Apple Music launches ‘Best of 2026’ content, reveals Artist of the Year

Apple Music has launched new playlists and curated content for the ‘Best of 2026’ and also revealed its new Artist of the Year.

Apple Music rolls out 2026 year-end curated playlists and names Olivia Dean its Artist of the Year

The year is coming to a close, and Apple Music’s editorial teams have published a variety of playlists and other content to wrap the year.

Inside the ‘New’ tab in Apple Music, you’ll find ‘Best of 2026’ versions of popular playlists like Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop, Today’s Country, and more.

Additionally, Apple Music has named its Artist of the Year for 2026: Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean was announced today as Apple Music’s Artist of the Year, recognizing her undeniable leap to stardom in what’s been the defining feel-good music story of 2026. She is the first UK artist to receive this honor.

Olivia’s late 2025 album, The Art of Loving, truly broke through this year. Her hit “Man I Need” has charted on Apple Music’s Daily Top 100 every day since first appearing on August 29, 2025. In addition to selling out her global tour, she won a GRAMMY for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year. In fall 2025, Olivia opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. Less than a year later, she returned for her own four-night residency and followed up with a six-night sold-out run at The O2 Arena, in London.

Like Apple has done for the last several years, it’s gifting Dean with a physical that includes a custom Apple silicon wafer “suspended between a polished sheet of glass, and a machined and anodized aluminum body.”

Last year’s Artist of the Year was Tyler, The Creator, in 2024 it was Billie Eilish, and in 2023 Taylor Swift won the prize.

Apple Music is available for $11.99/month, or you can get it as part of the Apple One bundle.