Taylor Swift’s “august” first entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at No. 23.
The song debuted on the chart dated August 8, 2020, shortly after Folklore’s surprise release. It remained on the Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks. Because the track later became a recurring seasonal streaming favorite, listeners sometimes remember its later visibility rather than its original chart entry.
The No. 23 debut should not be confused with the song’s performance on other charts. “august” simultaneously debuted and peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. It also reached No. 46 on the Billboard Global 200, a worldwide chart that is different from the US-only Hot 100.
The timing of the Hot 100 debut is especially notable because the song was not released as a conventional lead single. Its chart appearance reflected the immediate attention surrounding the surprise album and the strong listening response to Swift’s fictional Folklore narratives.