For music lovers, the announcement of the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards nominations, commonly referenced as the “2026 GRAMMY nominations,” is always a moment of excitement, surprise, and speculation. This year is no different: the nominations dropped on November 7, 2025, and the ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
In this blog, we break down the 2026 GRAMMY nominations list, highlight the biggest surprises and snubs, and reveal what these choices tell us about the evolving sound of today’s music industry.
🎶 Why the 2026 GRAMMY Nominations Matter
This year’s nominations reflect major shifts in the global music landscape:
- Hip-hop and rap dominate once again, with Kendrick Lamar leading all artists with nine nominations. (Source: Reuters)
- Pop icons remain strong, but face fierce competition from fresh talent in Latin, alternative, and K-pop genres.
- Global influence grows: for the first time, a K-pop track earns a nomination in a major GRAMMY category. (Source: The Times of India)
- New categories debut, including Best Album Cover and the division of Best Country Album into Contemporary and Traditional. (Source: Pitchfork)
Together, these trends make the 2026 GRAMMY nominations one of the most exciting and diverse in recent memory.
📋 Major Category Highlights
🥇 Album of the Year
- Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos (The Washington Post)
- Justin Bieber – Swag (Pitchfork)
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend (Pitchfork)
- Lady Gaga – Mayhem (The Washington Post)
- Kendrick Lamar – GNX (The Washington Post)
- Leon Thomas – Mutt (Pitchfork)
- Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia (Pitchfork)
- Clipse (Pusha T & Malice) – Let God Sort ’Em Out (The Washington Post)
🎧 Record of the Year
- Bad Bunny – “DtMF” (GRAMMY.com)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” (GRAMMY.com)
- Doechii – “Anxiety” (GRAMMY.com)
- Billie Eilish – “Wildflower” (GRAMMY.com)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (GRAMMY.com)
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther” (GRAMMY.com)
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” (Pitchfork)
- Chappell Roan – “The Subway” (GRAMMY.com)
✍️ Song of the Year (Songwriters Honored)
- Bad Bunny – “DtMF” (Pitchfork)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” (Pitchfork)
- Doechii – “Anxiety” (Pitchfork)
- Billie Eilish – “Wildflower” (Pitchfork)
- HUNTR/X – “Golden” *(from K-Pop Demon Hunters) (Pitchfork)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Pitchfork)
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” (Pitchfork)
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther” (Pitchfork)
🌟 Best New Artist
- Olivia Dean (Pitchfork)
- Katseye (Reddit)
- The Marías (Pitchfork)
- Addison Rae (Pitchfork)
- Sombr (Pitchfork)
- Leon Thomas (Pitchfork)
- Alex Warren (Pitchfork)
- Lola Young (Pitchfork)
🔍 Notable Patterns, Surprises & Snubs
🎤 Surprise & Breakthrough Moments
- Leon Thomas earned nominations for both Best New Artist and Album of the Year – a rare cross-category feat. (Billboard Canada)
- K-pop made history, with ROSÉ & Bruno Mars’ “APT.” and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” both recognized in major categories. (The Times of India)
- Katseye, a rising girl-group, landed high-profile nominations, signaling a pop-group resurgence. (Reddit)
🚫 Big Names Missing
Some heavy-hitters were snubbed or missed eligibility due to release timing, leaving room for new talent to shine. (Reuters)
Additionally, the split of country categories and new visual design award show the Recording Academy’s effort to evolve with modern music culture. (Pitchfork)
💬 What This Means for 2026
The 2026 GRAMMY nominations mark a turning point: global collaborations, genre-blending projects, and first-time nominees dominate. Expect a more unpredictable and inclusive GRAMMY season than ever before.
🕒 When & Where to Watch the 2026 GRAMMYs
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Broadcast: Live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+
- Red Carpet Coverage: Expected on E! and the official GRAMMY.com stream
Music fans can tune in live or follow along on social media for real-time updates and red-carpet highlights.
🎶
The 2026 GRAMMY nominations showcase one of the most exciting and globally diverse fields in recent years. From Kendrick Lamar’s commanding presence to Sabrina Carpenter’s breakout success and K-pop’s historic inclusion, this year’s lineup reflects the evolving pulse of modern music.
Bookmark this page to stay updated as we move toward Music’s Biggest Night on February 1, 2026 – and check back for live coverage, predictions, and full winner announcements once the results are in.
❄️ Thank You for Reading
Thank you for reading our full guide to the 2026 GRAMMY nominations. We appreciate your love for music and your support of our blog. As the snow season begins, we wish you warmth, joy, and plenty of great tunes to carry you through the winter.
Happy Snow Season! 🌨️🎶 – bcaur.com