Every December Billboard publishes a chart listing the top songs of the year. The number of songs listed on the chart varied in the early years before becoming a top 100 chart in 1956. Select a year to see the list of most popular hit songs.

Number One Song of 1986: Dionne and Friends - That's What Friends Are For Go to year: 
Play a medleyPlay a countdown medley of the top 25 songs of the year  Length: 2:05

You also might like the number one songs of 1986.
« 1985 1986 1987 »
Position  Artist Song Title
« 1985 1986 1987 »
1 Dionne and Friends That's What Friends Are For
2 Lionel Richie Say You, Say Me
3 Klymaxx I Miss You
4 Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald On My Own
5 Mr. Mister Broken Wings
6 Whitney Houston How Will I Know
7 Eddie Murphy Party All The Time
8 Survivor Burning Heart
9 Mr. Mister Kyrie
10 Robert Palmer Addicted To Love
11 Whitney Houston Greatest Love Of All
12 Atlantic Starr Secret Lovers
13 Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring Friends And Lovers
14 Peter Cetera Glory Of Love
15 Pet Shop Boys West End Girls
16 Billy Ocean There'll Be Sad Songs
17 Simple Minds Alive And Kicking
18 Heart Never
19 Prince and The Revolution Kiss
20 Steve Winwood Higher Love
21 Huey Lewis and The News Stuck With You
22 Simply Red Holding Back The Years
23 Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer
24 Starship Sara
25 Human League Human
26 Nu Shooz I Can't Wait
27 Berlin Take My Breath Away
28 Falco Rock Me Amadeus
29 Madonna Papa Don't Preach
30 Bon Jovi You Give Love A Bad Name
31 Billy Ocean When The Going Gets Tough
32 Janet Jackson When I Think Of You
33 Heart These Dreams
34 Glass Tiger Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
35 Madonna Live To Tell
36 Belinda Carlisle Mad About You
37 Level 42 Something About You
38 Bananarama Venus
39 Lionel Richie Dancing On The Ceiling
40 Miami Sound Machine Conga
41 Cyndi Lauper True Colors
42 Kenny Loggins Danger Zone
43 Janet Jackson What Have You Done For Me Lately
44 Howard Jones No One Is To Blame
45 Sly Fox Let's Go All The Way
46 Robert Palmer I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
47 Miami Sound Machine Words Get In The Way
48 Bangles Manic Monday
49 Dire Straits Walk Of Life
50 Boston Amanda
51 Stacey Q Two Of Hearts
52 Jets Crush On You
53 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark If You Leave
54 Genesis Invisible Touch
55 Sade The Sweetest Taboo
56 INXS What You Need
57 Stevie Nicks Talk To Me
58 Janet Jackson Nasty
59 Eddie Money Take Me Home Tonight
60 Jermaine Stewart We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
61 Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force All Cried Out
62 Outfield Your Love
63 Wham! I'm Your Man
64 Scritti Politti Perfect Way
65 James Brown Living In America
66 John Cougar Mellencamp R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.
67 El Debarge Who's Johnny
68 Cameo Word Up
69 Van Halen Why Can't This Be Love
70 Mike and The Mechanics Silent Running
71 Tina Turner Typical Male
72 John Cougar Mellencamp Small Town
73 Baltimora Tarzan Boy
74 Mike and The Mechanics All I Need Is A Miracle
75 Michael McDonald Sweet Freedom
76 Madonna True Blue
77 Timex Social Club Rumors
78 Dream Academy Life In A Northern Town
79 Miami Sound Machine Bad Boy
80 ZZ Top Sleeping Bag
81 Cars Tonight She Comes
82 Rod Stewart Love Touch
83 Sheila E. A Love Bizarre
84 Genesis Throwing It All Away
85 Regina Baby Love
86 Arcadia Election Day
87 Elton John Nikita
88 Phil Collins Take Me Home
89 Run-D.M.C. Walk This Way
90 Anita Baker Sweet Love
91 Moody Blues Your Wildest Dreams
92 Paul McCartney Spies Like Us
93 Starpoint Object Of My Desire
94 Daryl Hall Dreamtime
95 Force M.D.'s Tender Love
96 Thompson Twins King For A Day
97 Lionel Richie Love Will Conquer All
98 George Michael A Different Corner
99 Toto I'll Be Over You
100 Stevie Wonder Go Home