The Top 30 Graduation Songs In 2026
Graduation season is one of those rare "everybody feels it" moments. Parents are proud, students are running on adrenaline, and teachers and faculty are doing that thing where they pretend they're not emotional (they are). The soundtrack matters because the right song turns a collection of photos into a story that actually lands.
Below are the top 30 most popular songs requested for graduation slideshows in 2026, grouped into three moods: Sentimental, Fun, and Optimistic. These picks reflect the same songs you'll see show up again and again in popular graduation playlists and "best of" lists (the classics plus a few modern staples).
Before you pick a song
Choose music based on what you want people to feel in the room. A great graduation slideshow usually follows a simple emotional arc: nostalgia → laughter → hope. If you do that, the song selection becomes easy. For more on matching music to your story, see our guide on choosing the best songs for graduation slideshows.
Sentimental Graduation Songs (the tearjerkers, in a good way)
These are the "pause and breathe" songs. Best for childhood photos, family moments, and that last stretch where everyone realizes time actually moved.
- Graduation (Friends Forever) — Vitamin C
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) — Green Day
- You've Got a Friend — James Taylor
- Lean on Me — Bill Withers
- Never Grow Up — Taylor Swift
- Slipping Through My Fingers — ABBA
- I Will Remember You — Sarah McLachlan
- See You Again — Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
- Forever Young — Alphaville
- Photographs — Ed Sheeran
Quick tip: If your slideshow includes speaking moments (a short quote, teacher message, or parent dedication), sentimental songs with a steady tempo make timing way easier.
Fun Graduation Songs (the "this is our moment" energy)
These are the crowd-pleasers. Best for friend groups, sports photos, dances, candid chaos, and anything that should feel like a highlight reel.
- Don't Stop Me Now — Queen
- About Damn Time — Lizzo
- Can't Stop the Feeling! — Justin Timberlake
- I Gotta Feeling — The Black Eyed Peas
- Best Day of My Life — American Authors
- Happy — Pharrell Williams
- We Are Young — fun. ft. Janelle Monáe
- Celebration — Kool & The Gang
- Raise Your Glass — P!nk
- Firework — Katy Perry
Quick tip: Fun songs hit hardest when the edits match the beat. If you're not planning to tempo-cut photos manually, choose a fun song with a consistent pulse and fewer hard drops.
Optimistic Graduation Songs (forward-looking, confident, "new chapter")
These are the "walk into the future" songs. Best for the last third of the slideshow when you're building momentum toward the ending.
- Unwritten — Natasha Bedingfield
- Hall of Fame — The Script ft. will.i.am
- On Top of the World — Imagine Dragons
- Beautiful Day — U2
- I Lived — OneRepublic
- My Wish — Rascal Flatts
- Good Life — OneRepublic
- Count on Me — Bruno Mars
- A Million Dreams — (The Greatest Showman)
- Permission to Dance — BTS
How to choose "the one" song (without overthinking it)
If you're stuck between two songs, use this simple filter:
- If your slideshow is mostly childhood + family moments, choose Sentimental
- If it's mostly friends + school memories, choose Fun
- If it's a ceremony-style slideshow shown publicly, choose Optimistic (it plays well for mixed audiences)
Also: always confirm the venue's rules. Some schools require clean versions, and YouTube/online sharing can trigger copyright mutes depending on the track.
Want it to look and feel like a real film (not a rushed photo dump)?
That's where a professional build makes a difference: pacing, photo grouping, music timing, and tasteful motion so your audience stays engaged all the way through the last frame.
Milestone Slideshows creates done-for-you graduation slideshows with clean, modern storytelling plus optional upgrades like: GEM flash drive, Video Book, 6-month streaming, and photo add-ons like picture repairs, edits, and upscaling.
If you want to hand this off and still get something you're proud to show on a big screen, we can help. See our guide to making a high school graduation slideshow and graduation slideshow FAQs, or get started today.