Summer is right around the corner, the sunshine, good memories and tan lines are just a month away. No more school or stress, just friends and music. Summer 2026 has high expectations, but it will never be Brat summer ever again.

Two summers ago, Charli XCX released her hit album, Brat. Brat was released June 7, 2024, and sparked a new cultural phenomenon. Brat summer was created and ruled the months of June, July and August.

Not only did Charli XCX release her solo album Brat but she also collaborated with many other artists to create her second Brat album. “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” is an addition to her main album that features dozens of other artists.

Lorde, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Troye Sivan and more are some of the top featured artists on this album.

Brat was about more than just the music; it was a feeling. Brat inspired listeners to let loose and fostered a girlhood environment.

Charli XCX found inspiration from this album from her time as a performer at raves in London. This being her sixth album, she took inspiration from the nightlife scene, in a more vulnerable way.

Brat was most popular in the UK, Australia, Croatia, Ireland and New Zealand. Charlotte Emma Aitchinson (Charli XCX) was born in 1992 in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Charli XCX has been making hit songs for years now, but Brat opened a new door for her. Brat represents the new age of women, independent, free and ready to have fun.

Brat was a key staple for Kamala Harris’s campaign during the fall of 2024. The Harris Waltz campaign included stickers that said, “Kamala is so brat.”

The song “Apple” on Brat became a viral TikTok song, with a dance included. Some songs from this album have been featured in movies. For example, “Everything is Romantic” was featured in the Wuthering Heights film in 2026.

Guess featuring Billie Eilish was the most streamed song at 240 million streams.

Brat won a handful of awards at the 67th Grammy’s. Brat was nominated for nine Grammy’s and took home three.

The album Brat was about more than just the music. It captured the specific vibe of the time and highlighted a new era of pop music. Charli XCX has gone on to create more songs and even got married a few months ago.

Although summer 2026 will be a great time, Brat summer will always hold a special memory for those who participated.