Best Albums of 1986

Listed below are the best albums of 1986 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 54,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade
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Year:
1986 year summaryThe best artists of 1986 were The Smiths, Metallica, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, XTC, Talk Talk, Slayer, R.E.M., Beastie Boys and Depeche Mode.
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Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,469
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,927
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,663
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,611
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,435
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,383
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,346
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,259
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,164
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,134
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of 1986 composition

Country Albums %


United States 379 38%
United Kingdom 262 26%
Germany 46 5%
Mixed Nationality 46 5%
Japan 30 3%
Australia 28 3%
France 24 2%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 911 91%
Yes 89 9%
Live? Albums %
No 967 97%
Yes 33 3%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 980 98%
Yes 20 2%
Popular  Charts
1. The Top 100 Albums by VH1 (2001)
2. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (2020)
3. 100 Best Albums - 2024 Edition by Apple Music (2024)
4. The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time by New Music Express (2013)
5. 200 Greatest Albums of All Time by Uncut (2016)
6. The Definitive 200 by National Association of Recording Merchandisers (2007)
7. Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (2000)
8. Top 100 Albums by ABC (2006)
9. Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Melody Maker (2000)
10. Greatest 100 Albums of All Time by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums with NME (2006)
11. Die 100 besten Alben der Musikgeschichte by radioeins (2019)
12. The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time (1-100) by Paste (2024)
13. Mojo Readers: The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made by Mojo (1996)
14. Die 20 besten Alben der Geschichte by Musikexpress.de (2011)
15. 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2006)
16. Die 100 besten Platten des Jahrhunderts by Wiener (1999)
17. Los 48 mejores discos de la historia by Esquire España (2022)
18. The Greatest Rock Albums by uDiscoverMusic (2015)
19. The 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time by Absolute Radio (2012)
20. Die 100 Alben des Jahrhunderts by Spex (2000)
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