Michael Jackson’s greatest hits compilation, "The Essential Michael Jackson," is leading the list of best-selling albums in 2026 after nine months, according to Official Charts data. The 38-track collection, originally released in 2005, has sold 508,000 units this year, including streams, downloads, and physical sales, outperforming new releases from several contemporary artists. Other Michael Jackson albums also showed strong performance, with "Thriller" ranking 16th and "Bad" at 20th on the list.

The renewed interest in Jackson’s music is attributed in part to the biopic "Michael," which premiered in April 2026 and appears to have introduced his work to a younger audience.

Following Jackson at the top is Olivia Dean’s album "The Art Of Loving," positioned at number two. Her recent success extends to singles as well, with her track "Man I Need," released in August 2025, expected to be the biggest song of 2026. Dean also appears with the collaboration "Rein Me In" alongside Sam Fender, which sits at number two on the singles chart.

Harry Styles’ "Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally" holds the third spot on the album chart, demonstrating continued popularity. Other notable entries in the top ten include Fleetwood Mac’s compilation "50 Years: Don’t Stop" at fourth, Olivia Rodrigo’s "You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love" at fifth, The Weeknd’s "The Highlights" at sixth, Ed Sheeran’s "+ - = ÷ x (Tour Collection)" at seventh, Noah Kahan’s "The Great Divide" at eighth, Alex Warren’s "You’ll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1)" at ninth, and Oasis’ "Time Flies: 1994-2009" rounding out the top ten.

The presence of several compilations and greatest hits collections alongside contemporary albums illustrates the diverse listening preferences shaping the 2026 music market, with both legacy acts and emerging artists achieving significant commercial success.