Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]

Here’s a ranking of this year’s trending “heart-wrenching songs.”

There are times—during breakups, while in love, in all kinds of moments—when your chest tightens with emotion, right?

Many songs released this year capture those feelings, so you may find them relatable.

We’ll introduce the most-listened-to songs of the year in ranking order.

Playlist

Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Amanojaku164		The heart-wrenching, flutter-inducing lyrics really touch my heart…
2	Patchwork Staccatotoa		It feels like we’re connected, but we’re not...
3	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		The earnest feelings of an unrequited love by Official HIGE DANDism
4	Happinessback number		The bittersweet unrequited love song “Shiawase (Happiness)” by back number
5	Don’t go.Souta		Expressing the sorrow of a farewell that words cannot convey
6	to liveMizuno Atsu		Delicately expressing life's tribulations through the piano
7	PrologueUru		A poignant ballad that portrays an unattainable love
8	366 daysHY		A poignant ballad by HY that portrays a love that won’t fade even after a breakup
9	Hello/How are you?nanou		A song about not holding back your pain
10	Karakuri Pierrot40mP		A bittersweet song by 40mP, self-deprecating and tossed around by love.
11	I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci		A song that portrays the bittersweet emotions of love that spread on social media
12	Dawn and Firefliesn-buna		A song about finding a light toward the future while being lost
13	HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number		A wistful love song by back number
14	I want to be your lover.Abe Mao		A love song that poignantly portrays a one-sided summer crush
15	Colorless Self-Harmnekobōro		A soulful song that explores the meaning of life, evoking a sense of hope.
16	Because I fell in loveaimyon		Aimyon's ballads empathize with the pain of heartbreak
17	wishsumika		A song of bittersweet unrequited love and hope for the future
18	me me sheRADWIMPS		A masterpiece by RADWIMPS, a timeless song that gently embraces the pain of the heart.
19	15 Years of a Clingy Guy’s Petty ObsessionIe no ura de manbō ga shinderu P		As the title suggests, a slightly creepy unrequited love…
20	cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS		Introduce RADWIMPS' love songs
21	contact lens caseSaucy Dog		Gently tucking away the pain of heartbreak in my heart
22	Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA		A song about unconfessed feelings of love
23	raspberryMarushii		An unrequited love song that delicately portrays the feelings of romance.
24	I like you, but it seems you don’t really like me.back number		A love song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love
25	somedaySaucy Dog		The sorrow of heartbreak and the courage to move forward
26	Cowardly Mont BlancDECO*27		A famous DECO*27 song by GUMI that portrays inner conflict
27	First loveUtada Hikaru		Utada Hikaru’s masterpiece that sings of the pain of parting and of growth
28	from Y to YJimii Samu P		The first installment of the Hatsune Miku “Mr. Y Trilogy”
29	Calc.Jimii Samu P		A Vocaloid song that consoles the sorrow of heartbreak
30	Unrequited loveAimer		Aimer’s famous song that portrays the bittersweetness of unrequited love
31	Happy Endingback number		Portraying the pain of a broken heart and the poignancy of parting
32	moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro		Chihiro Onitsuka’s signature song, “Gekkou” (Moonlight), is a heart-touching ballad.
33	not enoughwacci		A bittersweet breakup song about parting ways with the one you love
34	Fleeting eternityYasuha.		A bittersweet love story woven with Miku's singing voice
35	Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku		On an autumn night, the scent of osmanthus brings back memories.
36	Kurayasukoppu		A heart’s cry struggling with the meaning of life
37	MetronomeYonezu Kenshi		The heartache of two people growing apart
38	lingering loveKitatani Ruki		A ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak
39	Life expectancy: 2:30Pinokio P		A song that questions the meaning of life and short-lived existence
40	love dollDECO*27		A song that was originally a dark Vocaloid track…
41	Repeat Onenekomushi P		A sad love song, lyrics of anguish that pierce the heart
42	I want you to tell me you love me.Oku Hanako		A song that sings of the heartrending feelings of a woman in love.
43	Ambiguous BlueKawasaki Takaya		Takaya Kawasaki’s song that portrays the complexity of love
44	fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi		A theme song about fireworks that poignantly sings of summer youth
45	cutting line40mP		“Overflowing with translucence/clarity” is the kind of phrase you’d use for a song like this…
46	I don’t like it.yangusukinii		A poignant love song of a woman trying to move on from a broken heart
47	SparkleIkuta Rira		A song about overcoming the pain of heartbreak and moving toward the future
48	On nights when I’m too lonely to sleepAimer		A timeless, heart-stirring classic that sings of a bittersweet love
49	MPRINCESS PRINCESS		A heartbreak ballad by Princess Princess
50	I want to forget.wacci		The bittersweet inner struggle of being unable to forget a past love
51	Our FailureMorita Doji		Morita Doji’s masterpiece, a sound that resonates in the heart
52	EpilogueNaisho no piasu		A ballad that sings of heartbreak and regret
53	Astronautpowapowa P		Hatsune Miku’s poignant long-form Vocaloid song “Astronauts”
54	beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko		Aiko’s love songs: bravado and delicacy
55	NAOHY		Unrequited love’s pain: a tear-jerking heartbreak song
56	The happiest way to die in the worldkoka		A song that portrays the anguished cries of a suffering heart
57	Enraptured by the lingering blossomskeeno		A heartrending seasonal flower ballad by keeno
58	barelysukoppu		A poignant song that delicately portrays the sense of distance in human relationships
59	Blue BenchSasuke		A pure love song portraying the regret and lingering attachment after losing a lover
60	rendezvousshaitoopu		Shy Toad’s heartbreak song surpasses 300 million plays
61	youyuzuki		The legendary ballad from Higurashi
62	So it wasn’t me, huh.riria.		Lilia's heartbreak ballad
63	ebb and flowRAY		A ballad with wave-like emotional fluctuations
64	Hated by life.Kanzaki Iori		Songs that resonate with the heart, music that gives hope to live
65	wrinklebuzzG		buzzG’s 28th work, “Shiwa,” has reached one million views.
66	made-to-orderKasamura Tōta		A Vocaloid song that portrays a delicate heart and hope
67	habit of laughingIgarashi Haru		A heartfelt song that portrays the pain of an unforgettable love
68	The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell		A bittersweet unrequited-love song, a heart-stirring classic
69	AitaiKato Miria		Depicting the bittersweet emotions of unrequited love
70	Until the day I can no longer rememberback number		A heartrending ballad that sings of the pain and sense of loss of a broken heart.
71	Just Be FriendsDixie Flatline		A sad breakup song in the style of electro house
72	wrapTENSONG		The importance of accepting the pain of heartbreak
73	Don’t say goodbye.MIMI		A timeless song whose gentle, companionable vocals soothe the heart
74	In loveHY		A bittersweet love song that embraces heartbreak as a cherished memory
75	If there’s a “see you”Mirei Touyama		A heartbreak song. A poignant track that sings of gratitude and regret.
76	GarnetOku Hanako		The theme song of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a track that resonates with the heart
77	Everyday Revolutionneguse.		A moving song that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak
78	The strong and fleeting onesCocco		A journey to protect love: the struggles and hopes of life
79	makeupMy Hair is Bad		A woman who forgives her unfaithful partner and wishes for their happiness
80	One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi		Masayoshi Yamazaki’s bittersweet love song
81	Unfit to be a loverKoresawa		A heartfelt cry depicting the anguish of heartbreak and self-reflection
82	You let me do as I please, and yet…arekunn		Complicated feelings toward someone who only contacts me when it’s convenient for them
83	sea fireflyKashii Moimi		Sea fireflies of the deep, an elegy for lost love
84	seems like (just) my imaginationChōchō P		Chouchou-P’s “Kokoronashi” is a hugely popular song that has surpassed one million views.
85	Orange7!!		A moving work that portrays the anguish and hope of youth
86	Fallen blossoms were watching summer.resipa		A beautiful piece that depicts fleeting summer memories
87	step on a flowerKasamura Tōta		A beautifully heartfelt song depicting the loss and rebirth of youth
88	All of the YouthFujifaburikku		A poignant classic that portrays the end of youth, expressing emotions with profound depth
89	Pamelabarūn		The heartrending melody of rock that stirs the soul
90	I’ll wait.amin		Aming’s debut single was a big hit.
91	petalback number		A heartbreak song layered over cherry blossom petals
92	Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako		A wistful piano ballad that mourns the end of summer
93	Even if you went and became somebody’s damn girlfriendtensai bando		A poignant classic that sings of the sorrow of heartbreak
94	I loved (it/you)erica		A ballad that weaves the pain of heartbreak together with the piano
95	clownkei		A song of encouragement, with Hatsune Miku gently by your side
96	Lavenderthe shes gone		A love ballad that portrays the pain of unrequited love
97	I didn’t want to know, if it meant losing it.atarayo		The Conflict Between a Lover's Betrayal and Unfading Feelings
98	two peopleaiko		The bittersweet pain of unrequited love in aiko’s classic song
99	Reach for the SkyKasamura Tōta		An emotionally rich GUMI song themed around the sea
100	orionYonezu Kenshi		A bittersweet winter love song of Orion