Top 5 Programming Languages to Learn in 2026: Your Ultimate Guide

I’ve got something to confess: I was wrong. I used to make videos telling you to learn this language, then that one, and so on. But I’ve learned something important, and I want to share it with you. We shouldn’t just list programming languages and technologies in some arbitrary order. No technology is useless. If you see a video ranking languages 1, 2, 3, there should be a reason behind it. Where are you in your life? Are you a student? Are you already working? Do you want to switch careers? Are you moving from a non-tech to a tech role? All these things matter. So, just giving you a 1-2-3 list might not make sense and wouldn’t be very helpful.

So why am I making this video then? Because I’m getting tons of requests in my DMs and comments asking for a video on the top 5 programming languages to learn in 2026. My job is to guide you, and I’ll do it well. The order I’ll give you in this video will depend on where you are in your journey. Time is limited, and it never comes back. So, if you have time now, maybe you’re in your 20s, or just 18 entering college, you need clarity on what to do next.

Before we move on, I want to let you know that my Data Science course has been updated. Since I’ll be talking about Data Science math later in this video, I want to inform you that if you’re interested in enrolling, I’ve added many new modules. For example, how to use Google Colab, and you’ll get free developer tools like JetBrains PyCharm and Quadratic AI with the course. You can even run OpenAI’s Whisper model in Google Colab without a powerful GPU, even on a basic computer. I’m constantly adding new things to the Data Science course. If you enroll now, you’ll also get my English Python course absolutely free. Check the description for the link.

Now, back to the main topic. Think of this video as a guide to technologies you can consider and whether you should consider them. I’ll primarily talk about programming languages but give you overall guidance with data. I spent a lot of time analyzing data from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, GitHub’s Octoverse report, and the TIOBE Index before making this video. I’ll even share average salaries. So, this video is based on solid research. Please watch it till the end.

Key Takeaways

• The "best" programming language depends heavily on your current situation, career goals, and interests.
• Python remains a top choice for beginners and is crucial for AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
• TypeScript is rapidly growing, especially for web development, and is becoming a recruiter’s favorite.
• C and C++ are foundational for computer science students and essential for low-level programming.
• Java is still a king in enterprise applications and backend systems, especially with Spring Boot.
• Rust offers C++-like performance with better memory safety and is in high demand for specific domains.

Python: The Versatile Choice

The first programming language you should consider is Python. If you’re a beginner, Python is a great starting point. Even if you’re an intermediate professional who isn’t deeply into coding, mastering Python can open doors in Data Analytics and Data Science. It’s a language that truly opens up opportunities. And I’m not just saying this; if you want to earn money, this is a language you need to learn.

I want to caution you again: don’t take this too literally. Let me show you some data. This is from the TIOBE Index, the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, and the Octoverse 2025 report. Python is number one on the TIOBE Index. Its highest position was in November 2025, and it’s been number one since. Its lowest was 13th in February 2003, and it’s never looked back. If you look at its popularity graph, it’s constantly rising. It was the Language of the Year multiple times. It’s an impactful programming language. With the AI boom, it’s heavily used in AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. You can never go wrong with Python.

The Stack Overflow Developer Survey also states that 57.9% of respondents use Python, a 7-point increase from 2024, showing its growing popularity, likely due to AI adoption. According to GitHub’s 2024 Octoverse report, Python surpassed JavaScript in 2024 to become the most popular language on the platform. I believe this will only grow bigger in 2026. So, whether you’re a beginner, interested in AI, or an expert programmer, Python is a solid choice. It has libraries like PyTorch, TensorFlow, Pandas, and NumPy. Even pure Python can achieve a lot. If you’re enrolled in my Data Science course, you know we did the "Codes of Delhi" project using pure Python to solve a real-world problem.

Python’s demand is set to increase. If you’re looking at the job market, Python is a strong contender. The average salary for Python developers in India ranges from 13 to 26 lakhs per annum.

When should you not learn Python? If you’re a beginner in your first year of college and your curriculum focuses on C/C++, I think chasing Python might be a mistake. Focus on your college studies first to improve your GPA. However, if you’re doing well academically, you can definitely learn Python on the side. I can’t praise Python enough because it’s simple, has vast applications, and once you start, you get hooked. If you’re a programming lover, you know what I mean. Let me know in the comments if you love Python!

TypeScript: The Web Development Future

Next up is TypeScript. The Octoverse report shows TypeScript as number one in 2025. TypeScript is essentially a superset of JavaScript. You need to know JavaScript to learn TypeScript. It’s not replacing JavaScript; rather, it’s JavaScript with syntax for types. Knowing TypeScript means you understand type safety and can handle JavaScript better. This makes it a recruiter’s choice. They often ask, "Everyone knows JavaScript, but who knows TypeScript? Who can build apps with type safety?"

TypeScript became the most used language on GitHub in August 2025, which was unprecedented. JavaScript and Python always held those top spots. The 2025 Octoverse report indicates TypeScript has seen a 66% year-on-year growth compared to Python’s 48%. So, if you’re learning JavaScript, you should definitely add TypeScript. It will help you stand out to recruiters.

Who shouldn’t learn TypeScript? If you’re focusing on Python for AI, ML, and you hear about TypeScript’s growth and switch, you might be misguided. Understand what you’re working on. If your focus is AI, Data Science, or Machine Learning, stick to Python. But if you’re a web developer and aspire to be one, learning TypeScript is the future. This isn’t just my opinion; the data supports it.

Average salaries for React and Next.js developers, who use TypeScript, are high. While specific TypeScript developer salaries might be hard to find, positions for React, Next.js, and AI Web Developers are increasing. This means those who know AI, can deploy ML models, and also do web development are in demand. The world is changing. Average salaries in India can range from 10 to 30 lakhs per annum. This wide range depends on experience; with 5-6 years of experience and a good track record, you could earn 30 LPA or even 40 LPA, especially if you work abroad. Focus on your personal growth rather than just salary numbers.

C and C++: The Foundational Pillars

Third on my list is C and C++. This is especially important for college students. The foundation that C and C++ will set for you is something I don’t think any other programming language can match. On the TIOBE Index, C and C++ are ranked second and third as of November 2025. You might wonder why C is still so popular. It was the Language of the Year multiple times, proving it’s not an ancient language. It has stood the test of time. The programming basics it teaches are unparalleled. C is still used for programming microchips in appliances like microwaves, electronic lights, and tables.

GitHub’s Octoverse data also shows C grew 20% year-on-year, and C++ grew 11.8% year-on-year, reflecting the demand for faster runtimes, inference engines, and hardware-optimized loops. For example, NumPy, a numerical computation library in Python, is written in C to leverage its speed. C and C++ developers maintain these libraries. If you’re a student just starting, and your college teaches C++, focus on it. It will build a strong programming foundation that will benefit you in learning anything later.

Java: The Enterprise Workhorse

At number four, we have Java. To be direct, there are a lot of jobs for Java in India, especially with Spring Boot. You’ll find many job openings for microservices. Large companies like Netflix build their services using Spring Boot. While Python has overtaken Java in AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning, Java remains the king of business logic and high-scale systems. Spring Boot has a monopoly here. Companies like Netflix, Uber, and the banking sector heavily use Java. Even major Indian banks rely on Java backends. Java is not an old language; it’s constantly evolving with updates every six months, incorporating modern paradigms. So, you should definitely consider Java. Learning Data Structures and Algorithms with Java is also perfectly fine.

Rust: The Performance Powerhouse

Finally, at number five, is Rust. Rust’s adoption is growing, particularly in domains where performance, speed, and high-scale systems are critical. Rust offers C++-like speed and performance but with much better memory safety for developers. While its overall usage is still relatively low, Rust developers are in high demand because it’s a technology used in compilers due to its excellent speed and performance. In modern development, Rust is frequently mentioned.

While job openings for Rust in India might not be as numerous right now, if you’re hired as a Rust developer, your salary will be excellent. If you master Rust, there’s a good chance you can get employed outside India. I’ve seen many people who know Rust well get hired by top Silicon Valley companies. You might consider Rust if you’re in your intermediate career, perhaps with 4-7 years of experience, when you have a good understanding of how programming, computers, and systems work overall.

These are the five programming languages I’ll be watching in 2026. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn C# or that C# is bad. C# is strong, with 6.6% year-on-year growth according to the Octoverse report. If you want to get into game development, you’ll likely need C#. The same goes for C++ in game development. Then there’s Golang, known as the "language of the cloud," which is also gaining popularity. Kotlin is used for building modern Android apps. SQL is essential for databases, and PHP is still widely used. Each language has its applications.

Ultimately, the technology you learn and work with will heavily depend on what you want in life – your interests. Also, consider how much time you have. If you’re preparing for a specific company that asks questions in a particular language, like Java, you’ll need to learn it. Sometimes, your life and circumstances limit your choices. While I can say "follow your passion," sometimes life doesn’t allow it. So, consider all these points and make an informed decision for yourself. I hope 2026 is a game-changing year for your programming journey. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you next time.