I don't know about you, but 2026 has completely flown by! So many exciting milestones and achievements have happened this year, especially for some of the biggest artists in the music industry.
From chart-topping records to sold-out shows around the globe, these musicians have been working their butts off and seriously crushing it every step of the way. And because success always deserves celebration, here's a look at the biggest achievements so far:
1.To start, Olivia Dean deserves all the snaps this year. She kicked off 2026 by winning Best New Artist at the Grammys. And the party continued as she won four BRIT Awards in late February, including Artist of the Year and Mastercard Album of the Year. Once summer rolled around, she hit the road in July to headline The Art of Loving Live with stops across North America. She recently played four consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden, and they were all sold out! With such an unstoppable year, she's proven that she's a total powerhouse in the industry and is just getting started.
2.Hilary Duff is having an absolute moment, and as a millennial, I'm so here for it. From releasing her first album in over a decade to selling out venues for The Lucky Me World Tour and those iconic fits she rocks on stage every night, she's totally shining in her renaissance era.
3.Justin Bieber returned to the stage in 2026. From headlining both weekends at Coachella to performing at the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show and an intimate show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, I'm hoping a longer tour is in the cards for us soon.
4.Ella Langley is taking over the country music scene. She dropped her sophomore album, Dandelion, in April and went on a winning streak once award season rolled around. To start, she swept the Academy of Country Music Awards and set a record for the most wins in a year by a single artist. It was seven in total! Then, she won two more at the American Music Awards. And if you love "Choosin' Texas" like everyone else, then it's no surprise to learn it's spent 18 weeks (and likely counting!) at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
5.It's a huge year for Noah Kahan. April marked the release of his fourth studio album, The Great Divide. In June, his world tour kicked off, and every single date has sold out from Orlando to Paris.
6.Lady Gaga has been on the move this year. Her MayhemTour was a major success, grossing $419.5 million and selling out every single date on the roster. She won two Grammys, performed at the Super Bowl alongside Bad Bunny, made a cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2, and recorded three original songs for the sequel.
7.Olivia Rodrigo has been booked and busy this year. She officially joined Spotify's Billions Club in May, commemorating the milestone of having nine songs with over one billion streams. She then released her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. The record quickly soared to number one on the charts, proving she's a force to be reckoned with. And this fall, you can catch her headlining The Unraveled Tour when it kicks off in Connecticut on September 25.
8.No Doubt celebrated the 30th anniversary of Tragic Kingdom with an 18-night residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It was their first extended run of shows in nearly 14 years, and Gwen Stefani became the first female headliner since the venue's opening in 2023. "It's been an unforgettable ride, and we loved every single second of it," said the band.
9.If you've always dreamed of seeing the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere in Las Vegas, you might finally get your chance! After such high demand since starting the Into the Millennium residency in July 2025, they've extended their run through January 2. New Year's Eve at a BSB show? Count me in.
10.In July, Suki Waterhouse brought us her third studio album, Loveland. She immediately went on tour to support the record with appearances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and more. Her LovelandTour will continue in September with dates in Indianapolis and Chicago.
11.You might know Hayley Williams as the frontwoman of Paramore, but if you meet her now, you probably know her as a one-woman show. Her year was off to a strong start after she was nominated for four Grammys. In March, she embarked on her first-ever solo headlining tour, Good Dye Young Presents: Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party. And in September, she'll hit the tour circuit again with The Hayley Williams Show and will be on the road until January 2027.
12.Zara Lasson has been everywhere since Midnight Sun dropped in 2025. In April, she received the Breakthrough Award at the Billboard Women in Music event. She later won her first two American Music Awards for Collaboration of the Year and Breakthrough Album of the Year. Now, she's up for five MTV VMAs, which will be held on September 27 in Los Angeles.
13.KATSEYE made their Coachella debut in April, delivering high-energy performances both weekends that left fans wanting more. This year, the ladies became first-time winners at the American Music Awards. They brought home three overall, including New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video, and Breakthrough Pop Artist. In September, they'll hit the road on their first world tour with stops in Europe, North America, and beyond.
14.Charli XCX made a splash in the film industry this year. She contributed to the Wuthering Heights soundtrack and released her own mockumentary, The Moment. She also released her eighth studio album, Music, Fashion, Film. And despite a rainstorm, she still drew a huge crowd and rocked her performance while headlining Lollapalooza in July.
15.Sabrina Carpenter had a lot of big wins this year. She earned six Grammy nominations and did an unforgettable live performance the night of the show. She also headlined both weekends of Coachella 2026 and earned seven nominations at the MTV VMAs, including Artist of the Year.
16.Harry Styles is the man of the hour. In March, he dropped his fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. And this year, he's been on the road nonstop with the Together, Together Tour. He completed 12 sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium, earning him the Guinness World Record for the longest run of concerts at the venue. On August 26, his 30-show residency will commence at Madison Square Garden, and it's completely sold out once again!
17.Despite facing public scrutiny over her well-being and health, Ariana Grande made big moves in her career in 2026. After a seven-year hiatus, she returned to the stage with The Eternal Sunshine Tour and sold out every single date. She also dropped her eighth studio album, petal. Once the tour wraps on September 1, she'll take a step back from the public eye. "It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago, and it's a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place," she said. "I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the fuck opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is."
"And I just want to be very, very clear: multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set," she said. "Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life."
18.Finally, Taylor Swift has had another banner year in her music career. In March, she took home seven iHeartRadio Music Awards, keeping her streak as the most-awarded artist in the show's history. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June, making her the youngest woman to achieve that milestone. The following month, she earned an Emmy nomination for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show. Oh, and who can forget she got married to Travis Kelce at MSG on July 4?
Who's your favorite pop star, and what other artists do you think are killing it in 2026? Drop your pick in the comments!
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