Last Updated: September 2026 | Source: YouTube Charts & Official Global Music Registries
Auditing Standards & Eligibility: This leaderboard tracks official music videos and eligible official performance cuts released between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Rankings are determined strictly by verified public YouTube like tallies on primary agency and label channels. Fan-made edits, re-uploads, unauthorized lyric videos, audio rips, and short-form teaser clips are excluded.
The definitive global chart of the most liked songs released in 2026 on YouTube highlights an extraordinary year for international collaborations, high-velocity K-pop comebacks, and breakthrough regional folk hits. Across Latin, Afrobeats, Pop, and South Asian industries, audiences have registered multi-million positive reactions. Below is the verified leaderboard of the most liked songs released in 2026 on YouTube.
Quick Answer
As of September 2026, “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy ranks #1 among the most liked songs released in 2026 on YouTube, with more than 8.28 million likes. It is followed by “SWIM” by BTS with 6.81M+ likes and “2.0” by BTS with 4.86M+ likes. “SaWaDiKa” by LISA is also among the leading songs in the ranking.
Note: YouTube like counts change continuously as viewers interact with videos. Rankings are updated regularly based on the latest available YouTube statistics.
Top 10 Most Liked Songs Released in 2026 on YouTube
Below is the verified countdown of the most liked songs released in 2026 on YouTube. Each record features rank position, thumbnail, song title, primary performers, language distribution, official premiere date, and audited lifetime likes. Clicking any thumbnail opens the verified music video on YouTube.
| Rank | Thumbnail | Song | Singer / Movie | Language | Release Date | Likes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Dai Dai | Shakira, Burna Boy | English / Spanish | May 23, 2026 | 8.68M |
| 2 |
|
SWIM | BTS | Korean / English | Mar 20, 2026 | 6.85M |
| 3 |
|
2.0 | BTS | Korean / English | Apr 1, 2026 | 4.94M |
| 4 |
|
GO | BLACKPINK | Korean / English | Feb 27, 2026 | 3.85M |
| 5 |
|
Hooligan | BTS | Korean / English | Apr 7, 2026 | 3.43M |
| 6 |
|
SaWaDiKa | LISA | English / Thai | Sep 4, 2026 | 3.12M |
| 7 |
|
Bairan | Banjaare | Haryanvi | Feb 13, 2026 | 2.58M |
| 8 |
|
ICONIC BY MISTAKE | LE SSERAFIM x ILLIT x KATSEYE | English / Korean | Jun 10, 2026 | 2.56M |
| 9 |
|
SWIM (Performance Video) | BTS | Korean / English | Mar 24, 2026 | 2.21M |
| 10 |
|
Body to Body | BTS | Korean / English | Mar 20, 2026 | 2.15M |
Table of Contents
Methodology & Verification
- 2026 Release Window: Tracks official music releases published on YouTube between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.
- Verified Agency Channels Only: Like tallies are audited exclusively from primary verified label accounts (HYBE LABELS, Sony Music, YG Entertainment, LLOUD, T-Series, Speed Records).
- Global Language Scope: Evaluates international releases across English, Spanish, Korean, Thai, Punjabi, and Haryanvi markets.
- Strict Quality Exclusions: Fan edits, unofficial audio rips, bootlegs, and teasers are filtered out to maintain leaderboard integrity.
Key Highlights & Streaming Insights
- Cross-Continental Collaboration: “Dai Dai” proves that uniting Latin pop icon Shakira with Afrobeats titan Burna Boy creates an unstoppable global streaming formula, comfortably commanding the #1 position.
- BTS Dominates Engagement: BTS captures 5 out of 10 positions among the most liked songs released in 2026, demonstrating the peerless coordination and voting strength of their global audience.
- LISA Sets the Solo Benchmark: With over 2.82 million likes, “SaWaDiKa” holds the title of the highest-liked solo release of 2026, entering directly at #6.
- BLACKPINK Leads Female Groups: “GO” ranks as the highest-liked girl group release of the year with over 3.8 million likes.
- Indian Grassroots Crossover: Haryanvi smash “Bairan” highlights how regional folk music directly competes with global mega-releases in audience loyalty.
Detailed In-Depth Breakdown: Most Liked Songs Released in 2026
1. Dai Dai – Shakira, Burna Boy
Artists / Label: Shakira, Burna Boy | Sony Music Latin / Atlantic
Genre: Latin Pop / Afrobeats Fusion
Chart Significance: The undisputed #1 leader among the most liked songs released in 2026 on YouTube, commanding over 8.2 million likes.
Why It Dominated: Premiered in May 2026, Dai Dai united Colombian icon Shakira with Nigerian superstar Burna Boy. Merging infectious African percussion grooves with vibrant Latin horn arrangements, the high-energy visual triggered a wave of global dance challenges that propelled it straight to the top of international streaming charts.
2. SWIM – BTS
Artist / Agency: BTS | BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE Labels
Genre: Synth-Pop & R&B Ballad
Chart Significance: The highest-liked group release of the year, holding comfortably at #2 overall.
Why It Dominated: Serving as the lead single of BTS’s ambitious 2026 project, SWIM combined lush analog synthesizers with emotive vocal harmonizing. The cinematic narrative video resonated deeply with listeners worldwide, accumulating over 6.8 million likes within months of debut.
3. 2.0 – BTS
Artist / Agency: BTS | BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE Labels
Genre: Drill-Pop & Industrial Hip-Hop
Chart Significance: Highest opening-week like velocity for an Asian act in 2026.
Why It Dominated: Introducing a darker, experimental aesthetic to their discography, 2.0 paired hard-hitting basslines with rapid lyrical cadences. The visual direction highlighted aggressive choreographic formations, quickly gathering nearly 5 million likes.
4. GO – BLACKPINK
Artist / Agency: BLACKPINK | YG Entertainment
Genre: Electronic Dance & Girl-Crush Pop
Chart Significance: Top-ranked female group release among the most liked songs released in 2026.
Why It Dominated: Delivering their signature brass-heavy drops and runway-ready fashion sequences, BLACKPINK’s GO captivated global fans immediately upon premiere. Its infectious chorus hook led dance challenges on social media, accumulating over 3.8 million likes.
5. Hooligan – BTS
Artist / Agency: BTS | BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE Labels
Genre: Old-School Hip-Hop & Street Brass
Chart Significance: Completed BTS’s triple entry inside the global top five.
Why It Dominated: Infusing lively boom-bap drums with street-style freestyle choreography, Hooligan showed the septet having effortless fun on camera. The nostalgic early-2000s energy turned it into an instant playlist essential, surpassing 3.3 million likes.
6. SaWaDiKa – LISA
Artist / Label: LISA | LLOUD / RCA Records
Genre: Thai-Infused Trap-Pop & Dance
Chart Significance: The highest-liked female solo release of 2026, commanding over 2.82 million likes.
Why It Dominated: Premiering in early September 2026, LISA’s SaWaDiKa combined hard-hitting international trap production with traditional Southeast Asian instrumentation and high-fashion visual choreography. Crossing 2.82 million likes in record time, it stands as the top-performing female solo release of the year.
7. Bairan – Banjaare
Artist: Banjaare | Independent Label
Genre / Language: Modern Haryanvi Folk
Chart Significance: The most liked Indian song of 2026 on the global countdown.
Why It Went Viral: Anchored by an authentic acoustic melody and expressive lyricism, Bairan expanded from local village popularity into a pan-Indian viral sensation. Capturing nearly 2.5 million likes, it stands as the highest-charting Indian release of 2026 worldwide.
8. ICONIC BY MISTAKE – LE SSERAFIM x ILLIT x KATSEYE
Artists: LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, KATSEYE | HYBE Labels
Genre: Hyperpop & Dancehall Pop
Chart Significance: Most liked multi-group agency collaboration in YouTube history.
Why It Went Viral: Bringing three high-profile acts together for a summer collaboration, ICONIC BY MISTAKE capitalized on the combined fandoms of LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE. Directed by Cody Critcheloe, the visually striking music video quickly crossed 2.48 million likes.
9. SWIM (Performance Video) – BTS
Artist: BTS | BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE Labels
Format: Official Choreography / Performance Visual
Chart Significance: Highest-liked dedicated performance cut of 2026.
Why It Dominated: Highlighting clean one-take camera movement and synchronicity, BTS’s official performance cut for SWIM demonstrated that premium choreography visuals generate massive direct engagement, garnering over 2.17 million likes.
10. Body to Body – BTS
Artist: BTS | BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE Labels
Genre: Smooth R&B / Mid-Tempo Pop
Chart Significance: Completed BTS’s landmark fifth placement within the top ten.
Why It Dominated: A smooth vocal showcase featuring groovy basslines and understated percussion, Body to Body earned instant praise from casual listeners and fans alike, capturing over 2.11 million likes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most liked song released in 2026 on YouTube?
“Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy is the #1 most liked song released in 2026 on YouTube, commanding over 8.28 million likes on its official music video.
Which artist has the most entries in the Top 10 most liked songs released in 2026?
BTS holds the most entries in the Top 10, occupying five distinct placements: SWIM (#2), 2.0 (#3), Hooligan (#5), SWIM (Performance Video) (#9), and Body to Body (#10).
Who is the top-ranking solo artist among the most liked songs released in 2026?
LISA is the highest-charting solo artist of 2026 with her smash single “SaWaDiKa” under LLOUD / RCA Records, ranking at #6 worldwide with over 2.82 million likes.
What is the most liked Indian song among the 2026 releases?
“Bairan” by Banjaare is the highest-ranked Indian release of 2026 with nearly 2.50 million likes, leading regional and Bollywood releases on the global board.
How often are these 2026 YouTube like counts updated?
SongRay tracks and updates like tallies periodically through automated verification scripts to ensure rankings accurately reflect genuine lifetime milestones on YouTube.
Final Thoughts
The leaderboard of the most liked songs released in 2026 illustrates the vibrant diversity of global music consumption. From the massive cross-continental appeal of Dai Dai to the record-shattering group dominance of BTS, LISA’s solo triumph with SaWaDiKa, and grassroots viral anthems like Bairan, 2026 has delivered remarkable digital milestones on YouTube.
Because engagement statistics continue to rise daily, exploring the most liked songs released in 2026 provides direct insight into which tracks resonate most with global listeners. Stay tuned to SONGRAY for continuous automated chart updates and streaming analytics.