In 2019, Megan Thee Stallion declared it “hot girl summer,” dropping the rap hit that would become many women’s anthem for every summer to follow.
But this year’s warmest months were dominated by a more mainstream genre, turning hot girl summer into pop girl summer – not that the two terms are mutually exclusive. It would be fair to argue I just wrote the same thing twice. After all, pop girls brought the heat in 2026.
Between June and August, we received albums from some of pop’s most celebrated princesses. Highlights from the lineup were Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande and the queen herself: Madonna. Still, Gracie Abrams, Tyla, Charli xcx and the increasingly controversial K-pop group KATSEYE produced new pop music as well.
Together, these artists beautifully represent the pop genre in all its variety. Each album has its own distinct sound – some softer, some harder, some in between – with some delivering more standout tracks than others.
“you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” by Olivia Rodrigo
Take Olivia Rodrigo, for example. She started the summer strong with the release of her third album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” on June 13. It’s an album with no skips – unless you’re not in the mood to cry.
As the title suggests, the album explores the bittersweet reality of an all-consuming love, inviting listeners to experience a relationship that doesn’t work out from beginning to end. The album is half bitter, half sweet. While “drop dead” and “stupid song” depict the intoxicating high of a blossoming crush, “less” and “cigarette smoke” emerge from when that high inevitably crashes.
“you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” thrives on its relatability. Rodrigo’s lyrics feel like they could have been plucked from any Gen Z girl’s personal diary. Plus, the catchy choruses she creates are often perfect for a 30-second TikTok audio.
“petal” by Ariana Grande
What Olivia Rodrigo is to Gen Z, Ariana Grande has been to Millennials since “Yours Truly.” Thirteen years and eight albums later, Grande has mastered her bright, airy sound and is using it to convey more mature themes.
“petal” builds upon Grande’s recent work, maintaining the same soothing, slow pace that characterized “eternal sunshine.”
Although not confirmed to be her last album, there is a finality to many of the tracks. With lyrics like “Kiss me like you know this is goodbye” in the opening track and “Hard to believe in a perfect ending / but that’s alright” in the closing, it’s hard not to interpret the album as a farewell.
Just two days after dropping the album on July 31, Grande’s team announced she would be taking a break from public life after enduring endless scrutiny – particularly in response to recent comments about her weight.
Whether this means an end to music from the pop star forever or simply for a little while, Grande left us with a beautiful album about imperfect relationships – a strong contribution to pop girl summer.
“Confessions II” by Madonna
Between Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande’s albums, the queen of pop stepped in to ensure the summer of 2026 would be one to remember.
Released on July 3, “Confessions II” marks Madonna’s best album since 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor.” Although she revisits this era from over two decades ago, rather than serving up a rehash, she managed to deliver an album that is even more intimate and honest.
“Confessions II” is both nostalgic and new. While there have been rumors of a Madonna biopic in the works for a decade, this album could be a musical autobiography on its own. It describes the queen’s very beginnings as a girl with a mixtape and a dream before examining her life now, contemplating the fragility of life and the possibility of death.
At 68 years old, Madonna released an album that can still be enjoyed by all ages, proving that pop music has the power to span generations. The genre can be experimental; it is also inherently nostalgic and, apparently, ageless.
Pop music has always acted as a time capsule, reflecting society at a particular time. It also has the power to shape popular culture and establish new trends.
Art imitates life. Life imitates art.
This summer, pop girls reminded us that growing up doesn’t mean leaving the past behind. Whether they were falling in love or letting go, the women of pop girl summer proved sometimes the best way forward is by looking back.
As the 2026-2027 school year unfolds and academic pressures arise, if you start to feel nostalgic for summer, listening to one of these albums will always be a way to transport you right back.
