Queen, Greatest Hits breaks chart records in Germany and beyond

Queen’s Greatest Hits has spent 219 weeks on Germany’s Official Albums Chart and around 700 weeks on the Billboard 200, underlining the compilation’s extraordinary long-term success.

Queen remain a fixture on international charts nearly half a century after their heyday. According to Germany’s Official Albums Chart database, their compilation Greatest Hits has logged 219 weeks on the German albums list and reached the top position there, making it one of the country’s most durable rock recordsOfficial German chart entry for Greatest Hits.

How Germany keeps Greatest Hits alive

In Germany, Greatest Hits first entered the albums chart on November 9, 1981 and has since accumulated 219 weeks on the list, including a peak at number one and a recent appearance as late as December 22, 2023Official German chart entry for Greatest Hits.

Germany’s music industry association BVMI credits the album with seven Gold awards, corresponding to around 1,750,000 certified units sold in the country, which places it among Germany’s most successful albums since the mid-1970sBVMI certification database entry for Queen.

Streaming-era milestones and UK chart longevity

The compilation’s impact extends far beyond Germany. In the United Kingdom, Official Charts Company data describe Greatest Hits as the country’s best-selling album of all time and show that it has surpassed 1,200 weeks on the main albums chart, with 1,218 weeks in the top 100 as of August 2026Official Charts album profile for Greatest Hits.

A March 2026 analysis of UK chart data noted that Greatest Hits had reached 520 weeks on the Official Albums Streaming Chart, meaning a full decade within the ranking of the country’s 100 most-streamed albums, and around 468 weeks on the Official Albums Sales chartStreaming-chart analysis of Greatest Hits.

Where the act stands now

As of late August 2026 Queen do not have a newly announced original-band tour date listed on major international ticketing platforms or their official live site, while tribute and cover productions carry their music to large halls across Germany and Europe.

The musical core of Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits brings together Queen’s key rock and pop singles from the 1970s and early 1980s, including songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Don’t Stop Me Now and Somebody to Love, covering their shift from progressive rock to stadium-sized pop-rock.

The compilation features the classic lineup of Freddie Mercury on vocals and piano, Brian May on guitar, John Deacon on bass and Roger Taylor on drums, capturing the band’s layered vocal harmonies, guitar orchestrations and blend of hard rock with theatrical songwriting.

Queen at a glance

• Act: Queen
• Genre: Rock / pop-rock
• Origin: London, United Kingdom
• Active since: 1970
• Lineup: Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano; deceased), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass; retired), Roger Taylor (drums)
• Label: EMI / Parlophone (historic), Universal Music / Virgin EMI (catalog management)
• Key works: A Night at the Opera (1975), News of the World (1977), The Game (1980), Greatest Hits (1981)
• Current album/single: Greatest Hits (originally released October 26, 1981; reissued in multiple formats through the streaming era)
• Charts / certifications: Greatest Hits – 219 weeks and peak at number one on Germany’s Official Albums Chart; seven Gold awards from BVMI in Germany; more than 1,200 weeks on the UK albums chart and recognized as the UK’s best-selling album of all time as of August 2026
• Next live date: currently no newly announced original-band live date; tribute and hologram-supported shows perform Queen’s music in Germany and across Europe

Frequently asked questions about Queen

How successful is Queen’s Greatest Hits in Germany?
Germany’s Official Albums Chart shows Greatest Hits with 219 weeks on the albums list and a peak at number one, while BVMI has certified the compilation at seven Gold awards, equivalent to around 1,750,000 units sold.

Is Greatest Hits still charting internationally in 2026?
Yes. In the UK it has surpassed 1,200 weeks on the main albums chart, and a March 2026 streaming analysis reported 520 weeks on the Official Albums Streaming Chart, marking a full decade in that ranking.

How long has Greatest Hits been on the Billboard 200?
By mid-2026, multiple chart rundowns place Greatest Hits at roughly 700 weeks on the Billboard 200, making it one of only a dozen albums to reach that threshold on the all-genre US albums chart.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications can change at short notice; correction notices are handled via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.