Michael Jackson Album Tops 2026 Sales Chart 17 Years Posthumously

Michael Jackson's compilation album 'The Essential Michael Jackson' has become the best-selling album of 2026 so far, achieving this milestone 17 years after his death in June 2009. The collection has sold over 508,000 units, encompassing downloads, streams, and physical sales, according to the UK's Official Charts Company.

The resurgence in Jackson's music sales has been significantly driven by the release of the biopic 'Michael' in April. The film, which stars the late singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the lead, has achieved considerable box office success, grossing over $977 million worldwide.

'The Essential Michael Jackson' is currently ahead of albums by contemporary artists, including Olivia Dean's 'The Art of Loving' in second place and Harry Styles' 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally' in third.

Other works by Michael Jackson have also seen renewed popularity. His 1982 album 'Thriller' has re-entered the charts at number 16, while his 1987 album 'Bad' is at number 20. Other artists in the top ten include Fleetwood Mac, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan, Alex Warren, and Oasis.

The biopic 'Michael' chronicles the singer's life from his early days with the Jackson Five to his peak fame in the 1980s. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film received approval from Jackson's estate, with Jaafar Jackson in the leading role alongside actors Colman Domingo and Miles Teller.

The movie's release was delayed from the previous year due to legal issues that necessitated reshoots and script revisions. Despite the estate's approval, Jackson's daughter Paris expressed reservations about the film, citing alleged inaccuracies.