When were the 2026 GRAMMY nominations announced?

The Recording Academy officially revealed the nominations for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards on November 7, 2025. The announcement highlighted a diverse mix of artists, genres, and new categories, generating significant excitement across the music industry and among fans worldwide.

What are the major category changes for the 2026 GRAMMY?

This year, the GRAMMY introduced new categories, including Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. Additionally, the former Best Country Album category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album to better reflect modern country music styles.

Why were these category changes made?

The changes were made to modernize the awards, increase genre diversity, and fairly recognize artists across traditional, contemporary, and visual creative contributions. The updates also highlight the growing influence of independent and non-commercial artists.

Who leads the 2026 GRAMMY nominations?

Kendrick Lamar leads all artists with nine nominations, spanning general and rap-specific categories, solidifying his influence in modern music. His nominations reflect not only his lyrical mastery and innovative sound but also his ongoing cultural impact, social commentary, and ability to push the boundaries of contemporary music.

Which rising artists are making an impact this year?

Artists such as Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young are featured in the Best New Artist category, showcasing the diversity of emerging talent in the music industry.

What are the key categories to watch on award night?

Major categories to watch include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. These categories often determine the overall tone of the ceremony and highlight the most influential artists of the year.

How do these nominations reflect changes in the music industry?

The nominations indicate a shift toward global and genre-inclusive recognition. Artists from diverse backgrounds, languages, and musical styles are gaining more visibility, reflecting evolving listener tastes and the globalization of music culture.

Why are visual elements like album covers now recognized?

With digital streaming shaping how audiences experience music, album artwork is increasingly seen as a vital part of an artist’s creative expression. Recognizing visual design emphasizes the importance of storytelling and branding alongside musical content.

GRAMMY Nominations 2026 Full List and Top Contenders

Q: Are there any historic achievements in these nominations?

Yes, Bad Bunny became the first Spanish-language artist nominated in Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, marking a significant milestone for Latin music recognition at the GRAMMY.

The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Recording Academy revealed the nominations on November 7, 2025, and this year’s list showcases a dynamic shift in global influence, genre evolution, and musical artistry.

Hip-hop and Latin music hold a particularly strong presence this year, while new artists continue to push creative boundaries. Several notable category changes also highlight the Academy’s effort to modernize and broaden representation across music styles.

Key Changes for the 2026 GRAMMYs

The Recording Academy has continued its ongoing effort to modernize the awards and ensure that all genres and forms of creativity receive proper recognition. For the 2026 ceremony, a few important category adjustments were announced, reflecting how rapidly music culture and industry standards are evolving.

New Categories Introduced

Best Traditional Country Album: This newly created category separates traditional and contemporary country music into distinct lanes. Country music today spans a wide spectrum, from classic storytelling roots and acoustic instrumentation to polished radio-friendly pop-country production.
The new category ensures that artists who focus on traditional sounds, vintage influences, and heritage-driven songwriting are judged fairly against others working in the same stylistic space. This provides more visibility to independent, folk-leaning, or roots-focused country artists who may have been overshadowed in previous years.

Best Album Cover: Visual design has always played a significant role in music culture, especially in the digital streaming era where album visuals often shape a listener’s first impression.
The addition of Best Album Cover formally recognizes graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, and creative directors, highlighting the importance of visual storytelling and artistic branding. Album artwork is now seen not just as packaging, but as an essential part of a project’s identity and audience experience.

Name Change

The previous category Best Country Album has now been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album to better distinguish modern mainstream country from its traditional counterpart.
This updated terminology reflects the reality of today’s music landscape, where contemporary country often blends with pop, rock, R&B, and electronic influences. The name change helps clarify judging standards and acknowledges that the country genre is no longer stylistically singular.

Why These Changes Matter

These updates reinforce the Academy’s commitment to:

Genre diversity
Fair recognition of different musical styles
Acknowledgment of visual creativity as part of the music experience
Better inclusion for independent and non-commercial artists

They also respond directly to ongoing conversations within the music community about representation, artistic identity, and modern listening culture.

Top Storylines This Year

Kendrick Lamar Leads All Artists

Kendrick Lamar stands at the forefront of the 2026 nominations with nine total nods, reinforcing his status as one of the most influential voices in modern music. His latest work has been praised for its lyrical depth, social commentary, and musical experimentation. Kendrick appears in major general categories as well as several rap-specific fields, placing him in a strong position to potentially dominate the winners’ stage. Many industry observers view this year as a defining moment that may finally see him secure more top-tier awards that have narrowly eluded him in the past.

Historic Achievement for Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny continues to reshape the global music landscape. With nominations in Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, he becomes the first Spanish-language artist to achieve this milestone. His presence in the GRAMMYs’ biggest categories signals a powerful shift toward greater recognition of non-English music at the highest level of the industry. It highlights not only his worldwide influence but also the growing demand for Latin music across international markets.

Pop Stars and Rising Artists Gain Momentum

Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan make particularly strong impressions in this year’s lineup. Each of these artists brought distinct musical styles and strong cultural resonance to their recent releases. Their presence across major categories shows how pop continues to evolve through personal storytelling, vocal individuality, and sonic experimentation.

At the same time, the Best New Artist category showcases a wide range of rising talent, from indie performers to artists with strong digital and global fanbases. This variety reflects the Academy’s increased attention to diverse artistic backgrounds, viral impact, and long-term creative potential. It signals that the music industry is entering a period where new voices can break through more quickly and powerfully than ever before.

Major Category Nominations

Album of the Year

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny
SWAG — Justin Bieber
Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
MAYHEM — Lady Gaga
GNX — Kendrick Lamar
MUTT — Leon Thomas
CHROMAKOPIA — Tyler, the Creator

Record of the Year

“DtMF” — Bad Bunny
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
“APT.” — Rosé & Bruno Mars

Song of the Year (Songwriting)

“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“APT.” — Rosé & Bruno Mars
“DtMF” — Bad Bunny
“Golden” — Featured in Kpop Demon Hunters
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marías
Addison Rae
Sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young

What to Expect on Award Night

The 2026 ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years. The main questions heading into the live show include:

Will Kendrick Lamar secure his first Album of the Year win?
Can Bad Bunny translate his historic nominations into record-setting victories?
Who will become the breakout winner in Best New Artist?
Will pop, Latin, or hip-hop dominate the televised spotlight?

The results will reflect not only commercial success and artistic quality, but also the GRAMMYs’ ongoing shift toward global and genre-inclusive recognition.

Conclusion

The 2026 GRAMMY nominations reflect a changing musical world where boundaries of language and genre continue to fade. Legacy artists, mainstream pop innovators, and groundbreaking newcomers stand side by side, shaping the cultural soundscape of the year.

As the award ceremony approaches, anticipation continues to build. Fans across the world now wait to see who will claim the music industry’s most prestigious honors.

GRAMMY Nominations 2026 Full List and Top Contenders