Essay
Breaking: 13 Tracks That Dominated 2026’s First Major Music Cutoff
13 tracks cracked Billboard’s First Major Cutoff of 2026, led by Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” — her first chart-topping debut since *Midnights*. The list, curated by critics including Andy Von Pip and Michele Yamamoto, highlights genre-blending innovation and streaming-driven virality, signaling a pivotal shift in how hits emerge pre-album release.
By Alet Viegas·
Welcome to the 17th Songs of the Week of 2026. This week Andy Von Pip, Michele Yamamoto, Scotty Dransfield, and Stephen Humphries helped me decide the list. We considered over 30 songs and narrowed it down to a Top 13.