Grammy Awards 2026: A Night of Musical Excellence
The Grammy Awards, now in their 67th year, remain the pinnacle of recognition in the music industry. This year’s event unfolds in Los Angeles on Sunday, drawing stars like Harry Styles and Chaka Khan. Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nominations, primarily for his sixth album, GNX. He dominated last year’s ceremony, securing record and song of the year for his hit diss track, Not Like Us. Lady Gaga follows with seven nods, while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas each earn six. Across 95 categories spanning eight hours, winners will be announced in everything from album of the year to best album artwork and ambient new age or chant recordings.
The Race for Album of the Year
Experts predict a tight contest for album of the year among Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga, none of whom have claimed this honor despite past nominations. Lady Gaga, a 14-time Grammy winner from 45 nods, delivers a bold return with her seventh album, Mayhem, blending maximalist pop with seasoned artistry after nearly two decades in the spotlight. Voters may see it as her time to shine, similar to Beyoncé’s recent triumph.
Kendrick Lamar holds a unique streak with album of the year nods for five straight releases. GNX captivates with its energetic, accessible style, and a win could address the Grammys’ underrepresentation of hip-hop in this category since 2004.
Bad Bunny emerges as a strong contender with Debí Tirar Más Fotos, an innovative blend of live instruments and Latin rhythms like reggaeton, plena, and salsa. Victory here would mark the first for a Spanish-language album. However, the Grammys’ unpredictable choices leave room for surprises from Justin Bieber or Sabrina Carpenter.
Best New Artist Contenders
Sabrina Carpenter stands out as a favorite for best new artist. Her upbeat, nostalgic pop tracks from The Art Of Loving struck a chord last year, aligning perfectly with voter ballots in December. Though ineligible for album of the year due to its late release, she eyes bigger prizes next year.
Competition heats up from Lola Young, whose raw single Messy became a sensation. Leon Thomas, known for writing hits for Ariana Grande, SZA, and Post Malone, also contends; he’s the sole best new artist nominee with an album of the year nod, signaling voter support. Other nominees include Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Sombr, and The Marías. All eight will perform in a dedicated segment Sunday night.
In a redemption arc, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli earns a best audiobook nod for his memoir, You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli, 36 years after their best new artist win was revoked for lip-syncing.
Record and Song of the Year Battles
Record of the year, honoring top singles, features Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild, Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra, and Chappell Roan’s The Subway. Yet, Rosé and Bruno Mars’ APT steals the spotlight as a massive crossover hit with broad appeal. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Luther, a lush rap ballad that topped U.S. charts for 13 weeks, poses stiff rivalry.
An APT win would make history: Rosé as the first K-pop Grammy recipient and Mars tying Paul Simon with four record of the year victories.
Song of the year, focused on songwriting, mirrors this lineup plus Golden from the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Samples in Luther and APT might hinder them, favoring Carpenter’s versatile Manchild or Bad Bunny’s reflective DTMF (I should have taken more photos).
Performance Highlights and Absences
The lineup promises excitement, but Taylor Swift won’t perform, as producer Ben Winston clarified the rumors stemmed from unfounded reports. Bad Bunny skips the stage due to his upcoming Super Bowl halftime headlining gig.
K-Pop’s Rising Influence
No K-pop artist has won a Grammy yet, but change looms. Rosé of Blackpink competes in three categories for APT, facing off against the animated group Huntr/x from K-Pop Demon Hunters in song of the year. Katseye vies for best group and pop group performance with Gabriela.
Audrey Nuna of Huntr/x highlighted the representation’s impact, stating to entertainment outlets, “You’re going to see three Korean faces. To think about the kids who are going to see that, and hopefully for that to shape their understanding of what they can do in this world, is the stuff that is giving me chills up my spine.” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. noted a push for a dedicated K-pop category, potentially aligning with BTS’s return.
Other Notable Nominations
Barbra Streisand seeks to end a 13-loss streak in best traditional pop album with The Secret of Life, though Lady Gaga, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, and Laufey challenge strongly. Haim could make history as the first all-female band to win best rock album; Alana Haim expressed gratitude, saying, “We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it’s a huge milestone. But we’re just grateful for the women that came before us.”
The Wicked cast earns four nods, including best duet for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s Defying Gravity. The Dalai Lama receives his first nomination for best audiobook with Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Eight-year-old Aura V could become the youngest winner ever for best children’s album, Harmony, created with her father Harold Simmons II.
Political Tensions on Stage
Amid current events, politics may surface. Billie Eilish, nominated for record and song of the year, urged artists to address Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions linked to protester deaths. Bad Bunny labeled ICE agents harshly in prior statements. President Trump defended the Minnesota operations but announced a de-escalation. Mason Jr. anticipated global reflections through performances, noting, “You’re going to hear and feel what’s going on in the world through the music. Maybe some people will choose to speak out about it, but you’re definitely going to feel it in the music, in the performance, in the passion that goes into the art.”
Voting and Eligibility
Around 15,000 industry professionals—musicians, producers, and more—vote after paying a $150 annual fee to the Recording Academy. Former winners qualify too. Voters select up to 10 categories in their expertise areas and all for the six major awards: album, record, and song of the year; best new artist; songwriter and producer of the year.
The 2026 Grammys cover releases from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, with over 20,000 submissions.
How to Watch the Ceremony
The premiere ceremony, awarding 80 categories, starts at 12:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. GMT) Sunday on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and live.grammy.com. Expect raw excitement from niche winners like Wet Leg or FKA Twigs in rock and dance.
Red carpet coverage begins at 3 p.m. PT (11 p.m. GMT). The main show airs live at 5 p.m. PT (1 a.m. GMT Monday) on CBS and Paramount+ in the U.S. U.K. viewers can catch clips on social media or full uploads on YouTube the next day.
