44 Easter Songs for Church, Holy Week and the Easter Egg Hunt

What are the most popular Easter songs?

The most-sung Easter hymn is "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" by Charles Wesley, followed by "Because He Lives" by Bill and Gloria Gaither and "Christ Arose". In modern worship, "Living Hope" by Phil Wickham and "In Christ Alone" are the favorites. For kids, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" is the classic secular Easter song.

Traditional Easter hymns

1. "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", Charles Wesley: the Easter Sunday opener in countless churches.
2. "Because He Lives", Bill and Gloria Gaither: hope for every tomorrow.
3. "Christ Arose", Robert Lowry: quiet verses that burst into a triumphant chorus.
4. "Crown Him with Many Crowns": a majestic hymn of praise.
5. "Thine Be the Glory": sung to Handel's stirring melody.
6. "He Lives", Alfred Ackley: a joyful gospel hymn.
7. "Hallelujah Chorus", from Handel's Messiah: the choir's Easter showpiece.

Palm Sunday songs

8. "All Glory, Laud and Honor": the traditional Palm Sunday processional.
9. "Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!": a hymn about the entry into Jerusalem.
10. "Hosanna", Hillsong United: a modern worship song of praise.

Good Friday songs

11. "Were You There": the spiritual that asks every listener to stand at the cross.
12. "The Old Rugged Cross": one of the best-loved American hymns.
13. "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", Isaac Watts: deep and reflective.
14. "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded": sung to a melody Bach used in his St. Matthew Passion.
15. "How Deep the Father's Love for Us", Stuart Townend: a modern hymn for the cross.
16. "Via Dolorosa", Sandi Patty: the walk to Calvary in song.

Modern Easter worship songs

17. "Living Hope", Phil Wickham: the modern Easter anthem.
18. "Sunday Is Coming", Phil Wickham: from Friday's darkness to Sunday's joy.
19. "In Christ Alone", Keith Getty and Stuart Townend: a modern hymn sung everywhere.
20. "Resurrecting", Elevation Worship: a big, celebratory chorus.
21. "Glorious Day", Passion: an upbeat resurrection song.
22. "Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)", Kari Jobe: a powerful build to joy.
23. "Man of Sorrows", Hillsong Worship: the cross and the empty tomb in one song.
24. "What a Beautiful Name", Hillsong Worship: one of the most-sung worship songs.
25. "Death Was Arrested", North Point InsideOut: a song of freedom.
26. "O Praise the Name (Anástasis)", Hillsong Worship: a hymn-like modern song.
27. "Christ Is Risen", Matt Maher: a joyful Easter proclamation.
28. "Lion and the Lamb", Leeland: big, singable and bright.
29. "Graves into Gardens", Elevation Worship: about new life.
30. "At the Cross (Love Ran Red)", Chris Tomlin: a song of grace.

Gospel and contemporary Christian Easter songs

31. "My Redeemer Lives", Nicole C. Mullen: a gospel-flavored favorite.
32. "Easter Song", 2nd Chapter of Acts: a Jesus-movement classic from the 70s.
33. "Was It a Morning Like This?", Sandi Patty: imagining the first Easter morning.
34. "He's Alive", Dolly Parton: a dramatic retelling written by Don Francisco.
35. "Arise, My Love", NewSong: an Easter church special for decades.
36. "Rise Again", Dallas Holm: a 70s favorite for Easter services.

Easter songs for kids

37. "Here Comes Peter Cottontail", Gene Autry: the classic Easter bunny song.
38. "Easter Parade", Irving Berlin: an old-fashioned spring stroll.
39. "The Bunny Hop", Ray Anthony: the party dance.
40. "Sleeping Bunnies": the preschool song where everyone hops awake.
41. "Little Bunny Foo Foo": a silly finger-play song.
42. "Jesus Loves Me": the first hymn many children learn.
43. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles: for a sunny spring morning.
44. "Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)", Paul Baloche: easy for a children's choir to clap along to.

An Easter Sunday order of service

Many churches move from quiet to celebration: "Were You There" or "The Old Rugged Cross" for reflection, then "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" as the processional, "Living Hope" or "In Christ Alone" during worship, "Because He Lives" before the sermon and "Crown Him with Many Crowns" or the "Hallelujah Chorus" to close. Sunrise services often start with "Christ Arose" sung outdoors.

Holy Week music, day by day

• Palm Sunday: "All Glory, Laud and Honor" and "Hosanna".
• Maundy Thursday: quiet songs such as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".
• Good Friday: "Were You There", "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" and "Via Dolorosa".
• Holy Saturday: "Sunday Is Coming" for the waiting.
• Easter Sunday: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", "Living Hope" and "Because He Lives".

Easter songs for a choir

For a choir, the "Hallelujah Chorus", "Thine Be the Glory", "Christ Arose" and "In Christ Alone" are the standards. Smaller choirs often do well with "Were You There" sung simply and "Because He Lives" with the congregation joining the final chorus.

Upbeat Easter songs

For a joyful service or an Easter brunch, choose "Resurrecting", "Glorious Day", "Lion and the Lamb" and "Christ Is Risen". For the kids' egg hunt, put on "Here Comes Peter Cottontail", "The Bunny Hop" and "Here Comes the Sun".

Songs of hope for Easter

Easter is the season of hope, and many of these songs work all year for someone who is struggling. See our lists of songs about hope and songs about heaven.

An Easter song for your family

A personalized Easter song can celebrate your family's faith and traditions: the names of your children or grandchildren, the egg hunt, the sunrise service and the Easter dinner everyone looks forward to. See our guide to an Easter song for the family.

How to create an Easter song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, country, pop, classical and more.
2. Add the names of the people in the song.
3. Share your family's Easter traditions and what the season means to you.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Celebrate Easter with a song about your family: create a song and hear four previews for free.