Midyear Music Spotlight: Rodrigo, Drake and Ella Langley Lead 2026’s Best Albums So Far

Variety’s midyear roundup spotlights Olivia Rodrigo, Drake and Ella Langley among the year’s standout album releases, pairing established superstars with rising voices like Slayyter, Raye and Paul McCartney in a genre-spanning snapshot of the first half of 2026. The feature, crafted by Variety’s music staff, celebrates ambitious projects—from Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love to Langley’s Dandelion and Drake’s Maid of Honour—while noting strong showings from artists across pop, R&B, country and rock as the year’s momentum continues.