More than 300 songs have peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and despite not hitting No. 1 or even the top 10, many remain memorable years or even decades later.
The Beatles, Bee Gees, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and Aretha Franklin all boast notable No. 26 Hot 100 hits among their iconic catalogs, which include a record 20, nine, eight, four and two leaders, respectively. (The Beatles’ No. 26 single, noted in the list below, would’ve peaked four spots higher if not for a fab four other songs of theirs in its way the week that it reached its high, amid early Beatlemania.)
Other acts sport No. 26-peaking entries on their Hot 100 résumés that mark career highs, ranging from The Jamies in the 1950s to the Psychedelic Furs in the ‘80s and CKay in the 2020s.
For certain artists, No. 26 Hot 100 hits kicked off especially lengthy chart careers, including LeAnn Rimes in the ‘90s and Paramore in the ‘00s.
Meanwhile, over on the Billboard 200 albums chart, noteworthy No. 26-peaking collections include John Denver and the Muppets’ warm and fuzzy (literally) A Christmas Together, P!nk’s debut, Can’t Take Me Home, and 2022’s Elvis soundtrack.
On Hot Country Songs, Kenny Rogers spun “The Greatest” to a No. 26 best. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” hit a No. 26 high. On Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Foo Fighters’ recent radio ruler “Asking for a Friend” has reached No. 26.
In honor of their enduring legacies, here’s a rundown of 26 No. 26 Hot 100 hits, for 2026.
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