We’re past the halfway mark of 2026, and the Euronews Culture team are taking a look back at the music highlights that have captured our ears (and hearts) this year.
There’s been so much to enjoy, from soulful delights to politically conscious Irish hip-hop via the triumphant return of rock veterans still giving it socks into their 80s.
The output this year has been so strong that whittling our list down to 20 entries hasn’t been easy. Still, without further ado, here is our countdown to the best album of the year so far.
20) Death Cab For Cutie – I Built You A Tower
Heartbreak and existentialism have always been core themes for American indie band Death Cab For Cutie. But while their landmark album ‘Transatlanticism’ (2003) worked through the pains of a long-distance relationship, their newest album reflects on divorce and disillusionment. In other words, the band has grown up, and their music – once tinged with emo angst – has continued to evolve into something more mature; more emboldened by experience. From the jolty, tantrum-like swings of ‘Punching The Flowers’, to the pensive percussives of ‘I Built You A Tower (A)’, each track twinkles with the promise of freedom. Freedom from rumination – and the prisons we trap ourselves in. AB
19) Mary In The Junkyard – Role Model Hermit
One terrific discovery this year has been this three-piece from London. Following a promising debut EP ‘This Old House’ in 2024, some gigs played for Marina Abramović and opening sets for The Murder Capital and Wet Leg on their Moisturizer tour, mary in the junkyard (stylized in all lowercase) released their debut album ‘Role Model Hermit’. It shines due to the band’s dream-like indie-folk, which alternates from haunting (‘Crash Landing’), addictive (‘Blood’) to soothing (‘Candelabra’) and making you want to “embrace the thunder and lightning” (‘New Muscles’). It’s a perfectly formed debut from frontwoman Clari Freeman-Taylor, bass player Saya Barbaglia and drummer David Addison, and they deserve to reap the rewards of their efforts. Like Freeman-Taylor sings on dirge-like album opener ‘Mantra III’, “It is yours babe, you deserve it.” Too true. DM
18) Angine de Poitrine – Vol. II
This Canadian duo may have been going since 2019 but 2026 is the year they became inescapable. Looking like an unholy marriage between Mr Blobby and Slipknot, the self-described “mantra-rock, Dadaist, Pythagorean-Cubist orchestra” released their second album to the acclaim of pretty much every fan of layered loops, strange time signatures, and dissonant rock. Despite making King Lizzard & The Lizard Wizard blush, they haven’t reinvented the microtonal wheel, and the album is – whisper it – a tad overhyped… But there’s no denying ‘Vol.II’ is great fun and sounds nothing like anything released this year. DM
17) Broken Social Scene – Remember The Humans
Canadian collective Broken Social Scene orchestrated something of a comeback this year with ‘Remember The Humans’, their first album in nine years. Teaming up once more with producer David Newfeld, who was behind their greatest LP – 2002’s ‘You Forgot It People’ – this expansive and textured set of songs shows they’re not done showing the indie rock scene just how badly it needs them. Plus, Feist is back in the fold. That’s always good news. DM
16) Robyn – Sexistential
Female sexuality, motherhood and existential dread – Robyn lays it all out on the dance floor in her ninth studio album. Frothy with the Swedish singer’s trademark dopamine-laden synth-pop, ‘Sexistential’ feels like entering the eye of a hormonal storm. As she sings in the title track: “My body’s a spaceship with the ovaries on hyperdrive / Got a whole universe inside that exists in between my thighs.” Jittery and bombastic, this collision of parental and sexual identities is overwhelmingly self-assured – the music of someone that doesn’t just write music, but owns everyone it touches. It will make you want to bury your self-doubt and give in to the fleeting elation of desire. AB
15) Dry Cleaning – Secret Love
British post-punkers Dry Cleaning’s third effort could very well be their best to date. It boasts art-rock riffs, earworm melodies, and non-sequiturs about disconnected siblings, vapid influencers and feeling like you’re in The Apprentice’s waiting room before the phone rings – all delivered in Florence Shaw’s deadpan sprechgesang. The writing this time around is stronger, funnier, and more emotional. Best of all: their idiosyncrasies feel earned and hit home. It also has our vote for one of the best album covers of the year. So far… DM
14) Jalen Ngonda – Doctrine Of Love
Following the brilliance of his debut ‘Come Around And Love Me’ – one of our favourite albums of 2023 – Jalen Ngonda returns with another beautifully crafted slice of soul. On ‘Doctrine Of Love’ the 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist doubles down on everything he does best: lush arrangements, intimate songwriting and his unmistakable falsetto. Exploring the chaos of love in all its forms, Ngonda proves he’s not just a gifted vocalist but a genuine storyteller. Ten tracks, zero skips, and another reminder that he’s one of the most exciting voices in soul music right now. TF
13) Courtney Barnett – Creature Of Habit
The fourth album by Australian singer-songwriter Courney Barnett has gone under the radar, and unfairly so. It’s a taut and unshowy indie rock treat that features her signature sharp wit and candid lyrics, coupled with some no-nonsense grunge spirit and quieter, dreamy psychedelia. ‘Creature Of Habit’ is up there with her breakthrough debut album ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit’, and gets more entrancing with every listen. Just don’t stare into the eyes of that mantis on the cover for too long. It sees things. It knows things. DM
12) Gorillaz – The Mountain
Few bands are still this adventurous 25 years into their career. On ‘The Mountain’, the legendary virtual band formed by Damon Albarn and animator Jamie Hewlett channel grief, spirituality and their travels through India into a rich, genre-hopping record full of colour, emotion and imagination. Hypnotic sitars, shimmering synths and funky basslines pair with an A team of collaborators, from Black Thought to IDLES, as well as posthumous contributions from Bobby Womack and Dennis Hopper. Messy at times, magical at others – this is an unexpected late career highlight from Gorillaz. TF
11) Rolling Stones – Foreign Tongues
How are they still pulling this off? How does a band continue to astonish in their seventh decade together with a follow-up to their career rejuvinating 2023 album (‘Hackney Diamonds’) and make it better? Much like Paul McCartney’s 2026 effort ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’, the Rolling Stones could have used their 25th studio album as an excuse to take stock and ponder on their legacy; instead their statement of intent seems to be: “Bollocks to sentimental lookbacks, anyone fancy some killer hooks that would make anyone 50 years younger green with envy?” Sure, the 14-song tracklist could have been cut down to make for a tighter listen, but when you have such a kinetic LP with bangers like ‘Back In Your Life’ and standout single ‘In The Stars’ – their most infectiously catchy song since 1994’s ‘You Got Me Rocking’ – it’s hard to complain. So, Jagger (82), Richards (82) and Wood (79) were wrong: Sometimes, you can get what you want. DM
10) James Blake – Trying Times
If heaven had a soundtrack, it might sound something like James Blake’s ‘Trying Times’. The British singer-songwriter producing extraordinaire’s latest album is a euphoric, at times haunting, genre-bending exploration of identity, love and navigating your place in an unpredictable world. Electronic soundscapes, alternative R&B and even a nod to old-school grime on ‘Days Go By’ make for a record that constantly surprises. Every track feels carefully sculpted, evolving and transforming around Blake’s deeply personal songwriting. This is a stunning piece of work from start to finish, and one of the strongest records he’s ever made. TF
9) Arlo Parks – Ambiguous Desire
For her third album, BRIT Award and Mercury Prize-winning British singer Arlo Parks took inspiration from New York City nightlife. The result is an introspective yet expansive collection of club-influenced pop songs which exist in a space both euphoric and soothing. The album’s textured rhythms are mesmerizing and stealthily profound; they portray the dancefloor as a place for collective joy but also somewhere which promises only temporary release from your vulnerabilities and worries. No resolution is given, and none is needed. Sometimes, complicated feelings need to be embraced. And danced to before the inevitable comedown hits. DM
8) Mitski – Nothing’s About To Happen To Me
Inspired by the gothic novels of Shirley Jackson, Mitski’s eighth studio album is a beautiful tumble into the cobwebbed corners of an isolated psyche. It follows a woman living a reclusive existence, finding both solace and pain in hiding herself. There’s a wonderfully atmospheric quality to it all, the folky-lilts of ‘In a Lake’ and melodic ooohs of ‘Dead Woman’ conjuring ghostly apparitions of unrequited love and feeling like an outsider. More than just an album, it’s a world in itself. One that’s unsettlingly familiar in these times – and purrs gently on your lap like a fat, warm cat. AB
7) My New Band Believe – My New Band Believe
Following the demise of experimental prog-rock band Black Midi two years ago, fans were quickly treated to the fantastic ‘The New Sound’, the first solo effort from frontman Geordie Greep. This year, we finally found out what singer / guitarist Cameron Picton has been up to. He’s taken a more scaled back approach compared to Greep’s continued experimentations, but the result is just as impressive. Eight tracks long, ‘My New Band Believe’ is a luxurious, all-acoustic collection of grandiose folk – an entrancing debut that promises much. DM
6) Kelela – New Avatar
Kelela’s past two records have featured on our Best Albums of the Year lists – the downtempo electro-dance ‘Raven’ in 2023 and her stunning jazz live album ‘In The Blue Light’ last year – so it should come as no surprise that we were giddy at the prospect of a new LP from the US singer-songwriter. And we weren’t disappointed. Kelela maintains her alt R&B sound and electronic influences but takes a shoegaze turn for ‘New Avatar’, creating an enveloping record full of distorted and atmospheric guitar work, as well as some very intimate storytelling. In many ways, it’s her most confrontational album to date, confronting chaos and frustration with a passion that doesn’t need shouts but finds power in restraint. From hypnotic single ‘Idea 1’ to closer ‘If We Meet Again’, via album standout ‘Point Blank’, this masterful record shows that Kelela can move between electro, rock and jazz-infused R&B while maintaining what makes her so singular in the first place. DM
5) Bill Callahan – My Days of 58
Advancing years and fatherhood suit Bill Callahan to a T. His follow up to the note-perfect folk masterpiece ‘YTI⅃AƎЯ’ is full of wise, frank, cranky, funny and poignant observations. Dubbed a “living room record”, there’s an initial comfort to its mellow sound, but the lyrics keep you on your toes – especially when he’s telling you that his biggest fear “is not the dying, my biggest fear is that I’ll stop trying…” A gorgeous listen. DM
4) Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern
Ten years is a long wait, but R&B icon Jill Scott’s sixth album justifies it. ‘To Whom This May Concern’ is a sprawling 19-track journey through neo-soul, jazz, gospel, hip-hop and R&B, exploring personal setbacks, healing and redemption while celebrating Black joy and community. It’s a dense listen, but nearly every track earns its keep, driven by witty songwriting, crisp production and Scott’s effortless charisma. Highlights include ‘Offdaback’, a tribute to the Black female artists who paved the way before her; ‘Pressha’, which unpacks the weight of modern beauty standards; and ‘The Math’, which rides a trip-hop groove through love and trauma. It’s a comeback well worth its spot near the top of this list. TF
3) Kneecap – Fenian
Since their 2024 debut, Irish rap trio Kneecap have grabbed headlines mainly due to controversies and legal woes. But this year, they reminded everyone that they are, first and foremost, a band who aren’t willing to rest on their raucous laurels. Merging raw political outrage with surprisingly trippy 90s dance sounds and engrossing hip-hop beats, ‘Fenian’ is one of the most incisive and adventurous albums of 2026 – one which proves the band has the musical range to match their verve. For further proof of their versatility, look no further than album closer ‘Irish Goodbye’, featuring Kae Tempest. It’s the closest thing to a tear-jerking ballad we’re ever going to get from Kneecap – a moving ode to Móglaí Bap’s mother who died by suicide in 2020. “It didn’t matter what was going on / I understand well that you had enough / I wanted to say goodbye / Not an Irish goodbye.” Rare are albums that pulsate with righteous anger and make you want to weep in the final stretch. DM
2) Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love
Olivia Rodrigo’s third studio album is a buoyant journey into the madness and melancholy of falling in love – or what you might mistake for love… From the soaring infatuation of opener ‘Drop Dead’, to the creeping anxieties in ‘What’s Wrong With Me’ (featuring a collab with The Cure’s Robert Smith), each track glides – giddily – between idealisation and reality. It’s an album imbued with the bed-bouncing, misted-window vibes of early 2000s pop; songs that fizzle inside you like a cold can of Pepsi. But no matter how many sips you take, you’re still thirsty for more. AB
1) Nu Genea – People Of The Moon
Warning: listening to the following album may induce spontaneous dancing, the urge to open your linen shirt three buttons too far, and a desire to book a one-way flight to the Mediterranean. Currently sitting at the top of our list – perhaps helped along by the ongoing heatwaves around Europe – ‘People Of The Moon’ feels like the perfect soundtrack for long summer evenings. On their fourth album, Massimo Di Lena and Lucio Aquilina, together as Nu Genea, refine the formula that has made them one of Europe’s most exciting dance acts. With a little help from an impeccably chosen set of collaborators, the Naples producing duo drift between Neapolitan, Arabic, Spanish, English and Portuguese vocals, fusing Italo-disco, Arabic rhythms, synth-pop, Turkish psychedelia, North African funk and more into something entirely their own. Picking favourites feels almost unfair, but the instantly catchy ‘Sciallià’ and the hypnotic ‘Puleza’ are definitely standout moments. It’s ten tracks of pure sun-drenched brilliance with no filler – the closest you’ll get to an ice-cold Negroni in album form. TF
There we have it.
What did we miss and what were your music highlights of the year?
In case you think we’ve lost our minds, here are some of our honorable mentions, which nearly made the cut: Underscores – ‘U’; Aldous Harding – ‘Train On The Island’; Boards of Canada – ‘Inferno’; Hurray For The Riff Raff – ‘Live Forever’; Thundercat – ‘Distracted’; Tom Misch – ‘Full Circle’; Timothy Duval – ‘Rain Music’; War Child – ‘Help 2’.
We’re already looking ahead to the second half of the year, with the upcoming ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ from Charli XCX; The Strokes’ ‘Reality Awaits’; the new album by Interpol, ‘This Mirror Weighs A Ton’; and Nia Archives’ ‘Emotional Junglist’. We’re also anticipating good things from the new Bloc Party (‘Anatomy Of A Brief Romance’), and the return of La Roux with ‘Old Flames’.
Stay tuned to Euronews Culture to find out how many of our halfway mark picks make it to the End of Year Best Albums list. And make sure to check out our Best Movies of 2026… So Far ranking – ETA: next week.
Happy listening!
