How to get ready for Spotify Wrapped 2026 as an artist
Spotify Wrapped is one of the biggest fan moments of the year. Here’s how artists can prepare for Wrapped 2026 and make the most of the attention.
Spotify Wrapped season may seem a way off, but artists can now get prepared for the year-end occasion.
Every year, millions of Spotify listeners share their personalised Wrapped stories, shining a spotlight on the artists and songs that soundtracked their year. In 2025, Wrapped generated more than 620 million shares, showing just how much attention the annual campaign can bring.
For artists, that makes this more than a look back at your streaming stats. It’s an opportunity to connect with your biggest listeners, celebrate your year and give fans something to remember.
Spotify has now shared its first preparation details for Wrapped 2026, including two video opportunities for artists. Here’s what you need to know.
Record your Spotify Wrapped message
Appearing alongside fans’ personalised data stories, the returning artist message gives every artist the chance to send a short video clip to their top fans as part of their Wrapped experience.
Last year, more than 70,000 artists uploaded video messages, reaching tens of millions of fans and generating hundreds of millions of views.
The format is deliberately short and sweet. Your video needs to be 30 seconds or less, and Spotify suggests using the moment to:
- Thank your fans for supporting your music
- Share a milestone you’re proud of from 2026
- Talk about a song that changed your journey
- Celebrate a track that has recently found a new audience
- Tease what you’re working towards in 2027
The best approach is probably not to overthink it. A genuine thank-you and a quick glimpse at what your year looked like can feel much more personal than a heavily produced video.
You can upload your message through Spotify for Artists on desktop between October 6 and November 6. The video should be vertical and free from music, explicit content, logos, text and filters, and you can also add a caption of fewer than 100 characters.
Submit a live performance video
In 2026, Spotify is adding another way for artists to feature in their fans’ Wrapped experience.
For the first time, artists can submit a live performance video to feature alongside their songs in fans’ Your Top Songs 2026 playlists. You could share anything from a tour performance to an acoustic session or a studio performance.
To submit a live performance for Wrapped, upload a full-length landscape video through Spotify for Artists by November 6. Videos must be in MP4 or MOV format, under 20 minutes long and at least 1080p. You can select the song it relates to, choose a thumbnail and set the go-live date.
Then, on Wrapped launch day, your performance will appear in fans’ Your Top Songs playlists. After Wrapped ends, the video will appear on your Spotify profile, giving the performance a life beyond the campaign.
Videos can be delivered through a label or distributor, while artists in Spotify’s direct-upload beta can also upload videos themselves.
There’s a good reason to consider adding video to your Spotify strategy too. Spotify says listeners who watch a full-length video go on to stream that song 64% more often over the following three weeks, while being 1.4 times more likely to save, share or add it to a playlist. Plus, it’ll be eligible for royalties and charting too.
Get your music and artist profile ready
The shareable nature of Wrapped means your music may be shared to fans who are discovering you for the first time.
That makes October and November a good time to check that everything is up to date. Make sure your artist image and bio still represent you, your latest releases are available, and any upcoming shows or projects are easy for fans to find.
It’s also worth thinking about what happens after someone discovers you through Wrapped. If you’re planning a new release, you can distribute it to Spotify for free with RouteNote.
Make the most of your Spotify Wrapped moment
Spotify Wrapped has become much more than an annual stats recap. It’s a huge social moment where fans celebrate the music that shaped their year, and artists get a rare opportunity to thank fans too.
For independent artists and labels, the key is to be ready before the conversation starts. Record your artist message, consider whether you have a live performance worth submitting and check your Spotify presence is updated.
Submit your videos for Wrapped from October 6 to November 6 and give your fans something to look forward to this Wrapped season.