Taylor Swift released “august” on July 24, 2020.
The song appeared on Folklore, which Swift surprise-released on the same date through Republic Records. Its release came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Swift was working remotely and exploring a more fictional, indie-influenced songwriting style. The timing is sometimes confused with the month named in the title, but “august” was released in late July.
The track later developed a strong seasonal identity. Each year, listeners return to it during August, and social-media creators pair the song with nostalgic summer footage, beach scenes, road trips, and personal memories. This recurring pattern helped turn the song into an annual late-summer ritual rather than merely an album track.
The title’s lowercase styling is also intentional and matches Folklore’s understated presentation. Although the song’s popularity peaks around August, its original release date remains July 24, 2020. That distinction matters because the annual trend can make it seem as though the song debuted on August 1.