BTS performs during the halftime show of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Aug. 19 (local time). [Getty Images]
BTS performs during the halftime show of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Aug. 19 (local time). [Getty Images]

The two groups known together as "2B" — BTS and Blackpink — showed their strength this summer. BTS and Jennie of Blackpink both landed near the top of Billboard's 2026 Summer Songs rankings.

According to Billboard on Thursday, BTS and Jennie secured top spots in this year's summer-season recap chart, which tallies the biggest songs of the summer into a top 10.

BTS's "SWIM" ranked second on the Billboard Global Excl. US summer recap, which reflects music consumption worldwide outside the United States. The song also placed sixth on the Billboard Global 200 summer recap, which includes the US, underscoring its staying power on a global scale.

Billboard attributed the achievement in part to the momentum from BTS's halftime performance at the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

Jennie. [OA Entertainment]
Jennie. [OA Entertainment]

During that performance, BTS headlined the first-ever World Cup final halftime show in history, sharing the stage with Shakira, Justin Bieber and Madonna.

Jennie's singular global reach was also on display. Her collaboration with Tame Impala, "Dracula," ranked fifth on the Billboard Global 200 summer recap and sixth on the Billboard Global Excl. US summer recap. The result marked a successful cross-genre collaboration on the world stage.

This is not the first time a K-pop act has landed on Billboard's annual Summer Songs ranking, which tallies chart performance each summer. In 2023, BTS's Jungkook made K-pop history by topping the global summer song chart with "Seven," his solo single featuring rapper Latto.


shee@heraldcorp.com