Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart
Zara Larsson’s strong 2026 comeback has reached a new high point, as her single “Midnight Sun” climbs three spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart dated June 27.
The achievement gives the Swedish pop star her second No. 1 on the chart, arriving just one week after “Stateside,” her collaboration with PinkPantheress, also reached the top position.
Zara Larsson Sets a New Pop Airplay Record
With this latest success, Larsson becomes the first artist in the history of Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart to earn her first two No. 1 songs in back-to-back weeks. The chart has been tracking pop radio performance since October 1992.
Only two acts before her had their first two Pop Airplay No. 1s follow each other directly overall. In 2003 and 2004, OutKast led with “Hey Ya!” before being replaced at No. 1 by “The Way You Move,” featuring Sleepy Brown.
A similar moment happened in 2014, when Iggy Azalea topped the chart with “Fancy,” featuring Charli xcx, before Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” featuring Azalea, moved into the No. 1 spot.
However, Larsson’s achievement is different because both of her first two No. 1 hits reached the top in consecutive weeks.
Other Artists Have Replaced Themselves at No. 1
Beyond first-time chart leaders, several major artists have previously replaced themselves at No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart. That list includes Mariah Carey, Halsey, Ariana Grande, and Doja Cat.
Still, none of them matched Larsson’s specific milestone of earning two new Pop Airplay No. 1s within a two-week span as their first two leaders.
Larsson Charts Four Songs at Once
Zara Larsson is also showing impressive strength across the Pop Airplay chart. For a seventh week, she has four songs appearing on the ranking, making her the only artist to accomplish that this year.
Alongside “Midnight Sun” at No. 1, “Stateside” slips to No. 2. Meanwhile, Tyla’s “She Did It Again,” featuring Larsson, rises from No. 29 to No. 27, reaching a new peak. Larsson’s 2016 hit “Lush Life” also remains steady at its No. 28 high.
“Midnight Sun” Continues Album Momentum
“Midnight Sun” is the title track from Larsson’s fifth studio album. The project performed strongly on the charts, reaching the top five on Top Dance Albums and entering the top 40 of the Billboard 200 in May.
The album has played a major role in Larsson’s renewed chart success and marks one of the most important creative periods of her career.
Zara Larsson Reflects on Her Breakthrough Year
Larsson, who was named Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music Breakthrough award winner, recently reflected on reaching new heights after more than a decade in music.
She said returning to the Billboard charts after a long time has been exciting and proves the value of persistence. Larsson explained that the shift came with the creation of Midnight Sun, describing the album as a moment where she took more control of her career direction.
She compared her journey to sitting in a car for years, knowing where she wanted to go but not fully being in control. With this album, she felt ready to take the driver’s seat.
Billboard Chart Update
All Billboard charts dated June 27 are scheduled to update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, June 23.
Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” has pushed her 2026 resurgence to another level by reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. With two consecutive first-time No. 1 hits, four songs charting at once, and renewed album momentum, Larsson is enjoying one of the strongest chapters of her career.
