Spotify Wrapped for Artists: 2026 Prep Checklist (Nov 6 Deadline)
How Do Artists Prepare for Spotify Wrapped?
To get ready for Spotify Wrapped 2026, record a vertical video message of 30 seconds or less and submit it in Spotify for Artists (desktop, Video & Visuals, then the Wrapped banner) by November 6. Then clean up your artist profile, plan your share posts, and be ready to post your own artist Wrapped stories the day it launches.
Wrapped is the one week of the year when millions of listeners look back at the artists they streamed most and share it publicly. For independent artists, it's a free chance to show up in front of your most loyal fans at the exact moment they're thinking about you. Most of the prep has to happen before launch, and the most important piece, the artist message, has a hard deadline. This guide covers what Spotify has officially said about Wrapped for artists, and a checklist you can work through this week.
Key Takeaways
- The artist message deadline is November 6, 2026. All artists can submit one, not just big names. Submitting doesn't guarantee your video will be shown.
- Video specs: vertical with audio, MP4 or MOV, at least 720 × 1280 pixels, longer than 3 seconds and shorter than 30 seconds, with a caption of up to 100 characters.
- Keep it clean: Spotify says no music, explicit content, logos, text, or filters, and no pointing fans to other platforms or ticket sites.
- Wrapped data runs from January 1 to mid-November, so streams you earn in the next few weeks still count toward fans' Wrapped.
- Artists get their own Wrapped in Spotify for Artists, with shareable story cards. Plan your posts before launch day.
What is Spotify Wrapped for artists?
It's two things: a chance to appear inside your fans' Wrapped, and your own personal Wrapped recap in Spotify for Artists. Listeners get a recap of their top songs, artists, and more. Artists get a separate microsite with data stories about how their music performed.
Spotify's 2025 Wrapped guide for artists says that was the ninth year of Wrapped for Artists. In 2025 it added stories such as Top Albums, Super Listeners, Clubs, and Accolades, and every data story came with a share card. Spotify's 2025 launch post on the artist blog describes Super Listeners as the monthly active listeners "who stream your music more than anyone else," and says Wrapped for Artists was translated into 27 languages.
Spotify hasn't announced which artist stories will be in the 2026 edition yet, so expect changes. The prep below works whatever the final format is.
What is the Wrapped artist message and who can submit one?
It's a short video where you thank your top fans, and every artist can submit one until November 6. According to Spotify's support article on 2026 Wrapped artist messages, submitted videos may appear in fans' Wrapped. Spotify's Get ready for Wrapped page adds that messages can appear in top fans' personalized data stories and in the Your Artist Messages feed.
Two caveats from Spotify itself:
- Submission doesn't guarantee placement. Spotify reviews every video.
- Videos are temporary. Spotify says all videos are removed once the Wrapped campaign ends.
Spotify says more than 70,000 artists submitted video messages last year, and that fan engagement grew nearly 20% compared with 2024 Wrapped, leading to more track saves and shares. That's a lot of competition, but the cost of entering is a 30-second phone video.
What should I say in my Wrapped video message?
Thank your fans, then pick one specific thing to share. Spotify suggests three directions:
- What their support meant, like how fans helped a song take off, showed up at shows, or kept you going.
- A milestone you're proud of from this year, like a release, a fan moment, or a meaningful show.
- What's coming next, like new music, live dates, or a project you're excited about.
A simple 30-second script structure
| Seconds | What to say | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | Say who you are and thank them | "Hey, it's [name]. If you're seeing this, you had me on repeat this year. Thank you." |
| 5-20 | One specific detail | Name the song that grew, the city that surprised you, or the moment you'll remember |
| 20-28 | A tease of what's next | "There's new music coming early next year, and I think you'll like it." |
Be specific. "Thanks for listening" is forgettable. "You turned a song I almost didn't release into my most-streamed track" is something a fan remembers. Don't reveal anything you can't deliver, since fans will hold you to it.
What are the 2026 artist message requirements?
The video must meet Spotify's technical specs and content rules or it can be removed. Here's everything from the official support article in one place:
| Requirement | Spotify's rule |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Vertical, with audio |
| File type | MP4 or MOV |
| Resolution | At least 720 × 1280 pixels |
| Length | Longer than 3 seconds, shorter than 30 seconds |
| Caption | Up to 100 characters |
| Deadline | November 6 |
| Where to upload | Spotify for Artists on desktop, Video & Visuals tab, then the Wrapped banner |
What to leave out
Spotify asks for a clean video: no music, explicit content, logos, text, or filters. Its rules also say not to:
- Include watermarks from other platforms (so don't re-upload a TikTok or Instagram export)
- Send listeners to external websites or ticket vendors
- Ask listeners to follow or engage with you on other platforms
- Use Wrapped mainly for unrelated advertising
Spotify may also remove videos that are blurry or low quality. If your video contains profanity or references to violence, drugs, sexual behavior, or other sensitive topics, you need to mark it as explicit. Spotify recommends erring on the side of caution.
The "no music" rule surprises a lot of artists. Don't record in your car with your single playing, and don't add a beat underneath. Just talk.
How do I submit my Wrapped video step by step?
Record on your phone, then upload from a computer. The upload only works in Spotify for Artists on desktop.
- Film the video vertically in good, even light, ideally facing a window. Use a quiet room so your voice is clear.
- Watch it back and trim it to between 3 and 30 seconds. Don't add captions, stickers, or filters.
- Export it as MP4 or MOV at 720 × 1280 or higher. Most phones record 1080 × 1920 by default, which is fine.
- Open Spotify for Artists on a computer, go to Video & Visuals, and click the Wrapped banner.
- Upload the file and write a caption of up to 100 characters.
- Mark it explicit if anything in it could count as explicit under Spotify's rules.
- Submit before November 6. Don't leave it for the last day in case the upload or review flags a problem.
If your team or label manages your profile, check who has access to the Video & Visuals tab before the deadline.
Where can fans see artist messages?
Only in the markets Spotify lists. The 2026 list covers dozens of countries and regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Germany, France, India, Japan, and Australia. Check the full table on Spotify's support page against your own top countries in Spotify for Artists (Audience tab). If most of your listeners are in a listed market, your message has a real chance of reaching them.
Can I still grow my Wrapped numbers before the cutoff?
Yes, a little. Wrapped counts listening from January 1 until mid-November. Spotify's Wrapped methodology post says the cut-off gives its team time to check the data before launch. It also explains how plays count:
- A play counts as a "listen" after more than 30 seconds.
- Top Artists are ranked by a weighted stream count, and primary artists get more weight than featured artists.
- Streams in Private Mode and from songs excluded from a listener's Taste Profile don't shape taste-based stories.
So the next few weeks still matter. Releasing something new, getting fans re-listening to your catalog, and running your usual promotion can still move where you land in a fan's top artists. Our guides on getting more monthly listeners and getting on Release Radar cover the legitimate ways to do that.
Never buy streams to "boost your Wrapped." Spotify warns that services guaranteeing streams break its terms and can get your music removed.
Spotify Wrapped prep checklist for artists
Work through this list before Wrapped launches. Spotify's artist guide for 2025 went out on December 3, so plan as if 2026 will land in early December, and watch Spotify for Artists for the real date.
Before November 6
- Record and submit your Wrapped video message
- Double-check the specs, the explicit flag, and the caption
- Confirm who on your team has Spotify for Artists access
Before Wrapped launches
- Update your artist profile photo, header, and bio so new visitors see the current you (our profile fixes guide covers common problems)
- Refresh your Artist Pick to point at your best or newest release
- Make sure your Spotify links in every bio point to your artist profile, not an old single
- Draft your social captions and an email to your list (see our email list guide)
- Ask fans in advance to share their Wrapped if you're in it, and plan to repost them
On launch day
- Open your Wrapped in Spotify for Artists and download the share cards
- Post the stories that tell a real story, like your top city or your super listeners
- Thank fans publicly and repost the ones who tag you
- Post on Instagram the same day (our Instagram promotion guide has formats that work)
After launch
- Note your top countries and cities for next year's release and tour plans
- Write down which songs over-performed, and use that to shape what you release next
- Add your next release to your free release checklist
What should I do with my artist Wrapped data?
Use it to plan, not just to post. The share cards are great for social media, but the data inside is more useful for planning. If one city keeps showing up, that's where to target ads or book a show. If a deep cut over-performed, it may deserve a video, a remix, or a playlist pitch. If a small group of super listeners drives a big share of your streams, they're the people to reach first with merch or presales.
FAQ
Is the Wrapped artist message only for big artists?
No. Spotify says all artists can submit a video message for 2026 Wrapped by November 6. Placement isn't guaranteed, but anyone with Spotify for Artists access can submit.
Can I add my song under my Wrapped video?
No. Spotify's rules say no music in the artist message, along with no logos, text, filters, or explicit content.
Can I submit my Wrapped video from my phone?
You can record it on your phone, but Spotify says to submit it in Spotify for Artists on desktop.
What's the performance video option?
Spotify says that for the first time in 2026, eligible artists in Spotify for Artists' video upload beta can also upload performance videos, like live shows or studio sessions. These may appear in fans' Your Top Songs playlist in Wrapped. It's only available to artists in that beta, so check your Video & Visuals tab.
When does Wrapped stop counting streams?
Spotify says Wrapped captures listening from January 1 until mid-November. Streams after the cut-off count toward your normal stats, just not toward that year's Wrapped.
Will my Wrapped video stay on my profile?
No. Spotify says all artist message videos are removed once the Wrapped campaign ends.