When was Taylor Swift’s “august” first released?

Taylor Swift first released “august” on July 24, 2020.

The song arrived as part of Folklore, which Swift released as a surprise album through Republic Records. Its release date came before the month named in the title, an important detail that is sometimes blurred by the song’s later annual August resurgence. The track was available with the rest of the album rather than being introduced as a separate August 1 release.

“August” later became strongly associated with the first day of August because fans replay it, quote its lyrics, and use it in social-media posts as the month starts. That seasonal tradition does not change the song’s original release date. The song’s cultural identity therefore has two dates: July 24, 2020, for its debut, and August 1 each year for the fan ritual.

The release also marked a major change in Swift’s presentation. Folklore emphasized fictional characters, atmospheric production, and subdued storytelling, helping “august” become a recurring end-of-summer soundtrack rather than merely an album track.