The end of the year is upon us, and it's time to reflect on your favorite music of 2026! Here are Chaz Kangas' favorite songs of the year.

Once you've made your own list, vote in The Current's Top 89 poll by Monday, Nov. 16, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a pair of coveted tickets to both nights of Brandi Carlile: Burn the Setlist (The All Request Tour) taking place Tuesday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

The Current will count down your Top 89 of 2026 at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31.

Top 10 Songs

Bruce Springsteen - "Streets of Minneapolis"

Hayley Williams - "Kill Me"

Jesse Wells - "Good VS ICE"

Megasound - "Supersize"

Ultrabomb - "Artificial Stars"

Jess Williamson - "Goodbye to All That"

Jack White - "G.O.D. And the Broken Ribs"

Ber - "Good, Real"

Nur-D - "End of the World"

Sugar - "Long Live Love"

My music headline for the year is "Musicians respond to ICE in Minnesota"

Album title of the year - The Mary Wallopers - 'Paddywackery'

Minnesota Movie Music Moment of the Year - The Heights Theater screening the once lost 1927 Tod Browing film 'The Unknown' with a live score from Chicago's Whine Cave

Music Arts and Crafts Moment of the Year - The giant Prince puppet going through the crowd during the Prince Block Party and Celebration

Cardio of the Year - Stephen Wilson Jr twice running the entire length of the audience mid-set while performing at the Outlaw Music Festival at Mystic Lake Amphitheater

Hip-Hop Festival of the Year - Uptown Vibes Festival with three incredible nothing-changed-but-the-date sets from legends Ras Kass, Tha Alkaholiks and Black Sheep

Hip-Hop Tour of the Year - The Winter Carnival Tour with Atmosphere, RA the Rugged Man, Sage Francis, Kool Keith and Mr Dibbs

Birthday Party of the Year - 'Opry Goes Dolly' Dolly Parton's 80th Birthday at the Grand Ol Opry in January with Vince Gill, Lainey Wilson and Sierra Hull

Wrestling entrance theme of the year (tie) - Maya World & Hyan's "Ready Set Go" by Victor Perry / Tomasso Ciampa's "My Shadow Knows" by Joe Altier & Mikey Rukus

Donut of the Year - Cardigan Donuts' Mint Cocoa Old Fashioned (New Champion!)

Top 89 of 2026: Staff Picks Playlist