Summer 2026 temperatures broke historical records across Europe and worldwide, exceeding the record highs of 2024.

Omissions

• Europe-wide, summer 2026 (June–August) was the THIRD-warmest summer on record, behind 2024 and 2022, according to Copernicus. The claim that summer 2026 temperatures exceeded the 'record highs of 2024' is therefore not valid for the European continent as a whole; it applies to Western Europe and to global monthly/ocean records.
• Global August 2026 was described as the 'joint hottest month on record' (a tie, not necessarily an outright new high above 2024), and the record summer globally is often framed against 2024, the warmest calendar year on record — nuance the claim glosses over.
• The Copernicus seasonal/regional assessments were published in late 2026 (after the summer but before or around the session date); the underlying data period (June–August 2026) is on or before the session date of 7 October 2026.

Sources

• PrimaryCopernicus Climate Change Service — 'August was the world's joint hottest month on record, pushing global temperatures back above [1.5°C]'The global-average surface air temperature in August 2026 was 16.96°C, 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average, making it the warmest August globally. Summer 2026 (June to August) was the third warmest on record for Europe, behind 2024 and 2022. Western Europe experienced its warmest summer on record.
• PrimaryCopernicus Climate Change Service — 'Record heat stress and low river flows marked Europe's 2026 summer'Europe's summer was defined by extreme heatwaves and dry conditions, with a record 52% of the continent exposed to 'very strong' heat stress.
• PrimaryCopernicus Climate Change Service — 'Highest July global ocean surface temperatures as exceptionally hot, dry conditions fuel [fires]'The average SST for the extra-polar ocean (60°S–60°N) in July 2026 was the highest on record for the month, at 20.96°C, surpassing the previous [record].
• SecondaryLe Monde — 'Summer 2026 was hottest on record in Western Europe, yet still no political awakening'Summer 2026 was hottest on record in Western Europe, yet still no political awakening. According to the European Copernicus service, the ... [season ranked third warmest for Europe overall, behind 2024 and 2022].