Taylor Swift released “august” on July 24, 2020. The song appeared on Folklore, Swift’s eighth studio album, which was also surprise-released that day through Republic Records.
The timing is notable because “august” was released before the calendar month named in its title. Its late-summer imagery, including references to sunshine, salt air, and a brief romance, helped the track return to public attention every August. Social-media users later adopted it for nostalgic photo montages, summer recaps, and end-of-season videos.
The song was not initially released as a standalone single. Instead, it debuted as part of Folklore’s full-album launch during the COVID-19 pandemic. That distinction is sometimes overlooked when people describe “august” as a hit single, but its recurring seasonal popularity developed after the album release. The date also matches the release date of the entire Folklore album.