Apple Music has named British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean its Artist of the Year for 2026, and Best of 2026 playlists are now in the app’s New tab, according to Apple and 流動日報 New Mobile Life. Apple announced the award on November 9, 2026, and says Dean is the first UK artist to receive it.

Why did Olivia Dean win?

Apple points to her late 2025 album, The Art of Loving, which it says truly broke through this year. Her song “Man I Need” has charted on Apple Music’s Daily Top 100 every day since it first appeared on August 29, 2025.

Apple also lists a sold-out global tour, a GRAMMY for Best New Artist and four BRIT Awards, including Artist of the Year. On stage, she opened for Sabrina Carpenter at Madison Square Garden in New York City in fall 2025, then returned for her own four-night residency and followed it with a six-night sold-out run at The O2 Arena in London.

Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head, said, “What sets Olivia apart is that she speaks from the heart, every time.” Dean receives a physical award built around Apple’s custom silicon wafer, set between polished glass and an anodized aluminum body. According to New Mobile Life, last year’s winner was Tyler, The Creator, followed back in time by Billie Eilish in 2024 and Taylor Swift in 2023.

Where can I find the Best of 2026 playlists?

Open the New tab in the Apple Music app. New Mobile Life reports that Apple Music’s editors have published Best of 2026 versions of several popular playlists there, including Rap Life, R&B Now, A-List Pop and Today’s Country.

Apple’s own announcement also invites readers to a special selection of playlists dedicated to the songs and voices that shaped the last 12 months. The newsroom text we reviewed does not give a direct link, so the New tab and music.apple.com are the places to start.

What is Apple Music Replay, and how is it different?

Replay is personal, while the Best of lists are the same for everyone. MacRumors reported that Replay 2026 went live on February 3, 2026. It ranks your most-played songs on Apple Music from 1 to 100, updates weekly, and becomes a finalized top 100 by December.

To find it, open the Home tab in the Apple Music app and scroll to “Replay: Your Top Music.” You can also use Apple Music on the web. According to MacRumors, “Use Listening History” must be switched on under Music in Settings, and you need enough streamed music for rankings to appear. Replay has been offered every year since 2019.

Prices

New Mobile Life states that the Apple Music subscription costs 11.99 US dollars per month, and that the service is also available through Apple One bundles. Apple’s newsroom post lists no price, and the sources do not give figures for other currencies or countries, so check Apple’s page for your own country before you subscribe.

Neither Apple’s post nor MacRumors puts a separate price on Replay, which the MacRumors report describes as tied to an Apple Music subscription. The sources do not say whether the Best of 2026 playlists can be played without a subscription.

For reach, Apple says Apple Music is available in over 167 countries and regions, carries a catalog of over 100 million songs and is ad-free. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro and online, plus Android and Windows devices.

Who it suits

Current subscribers who want a quick year in review: the Best of 2026 playlists in the New tab are the fastest way to hear what Apple’s editors consider the year’s defining music, without building anything yourself.

Listeners who like their own numbers: Replay is the better fit. It ranks what you actually played, and since the list is finalized by December, now is a good time to check where your favorites landed.

Olivia Dean fans: the award announcement is a good prompt to revisit The Art of Loving and the playlists Apple dedicated to her year.

People on Android or Windows: Apple says the service reaches those devices and the web, but the sources do not say which features appear on each, so confirm in the app you use.

Next step: open the New tab in Apple Music, then check Replay on the Home tab to compare Apple’s picks with your own listening.