The internet is waxing nostalgic, so TikTok’s song of the summer is a blast from the past

Much has been said about the long-term decline of the “song of the summer.” Once upon a time, universal bops like the “Macarena” brought the entire country together for dance parties that lasted the entire season. In 2026, however, pop culture is so fractured that it’s impossible to pick out a single track that unites the nation. Instead, one’s choice for the song of the summer crown depends on regional and demographic indicators.

TikTok is one hub that still offers some semblance of monoculture. Last year, posts about vacations gone wrong brought Jess Glynne’s 2015 single “Hold My Hand” back into the spotlight. The track wasn’t officially named the song of the summer, but for me, the Jet2holidays meme is the most memorable culture export from the dog days of 2025.

Now, TikTok has returned with a rundown of the songs of the summer for 2026. The list, which incorporates viewership and upload statistics from the app, is led by a track that was first released as a single in 2011: Katy Perry‘s “The One That Got Away.”

At the time of its release, “The One That Got Away” was an afterthought, buried beneath several other singles from Perry’s smash-hit album Teenage Dream. In fact, the 2010 song of the summer was a sun-dappled classic from Perry’s iconic record: “California Gurlz.”

15 years later, “The One That Got Away” is the Teenage Dream track taking center stage. Its lyrics encapsulate the feeling of long summer days gone by, and amid a period of widespread nostalgia, “The One That Got Away” appeared in 42 million videos. According to TikTok, those clips totaled 55 billion views.

“It’s surreal to see The One That Got Away having this moment, all these years later. The thing about music is that you never really know where a song is going to end up, or when someone is going to find it,” Perry said in a statement

. “From seeing it being chosen in the ‘choose your own adventure’ section of my Lifetimes Tour concert film to seeing people discover it on TikTok and make it part of their own stories has been really special to watch.”

@tiktok this summer was all about the classic hits. here’s to the ones that never got away 💿 #SongsofTheSummer2026 ♬ original sound – TikTok

“The One That Got Away” is not the only throwback among TikTok’s songs of the summer. The list is filled with classics, from Lenny Kravitz‘s “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” to Mac Miller‘s “Cinderella.” Even the 2026 releases on the list play nostalgic notes. Noah Kahan‘s “End of August” is as wistful as its title suggests, and Shakira‘s “Dai Dai” is reminiscent of her previous World Cup anthem, “Waka Waka.”

Individual songs may not unite our culture anymore, but moods still do. Nostalgia, after being tied to Millennials for many years, has become tied to Gen Z. Twentysomethings are looking back to the previous decade, and that behavior is influencing the cohort’s music and TV choices. Nostalgia is essentially a form of escapism, and that’s the feeling so many members of Gen Z are seeking when they open up TikTok.

The song of the summer may be a fading phenomenon, but TikTok’s analysis shows that there is still a shared cultural spirit driving pop trends. A single song doesn’t define that spirit, but Katy Perry probably doesn’t mind a little extra shine.