2026 GRAMMYs Nominations: The Full Breakdown of This Year’s Most Exciting Lineup
The 2026 GRAMMYs nominations have officially been announced, igniting a wave of excitement across the music industry and beyond. For the 68th edition of the prestigious awards, the field is wide, bold and full of first-time recognitions. That means when we describe the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations, we are looking at a year of both major players and fresh breakthroughs.
A year of big names and record-setting accomplishments
Leading the nominations is Kendrick Lamar, who secured nine nominations — the most of any artist this year. Following close behind is Lady Gaga with seven nominations, and Bad Bunny making history as a Spanish-language artist being nominated simultaneously in all three major categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
The eligibility window for the 2026 nominations covered the period from August 31 2024 to August 30 2025.
Top categories: who’s in the running
In the Album of the Year category, the nominees include:
- Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR Más FOToS
- Justin Bieber – SWAG
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Clipse, Pusha T & Malice – Let God Sort Em Out
- Lady Gaga – MAYHEM
- Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Leon Thomas – Mutt
- Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
For the Record of the Year category, nominated tracks include:
- Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
- Doechii – “Anxiety”
- Billie Eilish – “Wildflower”
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
- Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “luther”
- Chappell Roan – “The Subway”
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” grammy.com
And for Song of the Year (songwriter’s award), the list mirrors many of the same tracks and artists, with additions like “Golden” from the soundtrack of KPop Demon Hunters. Reuters
Why this year feels different
The 2026 GRAMMYs nominations reflect a few noteworthy shifts:
- Diversity & Global Reach: With K-pop star ROSÉ (of BLACKPINK) and Bruno Mars nominated together for “APT.”, and with global smash Bad Bunny in major categories, the nominations underscore the global expansion of mainstream music.
- Fresh Recognition + Legacy Acts: Veteran voices like Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar are still at the top—yet plenty of newer artists and categories are gaining ground, reflecting both continuity and disruption.
- Category Changes & Innovation: The Recording Academy introduced two new categories for this year: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.
- Strong Hip-Hop Representation: Hip-hop styles, artists, and producers are strongly represented across major categories, showing how central the genre remains to today’s musical landscape.
What to watch ahead
With nominations announced, attention now turns to the award ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Here’s what to look for:
- Album of the Year winner: Several nominated albums are first-time winners if they take the prize.
- Cultural impact: Whether cross-genre and non-English works gain traction signals how inclusive the awards system is becoming.
- Best New Artist and breakout stars: While big names dominate the top nominations, emerging artists like Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, and The Marias in the Best New Artist field are getting major exposure. AP News
- Production & visual categories: The addition of Best Album Cover highlights visuals and design as part of modern music’s storytelling.
Final thoughts
The 2026 GRAMMYs nominations mark both a celebration of established giants and a clear step toward a more global, genre-fluid music industry. As the nominations show, this is not just about chart success—it’s about creative vision, cultural resonance, and industry evolution.
Whether you’re a fan of pop, hip-hop, Latin music, K-pop or beyond, this year’s list offers something compelling. As the countdown to February begins, keep an eye on how these nominations convert into wins—and what that might say about the future of music awards.
🔹 FAQ Section (with schema-friendly questions)
H2: Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 GRAMMYs Nominations
Q1: Who received the most nominations at the 2026 GRAMMYs?
A: Kendrick Lamar leads with nine nominations, followed by Lady Gaga with seven and Bad Bunny with six, marking one of the most competitive years in recent GRAMMY history.
Q2: When will the 2026 GRAMMYs ceremony take place?
A: The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Q3: Which artists made history with the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations?
A: Bad Bunny became the first Spanish-language artist nominated in all three major categories—Album, Record, and Song of the Year. K-pop star ROSÉ also earned her first major GRAMMY nod.
Q4: What new categories were added for the 2026 GRAMMYs?
A: The Recording Academy introduced two new awards: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, reflecting the growing appreciation of diverse genres and visual artistry.
Q5: How can fans watch the 2026 GRAMMY Awards live?
A: The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed globally via Paramount+, with pre-show coverage on the Recording Academy’s official channels.
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