2026 has already served up a number of terrific tunes on our release radars, and with the second half of the year just around the corner, we’re already licking our lips at the prospect of hearing some of these weapons in live festival settings. Our feature writer, Jake Gable, looks at his own personal 2026 favourites…
10. Above & Beyond – When I Look In Your Eyes
With many fans critiquing the recent quality of trance trio Above & Beyond, who appear to have suffered an extreme slump in form post-COVID, this was a gentle reminder of the production prowess the titans still possess after their disappointing 2025 album,‘Bigger Than All Of Us’. Arguably their first ‘proper Anjuna’ sounding track since 2018’s star-studded ‘Common Ground’ album, Jono, Tony, and Paavo teamed up with long-time collaborator Justine Suissa, who provided the wistful vocal on this emotive anthem.
9. Alesso & Pendulum – Fade
It’s not often we’re treated to the entwining sounds of two unlikely collaborators, so naturally, there was an intrigue around early 2026-release, ‘Fade’, blessed with the studio skills of the Swedish prog-prince, Alesso, and legendary DnB outfit, Pendulum. The result was an amalgamation of both artist’s signature styles, blending effortlessly to produce this rasping release, primed for festivals globally through the rest of 2026.
8. MEDUZA – Silence
When looking at recent discographies, the task of finding a run of releases more potent than MEDUZA‘s is near-on impossible. Hitting the back of the net with just about every track over the past 7-8 years, the Italian trio once again scored an instant home-run with this Summer scorcher, just last month. Roping in RANI on vocals, that iconic deep MEDUZA melody is fused with an energetic hook, and oodles of bass. Magnifique!
7. James Hype – Be Mine
Though, if there is ONE artist who can perhaps rival MEDUZA in the ‘purple patch’ stakes, James Hype is the man! Going from strength to strength alongside his fellow Ibiza-residency holders, Hype arrived into 2026 with his trademark energy, beefing up the BPM for this high-tempo club-wobbler on 6th March. Since then, the track has become a killer must-have in just about every DJ set worldwide.
6. Calvin Harris & Kasabian – Release The Pressure
Okay, so maybe Alesso & Pendulum wasn’t the most peculiar collaboration of 2026, because this was blew just everything else out of the water. First of all, Calv once again confirmed he’s physically incapable of making tracks that aren’t anything other than fully supreme, and secondly, Kasabian surprised us all by dusting off the guitars and mics from their 2009-peak to add some real emphasis to this certified banger.
5. HUGEL – Movin’ To The Sun
When it comes to profiting off a genre-hype, nobody (and we’re looking at you, Monsieur Guetta) does it better than HUGEL. The French DJ and producer moved away from his early-career tropical-house sound to switch up entirely, and tap into the trending movement around latin and afro-house. Delighting Love Island-watchers and Balearic Insta-stories alike, ‘Movin’ To The Sun’ became 2026’s instant summer classic.
4. FISHER – Rain
The most loveable man in dance music once again hit the heights in Spring, with his long-awaited whopper, ‘Rain’. Featuring regularly in his sets throughout 2025, including his acclaimed performance at the Royal Naval College in London, the Fish once again served up this piping-hot slice of tech-house perfection to send us into festival season with spirits high and gun-fingers at-the-ready.
3. Tiesto – Beautiful Places
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest highlights of this year so far has been Tiesto‘s return to trance. With fans clamouring for the Godfather of the genre to return to his roots for the best part of two decades now, the Dutch maestro finally succumbed to the pressure, playing mesmeric sets at Dreamstate and the Pyramids of Giza, where he first aired this sensational production, topped by the vocal of Brieanna Grace.
2. Axwell – Whatever Turns You On
The Professor finally dropped his most potent-potion in June, having teased the track in various sets last year, including Tomorrowland Brazil, and Tomorrowland Winter. With Axtone fans fanatically flooding forums with demand for the anthem, Ax succumbed to demand and delivered this crisp portion of house goodness alongside Bonn of ‘High On Life’ fame.
1. David Guetta, Third Party & John Martin – HUMAN
And… Without a doubt… THE Festival Anthem of 2026, is this powerful portion of prog-perfection from UK duo Third Party, and David Guetta. First appearing in the sets of the Release Records founders through recent years, the HALO duo then pulled in the French legend to apply the finishing touches, and located dance music royalty in the form of John Martin to serve up a phenomenal vocal. Much like the latter’s work on ‘Don’t You Worry Child’, and ‘Save The World’, this one is already being filed under the pantheon of dance music CLASSICS, such is the killer melody and unmistakably catchy chorus.
Do you agree with our selection of tracks? Wanna shout out those hidden gems you think we might have missed? Why not head over to our CULTR Instagram page to start the debate!
