SS26 (song)

"SS26"
A tan background with "SS26" in large text with the songwriters listed below in smaller text
Single by Charli XCX
from the album Music, Fashion, Film
B-side"Playboy Bunny"
Released21 May 2026 (2026-05-21)
GenrePop
Length2:48
LabelAtlantic
Songwriters
Producers
  • A. G. Cook
  • Finn Keane
Charli XCX singles chronology
"Rock Music"
(2026)		 "SS26"
(2026)		 "Wink Wink"
(2026)
Music video
"SS26" on YouTube

"SS26" (acronym for "Spring, Summer 2026") is a song by British singer and songwriter Charli XCX. It was released on 21 May 2026, through Atlantic Records, as the second single from her eighth studio album, Music, Fashion, Film. A pop song inspired by rock music, combining dark and dance elements, she wrote it with Alexander Guy Cook and Finn Keane, who also produced the track. It reached number forty three on the UK Singles Charts.

Background and promotion

Charli XCX's preceding single, "Rock Music", sparked some controversy. Addressing the reaction, she described the song as simultaneously "funny, earnest, sincere, and joyful", later adding that she was "not trying to repel people away or convince people into liking me". During this period, she also released the B-side "I Keep on Thinking Bout You Every Single Day and Night".[1] Shortly before the song's release, she shared footage from recording sessions in Paris alongside her collaborators, A.G. Cook and Finn Keane.[2] Charli teased "SS26" through a post on her Substack, sharing part of the song's lyrics.[3]

During the Music, Fashion, Film interview with Nicky Reardon, Charli discussed the song's meaning, saying: "It's funny. I think everybody thinks that that song is about the end of the world or something. Or the state of the world... It's actually not. That's not at all what that song is about. It's kind of about persona, in a way. It's about how I think now, more than ever - we, as in all of us, anyone who is kind of on the internet, not even necessarily putting out music or work in any kind of way, but just if you're on the internet - there is this sort of level of persona... this level of feeling like you need to be on the right side of every single conversation and not get things wrong and apologize for things, how big or small, that you've done... to ultimately lead you towards some kind of moral sanctuary that will still not actually ever be enough... So the song is actually kind of talking about my experience with that. And talking about all of the sort of things that I could maybe utilize to help me to be more morally 'pure', which would be, like, stop smoking cigarettes..."[4]

Composition

"SS26" has been described as a pop song.[5] It was mainly inspired by rock music,[6] opening with "simple guitar lines" and subdued electronic drum sounds before shifting into a more distorted sound with "subtle, bouncing synths", according to Tom Skinner of NME.[7] Combining dark themes and dance elements,[8] it references online backlash and cancel culture through lines such as "I was hacked, it got taken out of context, obviously".[9]

Music video

Prior to the music video's release, Charli livestreamed a 30-minute "Pre Show" on YouTube, where she tried on outfits and highlighted pieces from designers she had recently worn publicly.[10] The music video for "SS26" was released along with the single's release.[11] Directed by Torso, the music video depicts Charli walking through Paris fashion runways in a series of designer looks and features cameos from a number of fashion personalities including Carine Roitfeld, Anthony Vaccarello, Farida Khelfa, and Lucien Pagès.[9][12]

Critical reception

Anthony Fantano labeled "SS26" as one of the best releases of the week. He praised its lyrics and refrain, while criticizing its lack of a climax and minimal use of bass guitar and drums.[13]

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 21 May 2026 Atlantic [23]
23 May 2026 7-inch single [24]

References

  1. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX – 'SS26'". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Commemorates Spring and Summer in High Fashion 'SS26' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Monroe, Jazz; Lindert, Hattie (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Walks a Runway to Hell in "SS26" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Reardon, Nicky (30 June 2026). The Music Fashion Film Interview (Interview). Event occurs at 38:49. Retrieved 7 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "The best tracks on Charli xcx's Music, Fashion, Film". Dazed. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Gurlate, Alejandra (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Meets the Runway". Vulture. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Skinner, Tom (22 May 2026). "Charli XCX walks Paris runway 'straight to hell' on gritty new single 'SS26'". NME. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Leung, Zoe (22 May 2026). "Charli XCX Walks, Spectates and Trashes the Runway in 'SS26'". Hypebeast. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 Atkinson, Katie (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Hits the Runway to Hell for 'SS26': Watch the Video". Billboard. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Serves High Fashion on the Runway in 'SS26' Music Video". Variety. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Monroe, Jazz; Lindert, Hattie (21 May 2026). "Charli XCX Walks a Runway to Hell in 'SS26' Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Hildreth, Alexandra (22 May 2026). "Charli xcx's "SS26" Music Video Is a Who's Who of the Fashion Industry". Vogue. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Fantano, Anthony (24 May 2026). Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, Muse, The Strokes | Weekly Track Roundup: 5/24/26. Event occurs at 13:34. Retrieved 26 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart". TopHit. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Top 20 Guatemala Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 22, 2026)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of June 3, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 29/5/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: June 2026". TopHit. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "SS26 - Single by Charli XCX". Apple Music (US). 21 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  24. ↑ XCX, Charli [@b.sides]; (22 May 2026). "the b side to SS26 is called Playboy Bunny and it drops tomorrow <3 only available here and on limited edition 7' vinyl xx". Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026 – via Instagram.
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