1986 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper

The 1986 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a fast-moving pop year filled with charity singles, movie ballads, dance-pop, synth-pop, arena rock, adult-contemporary hits, and early superstar runs from Whitney Houston, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Bon Jovi. Lionel Richie carried over from 1985, Dionne & Friends delivered the year’s biggest Hot 100 song, and The Bangles closed the year with Walk Like an Egyptian.

This page follows the Billboard Hot 100 issue dates for 1986, shown here as reader-friendly weekly date ranges. Because Billboard chart weeks can cross calendar years, this list begins with Lionel Richie’s late-1985 carryover and continues into early 1987 with The Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian.

The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States using radio airplay and sales. These are official Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs, not pop-only, rock-only, airplay-only, R&B-only, adult-contemporary-only, or “that song was absolutely playing over the mall fountain” rankings.

1986 Billboard Number One Hits by Week

December 22, 1985 – January 11, 1986: Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie
January 12 – February 8, 1986: That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne & Friends
February 9 – February 22, 1986: How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
February 23 – March 8, 1986: Kyrie – Mr. Mister
March 9 – March 15, 1986: Sara – Starship
March 16 – March 22, 1986: These Dreams – Heart
March 23 – April 12, 1986: Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
April 13 – April 26, 1986: Kiss – Prince and the Revolution
April 27 – May 3, 1986: Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
May 4 – May 10, 1986: West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
May 11 – May 31, 1986: Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
June 1 – June 7, 1986: Live to Tell – Madonna
June 8 – June 28, 1986: On My Own – Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
June 29 – July 5, 1986: There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) – Billy Ocean
July 6 – July 12, 1986: Holding Back the Years – Simply Red
July 13 – July 19, 1986: Invisible Touch – Genesis
July 20 – July 26, 1986: Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
July 27 – August 9, 1986: Glory of Love – Peter Cetera
August 10 – August 23, 1986: Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna
August 24 – August 30, 1986: Higher Love – Steve Winwood
August 31 – September 6, 1986: Venus – Bananarama
September 7 – September 13, 1986: Take My Breath Away – Berlin
September 14 – October 4, 1986: Stuck with You – Huey Lewis and the News
October 5 – October 18, 1986: When I Think of You – Janet Jackson
October 19 – November 1, 1986: True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
November 2 – November 15, 1986: Amanda – Boston
November 16 – November 22, 1986: Human – The Human League
November 23 – November 29, 1986: You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
November 30 – December 6, 1986: The Next Time I Fall – Peter Cetera featuring Amy Grant
December 7 – December 13, 1986: The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
December 14, 1986 – January 10, 1987: Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles

Song-by-Song Notes on the 1986 Billboard No. 1 Hits

Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie opened the 1986 Billboard Hot 100 calendar with Say You, Say Me, a late-1985 carryover from the film White Nights. The ballad had already become a major pop and adult-contemporary hit before the new year began.

The song later won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, making it one of Richie’s major soundtrack successes. It gave 1986 a polished, dramatic opening before the year started sprinting through genres like it had a radio dial for breakfast.

That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne & Friends

Dionne & Friends reached No. 1 with That’s What Friends Are For, performed by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder. The song spent four weeks at the top and became Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1986.

The single was recorded as a charity release for AIDS research and became one of the decade’s most successful benefit records. Its chart success came with real-world purpose, which gives it more weight than a standard superstar collaboration.

How Will I Know – Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston reached No. 1 with How Will I Know, one of the bright pop singles from her debut album. The song’s upbeat production and colorful video helped move Houston beyond ballad territory and deeper into mainstream pop stardom.

Its two-week run was part of Houston’s early No. 1 streak, which would become one of the great chart runs of the decade.

Kyrie – Mr. Mister

Mr. Mister topped the Hot 100 with Kyrie, a polished pop-rock single from Welcome to the Real World. The title came from the Greek phrase “Kyrie eleison,” meaning “Lord, have mercy,” giving the song a spiritual phrase inside a radio-friendly rock setting.

Its two-week run followed the success of Broken Wings, making Mr. Mister one of the strongest pop-rock acts of the mid-1980s.

Sara – Starship

Starship reached No. 1 with Sara, a soft rock ballad from Knee Deep in the Hoopla. The song gave the band another Hot 100 chart-topper after We Built This City.

Its one-week run showed the group’s ability to move from glossy rock-pop anthems into softer adult-radio territory.

These Dreams – Heart

Heart earned its first Hot 100 No. 1 with These Dreams, a dreamy power ballad sung by Nancy Wilson. The song marked a major chart comeback for the band during its polished 1980s era.

Its one-week stay at No. 1 helped reset Heart’s commercial story for a new decade of MTV-era listeners.

Rock Me Amadeus – Falco

Falco reached No. 1 with Rock Me Amadeus, a German-language pop and new wave hit inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It spent three weeks at No. 1 and became one of the most unusual chart-toppers of the decade.

The song remains the only German-language single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Mozart probably did not see this coming, but then again, neither did most radio programmers.

Kiss – Prince and the Revolution

Prince and the Revolution topped the Hot 100 with Kiss, a minimalist funk-pop single from Parade. The track’s spare arrangement, falsetto vocal, and sharp groove made it one of Prince’s most distinctive No. 1 hits.

Its two-week run showed that Prince could make a hit sound huge without filling every inch of the recording. Sometimes the space is the hook.

Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer reached No. 1 with Addicted to Love, a rock-pop single made even more famous by its stylish music video featuring expressionless model-musicians. The video became one of MTV’s most recognizable visuals of the decade.

Its one-week run gave Palmer his signature Hot 100 hit and a permanent place in the sleek-suit wing of 1980s pop culture.

West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys reached No. 1 with West End Girls, a moody synth-pop single inspired in part by London city life and hip-hop-influenced vocal delivery. Its cool atmosphere made it stand apart from the year’s brighter pop hits.

The song gave the British duo their first and only U.S. Hot 100 No. 1, while helping define sophisticated 1980s synth-pop for American listeners.

Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston returned to No. 1 with Greatest Love of All, a major ballad from her debut album. The song’s self-belief message and big vocal performance helped make it one of her signature early hits.

Its three-week run gave Houston her second No. 1 of 1986 and continued the historic streak that would stretch into 1988.

Live to Tell – Madonna

Madonna reached No. 1 with Live to Tell, a dramatic ballad from the film At Close Range. The song showed a more restrained, mature side of her sound after a string of brighter dance-pop hits.

Its one-week run marked another step in Madonna’s transition from pop provocateur to full-scale album-era superstar.

On My Own – Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald

Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald spent three weeks at No. 1 with On My Own, a dramatic breakup duet written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. The song paired LaBelle’s powerhouse vocals with McDonald’s soulful pop style.

Its run made it one of the biggest adult-pop and R&B crossover ballads of the year.

There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) – Billy Ocean

Billy Ocean reached No. 1 with There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry), a smooth adult-pop ballad. The song continued Ocean’s mid-1980s Hot 100 success after earlier hits like Caribbean Queen and Loverboy.

Its one-week run gave 1986 another big ballad moment, just in case anyone’s shoulder pads had not absorbed enough feelings.

Holding Back the Years – Simply Red

Simply Red topped the Hot 100 with Holding Back the Years, a soulful British ballad driven by Mick Hucknall’s distinctive vocal. The song’s reflective mood made it one of the year’s most elegant adult-pop crossovers.

Its one-week run introduced Simply Red to a wide American audience and set up later U.S. success with If You Don’t Know Me by Now.

Invisible Touch – Genesis

Genesis earned its only Hot 100 No. 1 with Invisible Touch. The song’s sleek pop-rock production and sharp hook reflected the band’s mid-1980s commercial peak.

Its one-week run gave Genesis a mainstream pop summit after years of progressive rock, album rock, and solo side-project success. Not bad for a band that once made songs longer than some lunch breaks.

Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel reached No. 1 with Sledgehammer, a funk-rock single from So. The song’s groundbreaking stop-motion and claymation video became one of MTV’s most celebrated clips.

Its one-week run gave Gabriel his only Hot 100 No. 1 and one of the most visually iconic songs of the decade.

Glory of Love – Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera reached No. 1 with Glory of Love, from The Karate Kid Part II. The ballad became Cetera’s first solo Hot 100 chart-topper after leaving Chicago.

Its two-week run turned a movie song into one of the year’s biggest adult-pop hits. Wax on, chart on.

Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna

Madonna returned to No. 1 with Papa Don’t Preach, one of the major singles from True Blue. The song’s storyline about pregnancy and family conflict sparked public discussion while remaining a highly polished pop single.

Its two-week run showed Madonna’s ability to turn controversy, storytelling, and pop hooks into mainstream chart power.

Higher Love – Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood reached No. 1 with Higher Love, a polished pop-rock single featuring backing vocals by Chaka Khan. The song became one of Winwood’s signature solo hits.

Its one-week stay helped anchor his late-1980s comeback and gave adult-pop radio a groove with excellent posture.

Venus – Bananarama

Bananarama topped the Hot 100 with Venus, a dance-pop cover of Shocking Blue’s 1970 No. 1 hit. Their version updated the song for the Stock Aitken Waterman production era.

The result was one of the rare songs to reach No. 1 in two very different versions by different acts. Same title, new decade, bigger hair.

Take My Breath Away – Berlin

Berlin reached No. 1 with Take My Breath Away, the romantic theme from Top Gun. The song’s atmospheric production and cinematic mood made it one of the defining soundtrack ballads of the 1980s.

Its one-week run was brief, but its association with Top Gun made it much bigger than a normal one-week No. 1.

Stuck with You – Huey Lewis and the News

Huey Lewis and the News spent three weeks at No. 1 with Stuck with You, a relaxed pop-rock single from Fore!. The song followed the band’s huge Sports era and kept them firmly in the center of 1980s pop radio.

Its breezy mood made it one of the year’s friendliest No. 1 hits. It was “stuck” in the most polite possible way.

When I Think of You – Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson earned her first Hot 100 No. 1 with When I Think of You, from Control. The song’s bright dance-pop production helped establish Jackson as a major solo artist in her own right.

Its two-week run was a crucial milestone in one of the most important pop/R&B careers of the late 1980s and 1990s.

True Colors – Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper reached No. 1 with True Colors, a gentle ballad that became one of her signature songs. Its message of acceptance and emotional honesty gave it long-lasting cultural resonance.

The song spent two weeks at No. 1 and later became closely associated with LGBTQ+ pride and support. A quiet song can still echo loudly.

Amanda – Boston

Boston reached No. 1 with Amanda, a power ballad from Third Stage. The song marked the band’s first and only Hot 100 chart-topper.

Its two-week run came after a long gap between Boston albums, proving that patient fans and big choruses can still move a chart.

Human – The Human League

The Human League returned to No. 1 with Human, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song moved the British synth-pop group into a smoother R&B-influenced ballad sound.

Its one-week run showed how Jam and Lewis’ production style could reshape an act’s sound while keeping it radio-ready.

You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi earned its first Hot 100 No. 1 with You Give Love a Bad Name. The song’s explosive chorus and arena-rock energy helped make Slippery When Wet one of the biggest rock albums of the decade.

Its one-week run was the band’s first trip to the top, with Livin’ on a Prayer following in early 1987. Shot through the chart, and Bon Jovi was to blame.

The Next Time I Fall – Peter Cetera featuring Amy Grant

Peter Cetera returned to No. 1 with The Next Time I Fall, a duet with Amy Grant. The song gave Cetera his second No. 1 of 1986 and gave Grant her first Hot 100 chart-topper.

Its one-week run helped bring Grant, already a major contemporary Christian artist, into a broader mainstream pop audience.

The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range

Bruce Hornsby and the Range reached No. 1 with The Way It Is, a piano-driven song addressing social inequality and civil rights. Its reflective lyric and distinctive piano figure made it one of the year’s most thoughtful chart-toppers.

Its one-week run gave Hornsby a major breakthrough and a song with a long afterlife through covers and samples.

Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles

The Bangles closed the 1986 Billboard Hot 100 year with Walk Like an Egyptian, which continued into January 1987. The song’s playful rhythm, quirky title, and memorable video helped make it one of the decade’s most recognizable pop-rock hits.

It spent four total weeks at No. 1 across 1986 and 1987 and became Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1987. The Bangles walked out of 1986 and somehow kept walking straight to the next year’s crown.

Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Stories of 1986

That’s What Friends Are For Was Billboard’s Year-End No. 1

That’s What Friends Are For by Dionne & Friends was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1986. The charity single brought together Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder for one of the decade’s most important benefit records.

Whitney Houston’s No. 1 Streak Kept Growing

Whitney Houston reached No. 1 twice in 1986 with How Will I Know and Greatest Love of All. Both songs came from her debut album and helped build the streak that would eventually reach seven consecutive Hot 100 No. 1 singles.

Madonna Scored Two More No. 1 Hits

Madonna topped the Hot 100 with Live to Tell and Papa Don’t Preach. The two songs showed very different sides of her 1986 image: dramatic balladry and sharp narrative pop.

Soundtracks Were a Major Force

Say You, Say Me, Live to Tell, Glory of Love, and Take My Breath Away all had major film connections. Movie songs were not side notes in 1986; they were chart engines.

1986 Had Heavy No. 1 Turnover

Thirty different songs reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1986, making it one of the busier No. 1 years in Billboard history. Many hits stayed only one or two weeks, which gave the year a fast-moving, mixtape-like feel.

1986 Billboard Number One Hits Trivia

That’s What Friends Are For by Dionne & Friends was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1986.
That’s What Friends Are For and Walk Like an Egyptian each spent four total weeks at No. 1 tied to the 1986 chart year, though Walk Like an Egyptian carried into 1987.
Whitney Houston had two No. 1 songs in 1986: How Will I Know and Greatest Love of All.
Madonna had two No. 1 songs in 1986: Live to Tell and Papa Don’t Preach.
Peter Cetera had two No. 1 songs in 1986: Glory of Love and The Next Time I Fall.
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco remains the only German-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
When I Think of You gave Janet Jackson her first Hot 100 No. 1.
You Give Love a Bad Name gave Bon Jovi its first Hot 100 No. 1.
Walk Like an Egyptian closed 1986 and carried into the 1987 Billboard chart year.

Why the 1986 Billboard Number One Hits Matter

The 1986 Billboard Number One Hits list shows a pop chart moving quickly through nearly every major mid-1980s sound. Charity ballads, synth-pop, dance-pop, adult-contemporary songs, rock bands, soundtrack themes, R&B crossover hits, and quirky international singles all reached No. 1.

The year also gave major milestones to future chart giants. Whitney Houston’s streak grew, Madonna’s True Blue era took off, Janet Jackson earned her first No. 1, Bon Jovi scored its first chart-topper, and The Bangles carried the year into 1987 with a pop-rock classic.

For chart fans, 1986 was a high-turnover year with a little bit of everything: friendship, falsetto, Mozart, movie ballads, bright synths, big drums, and enough soundtrack energy to keep every VHS rental store humming.