Vermont’s own Noah Kahan has officially claimed the summit of the UK music scene this week, securing his second Official Number 1 album with his fourth studio set, The Great Divide. The release marks a monumental achievement for the singer-songwriter, netting the biggest first-week debut for an international artist in 2026 to date.
Kahan’s latest success follows the stratospheric rise of 2023’s Stick Season, which previously topped the charts and remained a fixture in the Top 10 throughout 2024 and 2025. The Great Divide has proven to be an immediate cross-format hit, simultaneously debuting at Number 1 on both the Official Record Store Chart—reflecting its popularity in independent UK shops—and the Official Vinyl Albums Chart.
The critical and commercial embrace of Kahan’s newest work pushed the Foo Fighters into the runner-up spot. The legendary rock group’s 12th studio album, Your Favorite Toy, entered the charts at Number 2, marking a landmark 14th Top 10 LP for Dave Grohl and company.
While Kahan dominates the top spot, the Official Albums Chart is currently experiencing a massive resurgence of Michael Jackson’s catalog. Following the global release of the Michael biopic, five of the King of Pop's records have vaulted back into the Top 40.
Leading the charge is the soundtrack, Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture, which debuted at Number 4, followed closely by the 2003 compilation Number Ones at Number 5. Notably, the original 1982 masterpiece Thriller moonwalked 57 places to land at Number 8, its first time in the Top 10 in seventeen years. Jackson’s 1987 album Bad also made a dramatic return to the standings, reaching Number 13.
Elsewhere in the charts, "The Modfather" Paul Weller earned his landmark 30th solo Top 40 album with the vinyl release of Weller At The BBC (Vol. 2) at Number 19. Additionally, Californian R&B star Kehlani secured her third Top 40 entry with her self-titled album, which debuted at Number 28.
With Noah Kahan also bagging the week’s highest new entry on the singles chart with "Doors," 2026 is officially shaping up to be the year of the Vermont folk-pop revolution.
