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

THE 15 BEST SONGS OF 2026 – AND THEIR BEST MOMENTS

Kevin Morby - “Javelin” I love Morby’s little stumble over his words before the last hook (“mama, mama, mama that was us”), which charges up the catharsis he works toward from the beginning. However, I also have a soft spot for the childlike “hey hey!” ad-libs – presumably from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso – on the second verse.

Phoebe Bridgers - “Still Standing” The introduction of the acoustic guitar before the first chorus gives way to a prom night scene that brings me to full tears every time. This is one of the best songs in Phoebe’s entire catalogue, and it’s the one that wrecked me most at Grand Casino Arena in September.

Dogwood Tales - “McMemories” The delivery of the second verse’s toothbrush lyric is one of the most empathetic and relatable moments on any track this year. Small town nostalgia, screamable hooks, fuzzy guitars… This Virginia alt-country band knows the formula for my heart.

Fcukers - “if you wanna party, come over to my house” The appetizer-sized feature from Felix of hip-hop duo Paris, Texas (“I’m at the front, front”) makes me yearn for a version of this apathetic club banger that has a full-fledged rap verse.

Olivia Rodrigo - “the cure” The bridge! How can it not be the bridge? Those “unraveled” vocal harmonies? Those Smashing Pumpkins-style accelerating acoustic guitars? The strings? Sheesh. Pop Song of The Year.

Sylvan Esso - “Hot Slob” For the second time on this list, it’s Amelia Meath’s call-and-response shout that gives us the best moment: “Can you hear it? Can you hear it!” This was a bit of a red herring for the mellower Ow, Infinity tracklist, which makes me appreciate its energy even more.

Charli xcx - “Wink Wink” Charli xcx’s rock era has been polarizing, but I’m here for it. The Cure-like chorus is the winner here. It’s the best Britpop hook this side of The 1975’s last record. Maybe she knows their drummer?

Westside Cowboy - “Paperchains” The drum fill before the first hook is pure ecstasy. It feels like Westside Cowboy packed five minutes of tension into those five drum hits. They do it again with even more effect on the last hook, but you never forget the first one.

Lime Garden - “Downtown Lover” It has to be when the instrumental completely drops out, leaving just vocalist Chloe Howard to chant “I’m a downtown lover” in her disaffected drawl. This is my favorite driving song of the year, and the structural integrity of my windows has been tested several times by how loud I sing along there.

Charlotte Cornfield - “Squiddd” It may be a bit of a cliche, but I’m a sucker for an “It went a little like this…” moment before a song’s final chorus. After several minutes of bestselling-memoir-tier storytelling, Charlotte Cornfield earns that moment. It doesn't hurt that she gets a vocal assist from Lake Street Dive’s Bridget Kearney!

Ratboys - “Just Want You To Know The Truth” Picking the best moment on a nine-minute country ballad is an impossible choice, but I’m going with the lyrical reveal of the album’s title (Singin’ To An Empty Chair) on verse five. It immediately recontextualizes the rest of the record in a way that’s really beautiful. The guitar solo is also sick, because of course it is.

Noah Kahan - “The Great Divide” The “stained glass” lyric on the song’s final refrain is a godsend for anyone with a complex relationship with their rural religious hometown. Not me, of course. But I’m sure if you did relate, that would really, really hit the spot.

Friko - “Certainty” There are so many subtly perfect moments on this cinematic ode to transportation, but my personal favorite is the arpeggio strings before the song hits its second gear on the “bus to the lake” verse. Honorable mention goes to the Truman Show reference – great film! Maybe an even better song?

New Constellations - “Hot Blooded” I love the little lo-fi folk epilogue here. After four minutes of searing synth-pop euphoria, they let the song fade, and then give you a little more with a staticky, acoustic version of the first verse.

Mitski - “In A Lake” It’s always the lyrics with Mitski, who has as strong of a pen as any songwriter on the planet. Her masterstroke here: “You never get away from your first love / It's like one brand of soap's sold in town / 'Cause anyone you can get close to smells like your first time around.”

THE 15 BEST ALBUMS OF 2026 – AND THEIR MADE-UP AWARDS

Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Weekend The best album of the year.

Westside Cowboy - It Goes On The best debut album of the year.

Lime Garden - Maybe Not Tonight The best “break the volume knob” album of the year.

Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit The best comeback album of the year.

Mitski - Nothing’s About to Happen to Me The best first listen of the year.

Ratboys - Singin’ To An Empty Chair The best fifth, sixth and seventh listen of the year.

Hovvdy - Big World The album you bring home to meet your parents.

Fcukers - Ö The album you do not bring home to meet your parents.

Mildred - Fenceline The best American indie-twang album of the year.

Fazed on A Pony - Swan The best international indie-twang album of the year.

Smidley - Murphy Horse The best solo record of the year.

HARLOW - Dumb Luck The best local album of the year.

Samara Cyn - Detour The best rap album of the year.

Brennan Wedl - Brennan Wedl The best album co-produced by Waxahatchee.

Kevin Morby - Little Wide Open The best album about Waxahatchee.

THE 15 BEST SHOWS I SAW IN 2026 – AND THEIR BEST MOMENTS

Bright Eyes with Ben Kweller at Red Rocks Amphitheater (Morrison, Colorado)

I made my first ever Red Rocks pilgrimage in May, to see Bright Eyes play through one of my favorite albums of all-time: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. I’m a total sap, so the best moment was looking around during “First Day of My Life” at a dozen-plus couples crying into each other’s shoulders. What a perfect monument to love and music. On a lighter note, I also have to include the a-ha moment of realizing Superbad’s McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) plays bass for Ben Kweller’s band.

Racing Mount Pleasant at Fine Line (Minneapolis)

It’s a miracle how many instrumentalists Racing Mount Pleasant fit on the Fine Line stage. But they were all firing on all cylinders during the four-song run from “Your New Place” to “Seminary,” all of which are on their lush, fantastic self-titled album. Jaw agape, I’m fairly certain I levitated at this show.

Friko at Fine Line (Minneapolis)

Another killer indie-rock show at Fine Line? Yep! Frontman Niko Kapetan looks downright possessed on stage whenever he sings, but the best moments always seem to come when he sits at his piano. His rendition of “Certainty” at this gig was the highest peak, followed closely by his cover of “Ceremony” by New Order.

Bon Dylan at Eaux Claires Arts & Music Festival (Eau Claire)

I saw the actual Bob Dylan this year and … is it a sin to say I enjoyed Bon Dylan more? Justin Vernon’s star-studded Dylan cover band ripped through some of my favorite tracks in the Dylan discography, but his duet with Monica Martin on “Boots of Spanish Leather” was the best of all.

Hippo Campus at Turf Club (St. Paul)

Bold of me to expect a sentimental sob at this underplay, held just days after Jake Luppen announced his brain tumor diagnosis. Ever the optimists, the local legends instead gave us two and a half hours of bangers, deep cuts and unreleased tunes. It culminated in an explosive, worry-shattering performance of “Yippie Ki Yay.” I can’t wait to see this band again soon.

Phoebe Bridgers with Alex G at Grand Casino Arena (St. Paul)

No phones, no phones, no phones. Every major show should consider Bridgers’ Lost Tour policy of a phone-free experience. Anecdotally, I found fellow concertgoers to be more energetic, more social and more focused on Bridgers’ spotless setlist. I also didn’t have to worry about going Instagram viral for bawling to “Still Standing.”

MJ Lenderman & Waxahatchee at State Theatre (Minneapolis)

Is it insane to say that I loved the unreleased songs the most? I’ve seen MJ a few times and Waxahatchee once. But I’ve never seen Lenderman songs like the teases he included here. One in particular interpolates Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” a perfect recipe for my enjoyment.

Heart To Gold and she’s green with Remo Drive and WHY NOT at First Avenue (Minneapolis)

Moshing to “‘Smo” by Heart to Gold and ascending during “bleed” by she’s green are two things all Minnesota music fans should experience. Getting both experiences in one night is absurd.

Jeff Rosenstock at Indeed Brewing (Minneapolis)

At one point during this show, the ska-punk icon told the crowd, “This next song is 11 songs.” He then played 11 consecutive songs off his opus WORRY. without stopping. He chased it with my favorite Rosenstock ballad, 2020’s “CARING.” Absolutely electric live performer.

Hayley Williams at The Fillmore (Minneapolis)

Buying last minute tickets to the first of Williams’ two nights at The Fillmore was my best live music decision this year. The second best decision was letting my voice go hoarse to sing along to show closer “Parachute.” Apologies to those who heard me on-air the next day.

Chance the Rapper at The Armory (Minneapolis)

I consider Coloring Book to be one of the 10 albums that most shaped my music taste, so celebrating its anniversary live (alongside my childhood best friend!) is a memory I cherish. Seeing local rapper Nur-D on the jumbotron, singing the hook of “Sunday Candy” from the pit, was a cherry on top.

Flock of Dimes at Cloudland Theater (Minneapolis)

It was a hard winter in Minnesota. Thankfully, just as spring started to bloom, Flock of Dimes arrived for a Microshow at Cloudland Theater. Meeting the moment, she tearfully dedicated “Afraid” to the people of Minnesota who stood up for our state without fear. Chills.

Courtney Barnett with Truman Sinclair at Palace Theater (St. Paul)

The night started with a rising indie-country star in Truman Sinclair, who might be playing theaters as a headliner in a few years. It ended with a throat-throttling singalong of Barnett’s rager “Pedestrian at Best.” In other words: a night well spent at the Palace.

Pavement at Palace Theater (St. Paul)

Speaking of encores … you don’t see many real ones anymore. But St. Paul was loud enough to earn a second encore from Pavement, wooing Stephen Malkmus back to the stage for a performance of the band’s viral cult hit “Harness Your Hopes.” Bob Nastanovich was also in his bag that night.

Fred Eaglesmith at Parkway Theater (Minneapolis)

Last time I saw Canadian folk singer Fred Eaglesmith, I was 18 and had to pretend to be his son to get into the 21+ venue. (Great story for another day.) This time, I got to sing along to his road anthem “Trucker Speed” as a real adult! Time flies when you’re at great shows!

Top 89 of 2026: Staff Picks Playlist