[2026] Anti-war songs in Western music. Songs that wish for peace.

As of 2026, there is still no sign of a resolution to the situation in Ukraine, and since October 2023, armed clashes between Israel and Gaza have broken out, plunging the world into continued turmoil.

More recently, new fighting engulfing the entire Middle East has intensified, with the United States and Israel carrying out large-scale airstrikes on military and political targets inside Iran.

In this article, we’ve compiled a selection of overseas anti-war songs that will move listeners emotionally—precisely the kind of music we want you to hear in times like these—spanning different eras and genres.

Please listen while checking the parallel translations and such—the messages each artist has imbued in their work, from heartfelt wishes for peace to, at times, stern denunciations of those in power.

Please support the emergency fund to protect children’s lives and rights.

Japan Committee for UNICEF: Emergency Fundraising for the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

Japan Committee for UNICEF “Ukraine Emergency Fundraising”

Playlist

[2026] Anti-war songs in Western music. Songs that wish for peace.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Over JerusalemJethro Tull		The weight of history and a cry for peace
2	War Isn’t MurderJesse Welles		Questions surrounding the murder of Jessie Wells
3	Hind’s HallMacklemore		A song criticizing power and the Israeli military
4	Deira (ft. MC Abdul)Saint Levant		Love for their homeland and a will to resist by Palestinian artists
5	من النهر (From the River)Ethel Cain		A Song of Prayer for Palestine
6	Funeral for JusticeMdou Moctar		A guitarist from Niger, a scathing indictment of justice
7	War is a GodJesse Welles		Jesse Wells’s poignant question about religious conflict
8	Noam’s Song 2Maor Ashkenazi & Noam Cohen		Survivor of the Israel music festival attack sings for peace
9	RajieenMultiple artists		Artists from the Middle East and North Africa produce a song to support Gaza
10	Gaza Is CallingMustafa		Singing of sorrow for a friendship torn apart by violence
11	Voice of a ChildEric Clapton		Clapton’s charity live concert to save children in Gaza
12	EpiphanyTaylor Swift		Taylor Swift Sings of the Agony and Hope of War and the Pandemic
13	Bajo los EscombrosResidente, Amal Murkus		A song calling for peace and rights for Palestine
14	Before & AfterAdnan Joubran		Expressing everyday life and hope lost to war through the oud
15	Palestine Will RiseAbe Batshon, Samer & Sammy Shiblaq		Protest songs by Palestinian artists
16	On This Land (feat. SOL Band)Saint Levant		An artist from Palestine expresses their feelings for their homeland through music
17	Against the WarBeans on Toast		A folk song protesting the war in Ukraine
18	Song for the Houthi ArmyDavid Rovics		David Rovics social critique song
19	Holy WarAlicia Keys		Alicia Keys’s anti-war song
20	ImagineJohn Lennon		John Lennon's wish for peace
21	TANGOTananai		Tanani's Tango, A Wish for Peace
22	RussiansSting		Sting Cold War-critical anti-war song
23	Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)Simple Plan		A song by Simple Plan wishing for peace
24	Home BackJINJER		Anti-war song by a Ukrainian band
25	LeningradBilly Joel		Billy Joel's anti-war peace song 'Leningrad'
26	We Want PeaceEmmanuel Jal		A weighty anti-war message from a former child soldier
27	What If There Were No Sides At AllBryan Adams		Bryan Adams’s anti-war song prays for peace
28	ZombieThe Cranberries		Dolores O'Riordan's anti-war song
29	What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye		Marvin Gaye’s anti-war song. Expresses social issues.
30	Hammer To FallQueen		Queen 1984 nuclear war theme
31	Happy Xmas (War Is Over)John Lennon & Yoko Ono		John Lennon's anti-war Christmas song
32	After the GardenNeil Young		Introduction to the song 'After the Garden' by Neil Young.
33	What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong		Louis Armstrong peace love
34	Waiting On the World to ChangeJohn Mayer		John Mayer’s song wishing for peace
35	Masters of WarBob Dylan		Introduction to Bob Dylan's anti-war songs
36	Walk On (Ukraine)U2		A masterpiece from U2’s latest album, a song supporting Ukraine
37	Wavin’ FlagK’NAAN		Introduction to K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag”
38	All You Need is LoveThe Beatles		All You Need Is Love The Beatles
39	Why Can’t We Live TogetherSade		A cover of an anti-war song sung by Sade
40	Too Young To DieJamiroquai		Jamiroquai's anti-war funk
41	Hero Of WarRise Against		Rise Again depicts soldiers in an anti-war song
42	Back to the WorldCurtis Mayfield		Curtis Mayfield's anti-war song
43	Killing StrangersMarilyn Manson		Marilyn Manson's war song
44	Anti Establishment ManREO Speed Wagon		1971 anti-war rock classic by REO
45	Good PeopleJack Johnson		Jack Johnson's anti-war song
46	Dance On GasolineMåneskin		A rock song expressing anger at the war in support of Ukraine
47	Where Is The Love?The Black Eyed Peas		Reexamining love and eliminating conflict
48	Harry Patch (In Memory Of)Radiohead		Radiohead breaks new ground with an anti-war song
49	It’s a MistakeMen At Work		1983 anti-war song grows in significance amid current conflicts
50	One DayMatisyahu		A song by Matisyahu imbued with a wish for peace
51	Hey Hey Rise Up (feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox)Pink Floyd		Ukraine Support Charity Song
52	We Are The WorldUSA For Africa		A song where global artists collaborated for African hunger relief
53	United Strike BackGogol Bordello & Friends		Ukraine Support Charity Song
54	People Have the PowerPatti Smith		Change the world with the power of the people
55	The War SongCulture Club		Culture Club's anti-war-themed song
56	Heal The WorldMichael Jackson		Michael's pure heart and desire for peace
57	OneMetallica		Introducing Metallica’s anti-war song “One”
58	WatergunRemo Forrer		Remo Forrer, A Message for Peace
59	The Longest DayIron Maiden		A song by Iron Maiden that depicts the Normandy landings
60	Nobody Wins A WarRaheem DeVaughn		Raheem DeVaughn, a song wishing for peace and an end to war
61	Gimme ShelterThe Rolling Stones		A rock song criticizing the Vietnam War
62	Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival		CCR’s anti-war song, a universal message
63	Boom!System Of A Down		An explanation of System of a Down’s anti-war song “Boom!”
64	Love Is Still the AnswerJason Mraz		Love is the answer to everything.
65	Where have all the flowers gone?Pete Seeger		An iconic anti-war song covered by many artists
66	Blowin’ in the WindBob Dylan		Bob Dylan’s anti-war song
67	Put Down That WeaponMidnight Oil		A peace message song calling for the abolition of war
68	Games Without FrontiersPeter Gabriel		Peter Gabriel's anti-war song
69	Empty WallsSerj Tankian		Serj’s solo song is a warning against war
70	War PigsBlack Sabbath		An eternal anti-war song criticizing war
71	Square DanceEminem		Eminem’s classic “Square Dance” depicts 9/11 and the War on Terror
72	Army DreamersKate Bush		Kate Bush's anti-war song
73	Bulls on ParadeRage Against The Machine		Introduction to Rage Against the Machine’s anti-war song “Bulls on Parade”
74	Hands Held HighLinkin Park		A powerful message song by Linkin Park
75	Mama ŠČ!Let 3		Let3's anti-war message song
76	Devils & DustBruce Springsteen		Bruce Springsteen's anti-war classic
77	Peace SellsMegadeth		Megadeth’s anti-war message song
78	Saigon BrideJoan Baez		Baez’s anti-war song conveys a wish for peace
79	What Are You Fighting ForPHIL OCHS		Phil Ochs's antiwar folk song
80	I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die RagCountry Joe and the Fish		Country Joe's anti-war song
81	WarBob Marley		Bob Marley's longing for peace and his signature songs
82	WarEdwin Starr		The star’s anti-war song “War” becomes a big hit
83	Break AwayFIREWIND		Anti-war song by Firewind
84	White Flag Warrior (ft. Tim McIlrath)Flobots		Flobots’ anti-war message song
85	Stories of a HeroFrank Marino		Frank Marino's songs depicting war and heroes
86	GASOLINEMåneskin		Måneskin calls for peace with an anti-war message
87	Eve Of DestructionBarry McGuire		Barry McGuire Gains Worldwide Popularity with an Anti-War Song
88	RevivalThe Allman Brothers Band		Southern rock classics by the Allman Brothers
89	TrenchesJohn Mayall & The Bluesbreakers		Blues rock that depicts the futility of war
90	B.Y.O.BSystem Of A Down		Anti-war song by System of a Down
91	CrushedImagine Dragons		Imagine Dragons' anti-war song
92	AusgebombtSodom		Sodom’s anti-war metal song
93	Can’t Happen HereAtreyu		Atreyu sharply depicts social anxiety
94	MoshEminem		Eminem’s “Mosh,” a song of anger against the Bush administration
95	Wrong Side of HeavenFive Finger Death Punch		Five Finger's veteran support song
96	FREEDOMTVORCHI		Tvorchi release a song imbued with their longing for freedom
97	Peace Just Wanted To Be FreeLuciano Pavarotti · Stevie Wonder		An anti-war song written by Stevie Wonder