2026 GRAMMY nominations: full-field snapshot, key snubs, and what to know before music’s biggest night

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

2026 GRAMMY nominations

The 2026 GRAMMY nominations are out, locking in a cross-genre race headlined by Kendrick Lamar with nine nods for GNX. Close behind: Lady Gaga and top producers with seven, while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas land multiple marquee shots. The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards take place Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

2026 GRAMMY nominations: the top categories at a glance

Album of the Year features a striking blend of rap, pop, and global stars: GNX (Kendrick Lamar), MAYHEM (Lady Gaga), DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny), Man’s Best Friend (Sabrina Carpenter), SWAG (Justin Bieber), CHROMAKOPIA (Tyler, the Creator), MUTT (Leon Thomas), and a long-awaited return from Clipse with Let God Sort Em Out.

Record of the Year leans big and eclectic: Bad Bunny (“DtMF”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), Billie Eilish (“WILDFLOWER”), Lady Gaga (“Abracadabra”), Kendrick Lamar with SZA (“luther”), Chappell Roan (“The Subway”), and ROSÉ with Bruno Mars (“APT.”).

Song of the Year spotlights the writers behind several of those anthems, with “luther,” “Manchild,” “Anxiety,” “Abracadabra,” and “DtMF” among the finalists.

Best New Artist 2026: Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren in a wide-open race

This year’s Best New Artist slate is unusually diverse in sound and origin: Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Olivia Dean, Lola Young, The Marías, KATSEYE, and sombr. Rae’s debut-era pivot from viral celebrity to full-fledged pop act, Thomas’s genre-fluid R&B on MUTT, and Warren’s breakout songwriting give the category three distinct centerpieces—while Dean and The Marías bring critical momentum and touring chops that voters often reward.

Rock and alternative: Linkin Park’s return, scene depth for 2026

Rock fields are competitive and newsy. Linkin Park reenters the GRAMMY conversation alongside modern heavies like Deftones, Sleep Token, Turnstile, Ghost, Spiritbox, and Nine Inch Nails across album and performance categories. On the alternative side, established names mix with left-of-center risers, keeping the ballots lively for voters who prize both experimentation and impact.

Snubs and surprises: Lorde and The Weeknd miss; Doechii surges

Two headlines fans are debating: Lorde and The Weeknd were shut out despite sizable profiles and expectations. On the flip side, Doechii’s rise into the general field with “Anxiety” signals a breakthrough beyond genre lanes, and Leon Thomas graduating from cult favorite to multi-category contender underscores the Academy’s appetite for distinctive, writer-driven R&B. Pop’s momentum carriers—Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish—earned heavyweight placements without over-saturating the board.

Names you’re searching: Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lorde, Linkin Park, Doechii, The Weeknd, Yungblud

Leon Thomas: Beyond MUTT’s Album of the Year slot, his Best New Artist nod cements a breakout year built on elastic vocals and meticulous production.
Alex Warren: Jumps from creator culture to Best New Artist, powered by diaristic pop and strong streaming footprints.
Lorde: A notable snub—no nominations this cycle despite sustained attention.
Linkin Park: Back in the hunt in rock races, a storyline with both legacy appeal and fresh relevance.
Doechii: General-field recognition for “Anxiety” crowns a year of rising festival slots and radio traction.
The Weeknd: Another high-profile omission, keeping the will-they/won’t-they dynamic with the GRAMMYs in the spotlight.
Yungblud: Picks up nominations tied to a live-forward campaign that re-centered his catalog around performance.

What changed in 2026: new categories and evolving tastes

Two adjustments shape the ballot this year: the addition of Best Album Cover and a refreshed traditional-country lane (paired with tweaks elsewhere) that fine-tune how presentation and heritage styles are evaluated. More broadly, the general field tilts toward hip-hop and Spanish-language pop, with Bad Bunny making history-level noise across the big three contests. The mix reflects a voting body increasingly comfortable elevating global hits alongside American radio mainstays.

Key dates: when are the GRAMMYs and how voting works

Final-round voting: Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026
Ceremony: Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 (Los Angeles)
Telecast/streaming: Primetime in the U.S.; international carriage varies by territory.

Early read on the races

Album of the Year: A four-way axis—Kendrick Lamar’s conceptual precision, Bad Bunny’s global dominance, Lady Gaga’s maximalist craft, and Sabrina Carpenter’s surge—frames the decision. Dark horses: Tyler, the Creator and Leon Thomas, each offering complete-vision statements.
Record/Song of the Year: Watch whether voters coalesce around “luther,” “Manchild,” or “DtMF.” Splits between record and song are common; a late consensus could produce a split-ticket outcome.
Best New Artist: Momentum favors Leon Thomas and Addison Rae on visibility, with Olivia Dean and The Marías as critics’ picks capable of a last-mile surge.

The 2026 GRAMMY nominations widen the lens—embracing Spanish-language milestones, hip-hop at the center, and a Best New Artist field built for debate. Circle Feb. 1, 2026: the path from ballot to trophies is officially underway.