Oli Yeates · 4 June 2026
The 100 Most-Watched Music Videos on YouTube Ever (Updated for 2026)
YouTube is the biggest music platform on the planet, and the numbers are mind-bending. Here is the definitive ranking of the 100 most-watched music videos of all time as of June 2026, plus what every marketer can learn from how they got there.
YouTube is the biggest music platform on the planet, and the numbers behind its top videos are frankly mind-bending. We are talking billions of views. Not millions. Billions. Some of these clips have been watched more times than there are people on Earth, several times over.
As a marketer, I find this stuff fascinating. Every video on this list is a masterclass in reach, replay value and cultural timing. A catchy hook, a meme-able dance, a tune that ends up at every wedding for a decade. That is organic distribution at a scale no media budget could ever buy.
So we pulled together the definitive ranking: the 100 most-watched music videos of all time, as of June 2026. We have left out the nursery rhymes and kids' channels (sorry Baby Shark) so this is a pure music chart. Click any thumbnail to play the video. Counts tick up daily, so treat the figures as a snapshot rather than gospel.
Grab a brew. This is a good one. 🙌
1. Despacito by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
12 Jan 2017~9.0 billion views
The undisputed king. A Puerto Rican summer anthem that became the first video ever to pass billions of milestones at record pace. Proof that a song does not need to be in English to conquer the world.
2. See You Again by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
6 Apr 2015~7.0 billion views
The tribute to Paul Walker from the Furious 7 soundtrack. Emotion plus a blockbuster film equals staggering staying power.
3. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
30 Jan 2017~6.7 billion views
Our Suffolk lad doing the business globally. That marimba hook is engineered for replay, and the boxing-gym video keeps it watchable.
4. Gangnam Style by PSY
15 Jul 2012~6.0 billion views
The original viral monster. It famously broke YouTube's view counter back in the day. The horse dance is still doing the rounds at parties.
5. Axel F by Crazy Frog
16 Jun 2009~6.0 billion views
A novelty single that refuses to die. Pure early-2000s nostalgia that found a whole new audience on YouTube.
6. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
19 Nov 2014~5.8 billion views
Funk for a new generation. Impossible not to move to, which is exactly why people keep coming back.
7. Dame Tu Cosita by El Chombo ft. Cutty Ranks
5 Apr 2018~5.5 billion views
The dancing green alien meme that took over the internet. A perfect example of a song riding a viral animation to the top.
8. Shree Hanuman Chalisa by Hariharan / Gulshan Kumar
9 May 2011~5.5 billion views
A devotional bhajan with an enormous, loyal Indian audience. A reminder that the biggest market online is not always the one you would expect.
9. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira
4 Jun 2010~4.6 billion views
The official 2010 World Cup song. Tie your content to a global event and you give it a very long tail indeed.
10. Counting Stars by OneRepublic
31 May 2013~4.4 billion views
A slow-burn anthem that just kept growing. The kind of song that soundtracks a decade of road trips.
11. Sugar by Maroon 5
14 Jan 2015~4.4 billion views
The wedding-crashing video is a stroke of genius. Real couples, real reactions, infinitely shareable.
12. Roar by Katy Perry
5 Sep 2013~4.3 billion views
A jungle-themed empowerment anthem. Katy Perry knows how to build a video people want to watch, not just hear.
13. Dark Horse by Katy Perry ft. Juicy J
20 Feb 2014~4.2 billion views
Ancient Egypt meets trap beats. Visually bold and endlessly meme-worthy.
14. Perfect by Ed Sheeran
9 Nov 2017~4.2 billion views
The modern first-dance song. If your wedding playlist does not have this on it, did you even get married?
15. Sorry by Justin Bieber
22 Oct 2015~4.1 billion views
The dance-troupe video did the heavy lifting here. Smart move releasing it with choreography people wanted to copy.
16. Let Her Go by Passenger
25 Jul 2012~4.1 billion views
From busking to billions. One of the great underdog stories on this whole list.
17. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
30 May 2018~4.0 billion views
A parade of famous faces in one continuous shot. Star power as a content strategy.
18. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
7 Oct 2014~4.0 billion views
Ed again, and that ballroom dance routine. Three Sheeran songs in the top 20 is no accident.
19. Faded by Alan Walker
3 Dec 2015~4.0 billion views
The hooded-DJ aesthetic and a haunting melody. Proof that EDM travels across every border on Earth.
20. Lean On by Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ
22 Mar 2015~3.9 billion views
Shot in India with a bold visual identity. A genuine global crossover smash.
21. Bailando by Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona
11 Apr 2014~3.8 billion views
Sun-soaked Latin pop years before Despacito made it the dominant sound online.
22. Blank Space by Taylor Swift
10 Nov 2014~3.8 billion views
Taylor leaning into her own tabloid image with a wink. Clever, self-aware and hugely rewatchable.
23. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
18 Aug 2014~3.7 billion views
The pivot to pop that paid off enormously. A feel-good anthem built for repeat plays.
24. Let It Go (Frozen) by Idina Menzel
30 Jan 2014~3.7 billion views
Every parent reading this just felt a small shiver. Disney plus an unstoppable chorus equals billions.
25. Baby by Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris
19 Feb 2010~3.7 billion views
The one that launched a career. For years this was the benchmark every other video chased.
26. Mi Gente by J Balvin, Willy William
29 Jun 2017~3.7 billion views
A riot of colour and reggaeton energy. J Balvin is one of the most-streamed artists on the planet for good reason.
27. We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez
2 Aug 2016~3.5 billion views
A breakup duet that struck a universal nerve. Two big names, one very relatable theme.
28. Closer by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
29 Jul 2016~3.4 billion views
The song that defined a summer. That "we ain't ever getting older" line is permanently lodged in a generation's head.
29. New Rules by Dua Lipa
7 Jul 2017~3.3 billion views
The video that made Dua Lipa a household name. A clear concept, a strong message and choreography people loved.
30. Hello by Adele
22 Oct 2015~3.3 billion views
The comeback that broke records overnight. Few artists can command attention like Adele.
31. The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
15 Apr 2011~3.2 billion views
Men in chimp masks doing nothing in particular. Simple, funny and weirdly impossible to stop watching.
32. Stressed Out by twenty one pilots
27 Apr 2015~3.2 billion views
A nostalgic ode to growing up that connected hard with younger viewers. Authenticity sells.
33. Rockabye by Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
21 Oct 2016~3.2 billion views
A proper story-driven video about a single mum. Heart plus a huge hook is a winning formula.
34. Chantaje by Shakira ft. Maluma
18 Nov 2016~3.2 billion views
Shakira's second entry on the list. The Latin music engine on YouTube is absolutely enormous.
35. Con Calma by Daddy Yankee & Snow
23 Jan 2019~3.2 billion views
A reworking of the 90s classic "Informer" that became a TikTok and YouTube juggernaut.
36. Calma (Remix) by Pedro Capó, Farruko
4 Oct 2018~3.1 billion views
Beach vibes and a remix that outperformed the original. Sometimes the second version is the one that flies.
37. Love The Way You Lie by Eminem ft. Rihanna
5 Aug 2010~3.1 billion views
A heavyweight collaboration with a powerful, cinematic video featuring Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan.
38. Work from Home by Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign
26 Feb 2016~3.1 billion views
A construction-site theme and slick choreography. The biggest hit of the girl group's run.
39. Believer by Imagine Dragons
7 Mar 2017~3.0 billion views
That stomping beat ended up in adverts, trailers and stadiums worldwide. Licensing gold.
40. Sunflower by Post Malone, Swae Lee
18 Oct 2018~3.0 billion views
From the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. A great film and a great song lifting each other up.
41. This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
16 Jun 2016~2.9 billion views
A festival-ready banger from two of the biggest names going. Built for the main stage.
42. Chandelier by Sia
6 May 2014~2.9 billion views
Maddie Ziegler's astonishing dance performance turned this into a piece of art. A masterclass in doing something different.
43. Rolling in the Deep by Adele
30 Nov 2010~2.9 billion views
The song that took Adele global. Raw, powerful and timeless.
44. On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
3 Mar 2011~2.8 billion views
A glossy, big-budget club anthem. One of the early videos to show just how massive YouTube could be.
45. Criminal by Natti Natasha ❌ Ozuna
18 Aug 2017~2.8 billion views
Another reggaeton heavyweight. The genre's grip on the global charts is unrelenting.
46. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
26 Oct 2011~2.8 billion views
The Twilight ballad that became a wedding staple in its own right. Slow and steady wins the view count.
47. Taki Taki by DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna, Cardi B
9 Oct 2018~2.8 billion views
Four superstars on one track. Stack the talent and you stack the audiences.
48. Starboy by The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
28 Sep 2016~2.8 billion views
The Weeknd teaming up with Daft Punk. Moody, stylish and the start of a new era for him.
49. Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes
12 Jul 2016~2.7 billion views
The Vine star turned genuine pop force. A serious video tackling a serious subject.
50. Numb by Linkin Park
5 Mar 2007~2.7 billion views
The first rock track on the list and a true anthem of the 2000s. Its recent resurgence shows how a back catalogue keeps earning.
51. Alone by Marshmello
2 Jul 2016~2.7 billion views
The masked DJ's breakout. A clever video about being an outsider that resonated with millions of young viewers.
52. All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
11 Jun 2014~2.7 billion views
A retro, body-positive bop with a pastel-coloured world to match. A debut single that landed instantly.
53. In Da Club by 50 Cent
16 Jun 2009~2.7 billion views
A hip-hop classic that still fills dancefloors. Uploaded years after release and still racking up views.
54. All of Me by John Legend
2 Oct 2013~2.7 billion views
Written for his wife Chrissy Teigen. Honest, personal and now a first-dance favourite the world over.
55. Mayores by Becky G, Bad Bunny
13 Jul 2017~2.7 billion views
An early Bad Bunny appearance before he became one of the biggest acts on Earth. Latin pop at its most playful.
56. Rude by MAGIC!
5 Dec 2013~2.7 billion views
A reggae-pop one-hit wonder that became completely inescapable for a summer.
57. Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye ft. Kimbra
5 Jul 2011~2.7 billion views
That body-paint video is iconic. An indie track that crossed over to total global domination.
58. No Me Conoce (Remix) by Jhay Cortez, J Balvin, Bad Bunny
16 May 2019~2.6 billion views
A remix that turned a strong song into a monster. The Latin remix machine strikes again.
59. Te Boté (Remix) by Casper, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, Ozuna
11 Apr 2018~2.6 billion views
Six artists on one track. A defining moment for the Latin trap scene.
60. Diamonds by Rihanna
8 Nov 2012~2.6 billion views
Rihanna at her most cinematic. A reminder of just how consistently huge she has been.
61. Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock
8 Mar 2011~2.6 billion views
"Every day I'm shufflin'." The dance craze that defined an era of YouTube.
62. APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
17 Oct 2024~2.6 billion views
The newest entry on the list, and it rocketed up fast. Proof that the K-pop and Western pop crossover is more powerful than ever.
63. That's What I Like by Bruno Mars
1 Mar 2017~2.5 billion views
Smooth, slick and Grammy-winning. Bruno Mars is a fixture on this list for a reason.
64. Wake Me Up by Avicii
29 Jul 2013~2.5 billion views
The folk-meets-dance crossover that changed pop. A lasting tribute to a hugely influential talent.
65. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
22 Feb 2017~2.5 billion views
A dream-team collaboration. Pair a chart-topping duo with a stadium band and the audiences combine.
66. Someone Like You by Adele
29 Sep 2011~2.5 billion views
A simple black-and-white video and one of the great vocal performances. Adele's third entry on the list.
67. Échame La Culpa by Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato
16 Nov 2017~2.5 billion views
Luis Fonsi proving Despacito was no fluke. A bilingual hit built for maximum reach.
68. November Rain by Guns N' Roses
25 Dec 2009~2.4 billion views
The first 1990s music video to hit a billion views. Epic in every sense and beloved by generations.
69. Worth It by Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink
28 Mar 2015~2.4 billion views
That sax riff is unforgettable. The group's second entry and another export success.
70. lovely by Billie Eilish, Khalid
26 Apr 2018~2.4 billion views
A haunting duet from the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack. An early sign of just how big Billie would become.
71. Side To Side by Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj
29 Aug 2016~2.4 billion views
A gym-themed pop hit with serious replay value. Ariana is one of the most-watched artists going.
72. Take On Me by a-ha
6 Jan 2010~2.4 billion views
The oldest song on the list. Its groundbreaking pencil-sketch animation is still being discovered by new fans 40 years on.
73. Nunca Es Suficiente by Los Ángeles Azules ft. Natalia Lafourcade
19 Apr 2018~2.4 billion views
Mexican cumbia royalty. A gorgeous, traditional sound proving there is a huge audience well beyond pop.
74. Without Me by Eminem
16 Jun 2009~2.4 billion views
Peak provocative Eminem. A back catalogue that keeps drawing new listeners every year.
75. Thunder by Imagine Dragons
2 May 2017~2.4 billion views
The band's second entry. That distinctive vocal hook made it instantly recognisable.
76. Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding
22 Jan 2015~2.4 billion views
From the Fifty Shades soundtrack. A blockbuster film franchise gave it a massive head start.
77. Propuesta Indecente by Romeo Santos
9 Sep 2013~2.4 billion views
The king of bachata. One of the most-watched Latin videos for over a decade.
78. Dusk Till Dawn by ZAYN ft. Sia
7 Sep 2017~2.4 billion views
A cinematic, action-packed video for ZAYN's biggest solo hit. Sia's writing touch all over it.
79. DDU-DU DDU-DU by BLACKPINK
15 Jun 2018~2.4 billion views
The video that smashed K-pop records. BLACKPINK's fanbase is one of the most engaged on the entire platform.
80. Heathens by twenty one pilots
21 Jun 2016~2.4 billion views
From the Suicide Squad soundtrack. The band's third entry and a darker, moodier hit.
81. X (Equis) by Nicky Jam x J Balvin
1 Mar 2018~2.3 billion views
Two reggaeton titans together. The genre's dominance on this list is impossible to miss.
82. China by Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin
19 Jul 2019~2.3 billion views
A reggaeton supergroup on one track. An all-star approach that reliably pulls billions.
83. Sin Pijama by Becky G, Natti Natasha
20 Apr 2018~2.3 billion views
A pairing of two of Latin pop's biggest female stars. A confident, colourful smash.
84. Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
29 Apr 2016~2.3 billion views
The Chainsmokers' third appearance. They had an extraordinary run during these years.
85. What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber
30 Aug 2015~2.3 billion views
The reinvention that won the doubters round. Bieber's third entry on the list.
86. The Hills by The Weeknd
27 May 2015~2.3 billion views
Dark, brooding and a defining moment for The Weeknd's rise to superstardom.
87. Dance Monkey by Tones and I
24 Jun 2019~2.3 billion views
One of the best-selling singles of all time, from an Australian busker. Another brilliant underdog story.
88. Con Altura by ROSALÍA, J Balvin ft. El Guincho
28 Mar 2019~2.3 billion views
ROSALÍA bringing flamenco influences to the mainstream. Bold, stylish and globally adored.
89. Déjala Que Vuelva by Piso 21 & Manuel Turizo
19 Oct 2017~2.3 billion views
A Colombian pop hit that quietly racked up billions. The depth of the Latin market on YouTube is staggering.
90. In The End by Linkin Park
26 Oct 2009~2.3 billion views
A defining nu-metal anthem and Linkin Park's second entry. Beloved across multiple generations.
91. Life Is Good by Future ft. Drake
9 Jan 2020~2.3 billion views
Two hip-hop heavyweights together. Drake's presence on any track is a near-guaranteed view machine.
92. Hymn For The Weekend by Coldplay
29 Jan 2016~2.3 billion views
Filmed in India with Beyoncé featuring. A visually rich video that travelled far and wide.
93. Human by Rag'n'Bone Man
21 Jul 2016~2.2 billion views
A booming voice and a stripped-back hook. A British breakout that went enormous.
94. Ay Vamos by J Balvin
29 Aug 2014~2.2 billion views
An early J Balvin smash that helped kick off the global reggaeton wave. His fourth entry on the list.
95. Kill This Love by BLACKPINK
4 Apr 2019~2.2 billion views
BLACKPINK's second entry. The choreography and visuals are pure spectacle.
96. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
16 Jun 2009~2.2 billion views
The song that defined the 90s, still finding new fans decades later. The power of a true classic.
97. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
2 Oct 2009~2.2 billion views
The King of Pop and one of the most important music videos ever made. Timeless does not begin to cover it.
98. What's Up by 4 Non Blondes
23 Feb 2011~2.2 billion views
A 90s one-hit wonder that found a second life as a karaoke and meme favourite. Never underestimate a singalong.
99. Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
8 Sep 2010~2.2 billion views
The debut single that announced a superstar. Bruno Mars' fourth and final entry on the list.
100. Save Your Tears by The Weeknd
5 Jan 2021~2.2 billion views
Rounding off the 100, The Weeknd's third entry. An 80s-inspired hit that closed out a record-breaking era for him.
What this list tells us as marketers
A few patterns jump out when you look at the whole 100.
Latin music and reggaeton absolutely dominate. The biggest audience on YouTube is global, mobile-first and very often Spanish-speaking. If you are still planning content for an English-only world, you are leaving most of the planet on the table.
Collaborations stack audiences. Look how many entries pair two or more big names. Each artist brings their own fanbase, and the combined reach is far greater than the sum of its parts. The same logic works for brand partnerships and creator collaborations.
A strong concept beats a big budget. The chimp masks in The Lazy Song, the wedding crashes in Sugar, the single continuous take in Girls Like You. A clear, repeatable idea gives people a reason to watch again and to share.
And finally, the long tail is everything. Classics like Take On Me, Billie Jean and Smells Like Teen Spirit are still climbing decades after release. Great content does not stop working. It keeps compounding, quietly, for years.
That last point is the one we bang on about most at Clicky. Build things that last, and they keep paying you back long after the launch.
If you want help turning your brand into content people actually want to watch, come and say hello. 👊🏻
Clicky™ / ClickyGroup™
View counts are accurate as of June 2026 and climb daily. Nursery rhymes and kids' channels have been excluded so this is a pure music ranking.