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Best albums of 2026

The current year, so this is a scoreboard rather than a verdict. These records are still collecting their first ratings and the order changes weekly. Half of what will end up mattering about this year has not been released yet, which is worth remembering before arguing with the top of it.

According to Riffiter listeners, the best album of 2026 is Paradises by Ladytron, rated 5.0/5 by 5 listeners.

  1. Paradises cover№ 1ParadisesLadytron · 20264.5Weighted score5.0 avg · 5 ratings
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  1. 2Visitor (Deluxe) coverVisitor (Deluxe)Sienna Spiro · 20264.4 score · 4.7 avg · 7 ratings
  2. 3Tough Love coverTough LoveNessa Barrett · 20264.3 score · 4.6 avg · 8 ratings
  3. 4Slime Language 3: Side B coverSlime Language 3: Side BYoung Stoner Life · 20264.3 score · 4.7 avg · 5 ratings
  4. 5Dopamine Chamber coverDopamine ChamberFontaines D.C. · 20264.3 score · 4.5 avg · 10 ratings
  5. 6Music, Fashion, Film coverMusic, Fashion, FilmCharli XCX · 20264.3 score · 4.6 avg · 7 ratings
  6. 7Mr. Did It By Hisself 3 coverMr. Did It By Hisself 3FattMack · 20264.3 score · 4.6 avg · 7 ratings
  7. 810 Til' Midnight cover10 Til' MidnightSnoop Dogg · 20264.3 score · 4.8 avg · 3 ratings
  8. 9Midnight Sun: Girls Trip coverMidnight Sun: Girls TripZara Larsson · 20264.3 score · 4.4 avg · 18 ratings
  9. 10Superbloom coverSuperbloomJessie Ware · 20264.3 score · 4.4 avg · 18 ratings
  10. 11THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. coverTHIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.RAYE · 20264.3 score · 4.3 avg · 22 ratings
  11. 12Kehlani coverKehlaniKehlani · 20264.3 score · 4.3 avg · 31 ratings
  12. 13Into Oblivion coverInto OblivionLamb of God · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 6 ratings
  13. 14Caught Up In The Game: Deluxe Edition coverCaught Up In The Game: Deluxe EditionCasey Veggies · 20264.2 score · 4.6 avg · 4 ratings
  14. 15Wuthering Heights coverWuthering HeightsCharli XCX · 20264.2 score · 4.4 avg · 7 ratings
  15. 16Whatever's Clever! coverWhatever's Clever!Charlie Puth · 20264.2 score · 4.3 avg · 27 ratings
  16. 17IF WORDS COULD KILL coverIF WORDS COULD KILLJoey Trap · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 5 ratings
  17. 18Rococo ∞ Echomatter coverRococo ∞ EchomatterMerzbow · 20264.2 score · 4.7 avg · 3 ratings
  18. 19Strange City coverStrange CityMerzbow · 20264.2 score · 4.7 avg · 3 ratings
  19. 20An Undying Love for a Burning World coverAn Undying Love for a Burning WorldNeurosis · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 4 ratings
  20. 21The Baddest Show On Earth: Greatest Hits Live coverThe Baddest Show On Earth: Greatest Hits LiveGeorge Thorogood & The Destroyers · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 4 ratings
  21. 22LOVE IS THE NEW GANGSTA coverLOVE IS THE NEW GANGSTA6LACK · 20264.2 score · 4.4 avg · 5 ratings
  22. 23EXPO coverEXPOUlrika Spacek · 20264.2 score · 4.3 avg · 6 ratings
  23. 24Sports coverSportsSports · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings
  24. 25Memento Mori coverMemento MoriConjuring · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings
  25. 26peace in the valley coverpeace in the valleyJohn Galm · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings
  26. 27Bread & Butter coverBread & ButterYour Old Droog · 20264.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings
  27. 28Love Is Not Enough coverLove Is Not EnoughConverge · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 18 ratings
  28. 29Mortal Kombat coverMortal KombatMotive · 20264.1 score · 4.4 avg · 4 ratings
  29. 30new avatar covernew avatarKelela · 20264.1 score · 4.4 avg · 4 ratings
  30. 31Monkey coverMonkeyGeorge Michael · 20264.1 score · 4.4 avg · 4 ratings
  31. 32Finessin Distribution Deals coverFinessin Distribution DealsFox BD · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 9 ratings
  32. 33Slime Language 3: Side A coverSlime Language 3: Side AYoung Stoner Life · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 5 ratings
  33. 34HELLBOY coverHELLBOYJoey Trap · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 5 ratings
  34. 35Alter Bridge coverAlter BridgeAlter Bridge · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 26 ratings
  35. 36HADES coverHADESMelanie Martinez · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 7 ratings
  36. 37WAR PEACE FAMILY FAITH coverWAR PEACE FAMILY FAITHLil' Flip · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 7 ratings
  37. 38Honora coverHonoraFlea · 20264.1 score · 4.1 avg · 23 ratings
  38. 39Kan II coverKan IIUZI · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 8 ratings
  39. 40Always, Forever, Jodeci coverAlways, Forever, JodeciJodeci · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 8 ratings
  40. 41Inferno coverInfernoBoards of Canada · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  41. 42TRON Ares: Divergence coverTRON Ares: DivergenceNine Inch Nails · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  42. 43Social Disguises coverSocial DisguisesThe Enemy · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  43. 44Split w Hessian coverSplit w HessianNunslaughter · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  44. 45FINIS-LES coverFINIS-LESLa Fève · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  45. 46Live In Europe coverLive In EuropeGhost Funk Orchestra · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  46. 47Wilco Live (Yellow) coverWilco Live (Yellow)Wilco · 20264.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings
  47. 48Hyperlove coverHyperloveMika · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 9 ratings
  48. 49D12 Forever (Vol. 1) coverD12 Forever (Vol. 1)D12 · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 9 ratings
  49. 50VERITAS II coverVERITAS IIMavi · 20264.1 score · 4.2 avg · 9 ratings

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Best albums of 2026 by genre

The genres that carried the period here, each with what listeners rate highest inside it.

Best Hip-Hop albums of 2026

1,199 albums from 2026

Best Pop albums of 2026

743 albums from 2026

Best Rock albums of 2026

623 albums from 2026

Best Electronic albums of 2026

577 albums from 2026

Best Jazz albums of 2026

442 albums from 2026

Best Ambient albums of 2026

412 albums from 2026

The artists of 2026

Everyone who put a record out then, ordered by how listeners rate their catalog rather than by that one release.

Every artist of 2026, ranked →

2026, month by month

Not everything that came out, just where the weight fell. Some months carried a year; some were quiet and worth knowing about.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

FAQ

What are the best albums of 2026?
On Riffiter, the highest-rated album of 2026 is Paradises by Ladytron (5.0/5). The ranking below orders the year's releases by community rating.
How is the 2026 ranking decided?
By Riffiter listeners. Each album's community rating sets its place. Until a release has enough ratings, its popularity stands in, and the order shifts as more people rate.
Does the best-of-2026 list change?
Yes. It's built from live community ratings, so the order updates as people rate 2026 releases. The page refreshes a few times a day.