13 Trending Songs on TikTok in January 2026 (+ How to Use Them)

I don’t know about you, but my earworms are pretty much exclusively trending songs from TikTok at this point. (Even the non-music sounds from TikTok tend to get stuck in my head, but I digress…)

The catchiness of these tunes is incredibly powerful for creators and brands on the social media platform to tap into, because not only do users remember the song — chances are, videos that featured the track will probably stick in their minds, too.

Beyond memorability, of course, is the algorithmic effect of being right on the cusp of a trending TikTok song. And who would say no to a little boost for the content they worked so hard on?

In this post, I’ll share the most viral songs and sounds on TikTok in January 2026 — and how to use them to boost your content.

Why trending TikTok sounds matter

Since you’re here, I probably don’t need to tell you that using a hot sound on TikTok can increase your chances of landing on the For You Page, especially if you’re early to the trend.

TikTok’s algorithm often prioritizes familiarity and repeatability, so when a song is on the rise, jumping on it can give your post more visibility.

For example, if I’m scrolling through my FYP and watch a video with a particular audio, the TikTok algorithm will likely test the waters with another video that uses the same sound a couple of videos later. The algorithm wants to understand exactly why I lingered on the first video. Was it the music?

If yes — boy, does the FYP have more where that came from.

The right TikTok sounds or songs can instantly set the tone, spark emotion, or cue a punchline for your audience — particularly if the sound, like many of the ones below, has been used in a specific way.

The songs or audio that rise to that level of virality that they become a moment in time for internet culture are the really special ones. Very demure, very mindful, no?

All that said: you don't need to spend hours scrolling to find the right audio for your next post. Here are the most popular TikTok songs and audio right now, updated in January 2026. We’ll keep this list regularly updated, so do be sure to bookmark this page and come back if you need more inspiration!

How to find trending songs on TikTok

• Browse TikTok’s Creative Center: Visit the Creative Center to see top trending songs by region and time period (above) — it’s TikTok’s built-in trend tracker for sounds, creators, and hashtags.
• Use TikTok’s search bar: Search phrases like “viral sound” in the TikTok app, tap the Sounds tab, and scroll through the most-used tracks labeled popular.
• Get personalized recommendations from TikTok: When you upload a video, TikTok will suggest music that matches your content — a great shortcut for finding relevant sounds.
• Discover playlists curated by TikTok: Tap Add Music > Discover more sounds to browse playlists by genre, category, or what’s hot in your region.
• Check out Tokchart: Tokchart shows the fastest-rising TikTok sounds from the past 24 hours, updated in real time.
• Look for trending audio on Instagram: Instagram Reels often feature songs that cross over to TikTok. Tap the music icon in the Reels editor and check the Trending tab for current hits.

💡 Bonus tip: Always preview how a sound is being used. Tap the sound name on TikTok to watch example videos — this gives you the context you need to ride (or remix) the trend.

13 Trending TikTok songs and sounds

Updated January 2026

1. Roc Steady (feat Flo Milli)

Roc Steady by Megan Thee Stallion is being used exactly as intended — literally and unapologetically. Creators are taking the lyric “you can tell who I am from the back ’cause it’s heavy” as a cue to show off hair flips, confident walk-aways, and yes, a whole lot of booty-centric camera angles.

🎧 Get the song

2. Purple Rain

Stranger Things fans are fully in their feelings as Purple Rain makes the rounds on TikTok. I’m seeing it used for emotional fan edits and end-of-era montages now that the show's finale has aired.

🎧 Get the song

3. What You Saying

Lil Uzi Vert's song is being used very literally on TikTok, especially the line "I don't even know what she said 'cause she foreign." Paired with the instrumental intro, creators are leaning into it for humorous misunderstandings, dance content and lyp syncs.

✔️ This song is approved for business use.

🎧 Get the song

4. The Shift is Now

Living up to her name, this soulful track by Kisa Soul is a great option for transformation content, like new year resets, mindset shifts, and glow-ups. For creators, it’s perfect for before-and-afters, routines, or new chapters opening.

🎧 Get the song

5. warm welcome

This song by ptasinski & Rj Pasin has become the soundtrack to one of TikTok’s funniest low-key trends right now: “I told ChatGPT to make my avatar IRL.” Here's the prompt if you want to give it a try:

Turn a drawn character into a real person. Create an image that looks like a selfie taken with an iPhone. There should be no clear subject or specific composition, just a casual, unintentional snapshot. The image should be slightly blurred from motion and lit evenly by the streetlights. The aspect ratio should be 9:16. It must not look AI-generated, but rather like it was taken by a real person.

🎧 Get the song

6. Confidence

As it says on the tin, Confidence by Yunna Serene is all about owning who you are. The uplifting, feel-good energy makes it a natural fit for glamour shots, self-love moments, and body-positive content.

🎧 Get the song

7. Cry For Me

Cry For Me by IronMouse (with shirobeats & HalaCG) is pure fandom fuel. Built around her playful villain energy, creators are using it for Ironmouse commentary, fan edits, cosplay reveals, and VTuber-centric jokes. The “wa-wa-wa” hook makes it instantly recognizable, campy, chaotic, and very "internet culture."

🎧 Get the song

8. GOZALO

GOZALO is one of those sounds that demands action. This late-2025 Phonk hit has become a staple for high-energy soccer content, especially goal celebrations, skills highlights, and dramatic match moments.

🎧 Get the song

9. My Lil Boy

This song by Hotboii is being used for a trend that's kinda cute, even though most of the content is AI-generated. Dads are posing with their "sons" wearing identical outfits and striking the same pose, alongside the lyrics: "I love my lil' boy, in my heart, he number one."

🎧 Get the song

10. String By

Mack Geiger’s country song has TikTok in an absolute chokehold right now — and it’s all about that lyric: “’Cause when you call me up at 2 a.m., crying that you need me again.” Creators are using it as an on-screen text hook for romantic, relationship, and situationship content. It also makes for great lip syncing.

🎧 Get the song

11. Yop World

Yop World is by Worldwide JP. The lyric “Pretty brown, brown with the turkey, I call her chocolate Yop” is being used by creators to spotlight and celebrate every shade of brown skin.

🎧 Get the song

12. Let Me Tell You

This song by YEONJUN (feat. Daniela of KATSEYE) features stunning choreography by the duo, sparking a partner dance trend that’s all about chemistry, timing, and fluid movement.

🎧 Get the song

13. Eeenie Meenie

Talk about a throwback from when the Biebs was in his eenie meenie era. The song by Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber has found new life as a TikTok dance trend. The choreography is cheesy, but refreshingly doable. If you’ve been wanting to jump on a dance trend without elite footwork, this is your moment.

🎧 Get the song

Pro tip: For business use on TikTok, only use songs from TikTok’s Commercial Music Library or tracks you have a royalty-free/commercial license for. Using personal-use music in ads or branded content can get your videos muted or removed, so always double-check the license before posting.

Found a track for your next TikTok?

When you're creating content for your business or personal brand, staying on top of TikTok's audio trends can help you reach new audiences and keep your content fresh.

Start with one or two of the methods we discussed to find popular sounds — and don't forget to save your favorites for later.

If you've created a TikTok post with audio from this list, we'd love to see it. Tag @bufferapp on TikTok so we can find you!