Once upon a time, there was the Festivalbar, the red and blue compilations you could buy in music stores, and that one song that would pop up in June and within a few weeks take over everything: radio, TV, beach resorts, nightclubs, improvised jukeboxes on the beaches. Today, deciding who the queen of the summer is no longer so simple: streaming increases the listening possibilities tenfold, TikTok creates hits in a matter of days, and algorithms suggest a different soundtrack to everyone based on their tastes.
So, has the hunt for the catchphrase gone out of fashion? Not at all: record companies continue to pursue it, while radio stations covet it, and artists dream of it as a major professional success, even though they know full well that a masterpiece isn't necessary; a refrain that just won't go out of your head is enough. In the race for the summer hit, the summer of 2026 is probably one of the most open challenges of recent years. There's no absolute dominator yet, but the queue of contenders is endless, as are the inevitable collaborations that, as we know, bring in more.
Among the most talked-about new releases is "Al mio paese" by Serena Brancale, Levante, and Delia, a song that delves into Southern Mediterranean folklore, built on sounds reminiscent of home and the sea. Two different generations are banking on "Buon vento": Jovanotti, playing with the summery optimism typical of his repertoire, and Alfa, looking to capitalize on his summer golden moment when, together with Manu Chao, he conquered the charts with "A me mi piace." For the inevitable Latin portion, Fred De Palma returns with "La testa gira" with Anitta and Emis Killa. Among the most anticipated featuring artists are "XXdono," which brings together Tiziano Ferro and Lazza; "Canto d'amore," a meeting between Angelina Mango and Marco Mengoni; "Volevo capire," which reunites Madame and Marracash; and MACE, featuring Salmo and Colapesce, on "Cattive abituati." Two exceptional old-school couples: Francesco Renga and Giusy Ferreri with “Non prego non avete”, Gianni Morandi and Alessandra Amoroso with “Hit Parade”.
Annalisa makes no secret of her "Canzone estiva," almost an official nomination, and Benji & Fede are pulling off a nostalgic performance with "Viva la Vasca," reviving an iconic refrain from the 2000s: "Vasca," which Alex Britti sang when the Modena duo was still building sandcastles by the sea. Anna, the most-streamed female artist of the last two years, debuts "White Girl Wasted," Baby K "Tucamacarena," while Pinguini Tattici Nucleari opts for the international lightness of "Sorry Scusa Lo Siento," and Francesco Gabbani focuses on the energy of "Summer Funk." More intimate, yet already widely listened to, are "Maledetto me" by Fulminacci, "Da Dio" by Bresh, and "Canzone d'amore" by Geolier, while they let loose with "Gaia" and "Bossa Nostra," Irama and "Cabana," Ditonellapiaga and "Businessman."
And abroad? Two stand out: "Bring Your Love," an international collaboration between Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, and Shakira, who, after "Waka Waka" in 2010, tries again to link her name to world football with "Dai Dai," performed with Burna Boy and the official song of the World Cup.
And then there are those who are playing a game all their own. Samurai Jay's "Ossessione," launched at Sanremo where it seemed almost out of place, has been firmly at the top of the best-selling singles list for weeks, proving that, especially with the "new" Festival, the summer hit can arrive even in the dead of winter. Therefore, rather than wondering which song will win the summer of 2026, perhaps the right questions are different: is there still a single song capable of bringing everyone together? And if so, how long will it last?
