The most watched videos on YouTube in 2026 are led by Pinkfong’s Baby Shark Dance, with about 17.3 billion views. Cocomelon’s Wheels on the Bus and Luis Fonsi’s Despacito follow at over 9 billion each. Kids’ songs now fill half the top 10, while See You Again and Shape of You are the other music hits.
When we first published this list in 2020, Despacito was at number one with about 6.6 billion views and music videos dominated. Six years later the picture has changed. Nursery rhymes from channels like Cocomelon, LooLoo Kids and ChuChu TV have climbed fast because children watch them on repeat.
The figures below are from the Wikipedia list of most viewed YouTube videos, as of 28 August 2026. View counts rise every day, so treat them as close estimates.
Top 10 most watched videos on YouTube: the full table
| Rank | Video | Channel | Views (billion) | Uploaded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong | 17.28 | June 2016 |
| 2 | Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon | 9.34 | May 2018 |
| 3 | Despacito | Luis Fonsi | 9.11 | January 2017 |
| 4 | Get Inspired on Groups (ad) | 8.00 | September 2022 | |
| 5 | Bath Song | Cocomelon | 7.61 | May 2018 |
| 6 | Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids | 7.24 | October 2016 |
| 7 | Phonics Song with Two Words | ChuChu TV | 7.08 | March 2014 |
| 8 | See You Again | Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth | 7.08 | April 2015 |
| 9 | Shape of You | Ed Sheeran | 6.79 | January 2017 |
| 10 | Axel F | Crazy Frog | 6.14 | June 2009 |
The 10 videos, one by one
1. Baby Shark Dance (Pinkfong)
The South Korean kids’ song has been YouTube’s most watched video since November 2020. It was the first to cross 8, 9 and 10 billion views, and passed 17 billion in June 2026. Its lead over number two is now more than 7 billion views.
2. Wheels on the Bus (Cocomelon)
Cocomelon’s animated nursery rhyme overtook Despacito in late June 2026 to take second place. It is the biggest of several Cocomelon videos in the top 30.
3. Despacito (Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee)
The 2017 Spanish-language hit was the first video to reach 3 billion and later 7 billion views. It remains the most watched music video by a mainstream artist.
4. Facebook’s Groups ad
This one surprises people. A 21-second Facebook advertisement for its Groups feature, uploaded in 2022, has racked up about 8 billion views, mostly because it ran as a paid ad before other videos. It is the most viewed ad on the platform.
5. Bath Song (Cocomelon)
A second Cocomelon song in the top five, about bath time. Toddler-friendly tunes with simple animation rack up repeat plays.
6. Johny Johny Yes Papa (LooLoo Kids)
The nursery rhyme that half the internet turned into memes in 2018. LooLoo Kids’ version has over 7.2 billion views.
7. Phonics Song with Two Words (ChuChu TV)
ChuChu TV is a Chennai-based kids’ channel, which makes this the biggest video from an Indian creator in the top 10. The phonics song teaches children letters and simple words.
8. See You Again (Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth)
Released as a tribute to actor Paul Walker for Furious 7, the song was once YouTube’s most viewed video. It sits at about 7.1 billion views.
9. Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)
Ed Sheeran’s 2017 hit is the most watched video by a solo English-language artist, at about 6.8 billion views.
10. Axel F (Crazy Frog)
The oldest video in the top 10, uploaded in June 2009. The cartoon frog’s remix of the Beverly Hills Cop theme keeps finding new viewers.
Why kids’ videos rule the list
Children do not get bored of a song the way adults do. A toddler can watch the same nursery rhyme dozens of times in a day, often on a parent’s phone or a smart TV, and every replay counts as a view.
Music videos by pop stars still get huge numbers when they release, but their views slow down after a year or two. Kids’ songs keep a steady daily count for years, which is how they have pulled ahead.
Who dropped out since 2020
Our 2020 list included Masha and the Bear: Recipe for Disaster, Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, Gangnam Style by Psy, Sorry by Justin Bieber, Sugar by Maroon 5 and Roar by Katy Perry. All have been pushed out of the top 10 by kids’ videos and newer counts.
Gangnam Style still holds a place in history as the first video to cross 1 billion views, in December 2012.
The most watched Indian videos on YouTube
The highest ranked Indian upload is Shree Hanuman Chalisa on T-Series Bhakti Sagar, with about 5.67 billion views. It ranks 13th worldwide.
In June 2026, the Hindi-dubbed version of the Telugu film Jaya Janaki Nayaka became the first full-length feature film anywhere to pass 1 billion views on YouTube. For more on Indian films, see our Bollywood section, and for more rankings browse our listicles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most watched video on YouTube?
Baby Shark Dance by Pinkfong, with about 17.3 billion views as of August 2026.
What is the most watched music video on YouTube?
Among mainstream artists, Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee leads with about 9.1 billion views.
What is the most viewed Indian video on YouTube?
Shree Hanuman Chalisa on T-Series Bhakti Sagar, with about 5.67 billion views, is the top Indian upload.
Which was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views?
Psy’s Gangnam Style, in December 2012.
Sources: Wikipedia: List of most-viewed YouTube videos, YouTube: Baby Shark Dance.
