anthems.’ Now, with the release of his second solo project, Cerulean, he’s created a hyperpop masterpiece. Features include PinkPantheress, Lipa, Polachek, Clairo, and more, showing his power in the music industry. Highlights include ‘Two Hearts,’ ‘Starlight,’ and ‘Raft in the Sea,’ but as an overall project, Cerulean astral-projects the listener to a space-age dance floor. Harle is perhaps the club commander we’ve been looking for.”—SM