2026 Grammy Nominations: Complete Guide, Top Nominees & Everything You Need to Know
The music world is buzzing with excitement as the 2026 Grammy nominations have officially been announced! The 68th Annual Grammy Awards promise to be one of the most competitive ceremonies in recent history, with incredible talent across all 95 categories. Let's dive deep into everything you need to know about the Grammy nominations 2026.
When Are the 2026 Grammy Awards?
Mark your calendars! The 68th Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+, bringing Music's Biggest Night to audiences worldwide.
2026 Grammy Nominations Announcement
The nominees across all 95 Grammy categories were announced on Friday, November 7, 2025, from Los Angeles by past Grammy winners including Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, and other music stars. The announcement livestream was watched by millions of fans eager to see their favorite artists recognized.
Who Has the Most Grammy Nominations in 2026?
Kendrick Lamar Leads the Pack
Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with an impressive nine nominations, continuing his remarkable Grammy journey. After dominating the 2025 ceremony with wins for "Not Like Us," Lamar returns stronger than ever with nods in the biggest categories for his album "GNX" and his collaboration with SZA, "Luther."
This brings Lamar's career Grammy nomination total to 66, with 22 wins already under his belt. His nominations span across:
- Album of the Year (GNX)
- Record of the Year ("Luther" with SZA)
- Song of the Year ("Luther" with SZA)
- Multiple rap and hip-hop categories
Lady Gaga's Triumphant Return
Lady Gaga follows with seven nominations, marking one of her strongest Grammy showings yet. Her album "Mayhem" and hit single "Abracadabra" earned her nominations in the three major categories:
- Album of the Year
- Record of the Year
- Song of the Year
This brings Lady Gaga's career total to 45 Grammy nominations with 14 wins, and she's hungry for more major awards.
Other Top Nominees
Following the leaders are producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff with seven nominations each, while Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, and Serban Ghenea each secured six nominations.
Album of the Year Nominees 2026
The Album of the Year category showcases incredible diversity:
- DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
- Swag – Justin Bieber
- Man's Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
- Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
- Mayhem – Lady Gaga
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Mutt – Leon Thomas
- Chromakopia – Tyler, the Creator
If Kendrick Lamar wins Album of the Year, GNX would become the first rap album to win the prestigious award since Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003.
Record of the Year Nominees
- "DtMF" – Bad Bunny
- "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter
- "Anxiety" – Doechii
- "Wildflower" – Billie Eilish
- "Abracadabra" – Lady Gaga
- "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar with SZA
- "The Subway" – Chappell Roan
- "APT." – Rosé & Bruno Mars
Song of the Year Nominees
- "Abracadabra" – Lady Gaga (songwriters: Henry Walter, Lady Gaga & Andrew Watt)
- "Anxiety" – Doechii (songwriter: Jaylah Hickmon)
- "APT." – Rosé & Bruno Mars (songwriters: Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter)
- "DtMF" – Bad Bunny (songwriters: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Roberto José Rosado Torres, Marco Daniel Borrero, Hugo René Sención Sanabria & Tyler Thomas Spry)
- "Golden [From 'KPop Demon Hunters']" – HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI (songwriters: EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick)
- "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar With SZA (songwriters: Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Ink, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Anthony Spears, Solána Rowe & Kamasi Washington)
- "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter (songwriters: Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter)
- "Wildflower" – Billie Eilish (songwriters: Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell)
Best New Artist Nominees 2026
The Best New Artist category includes:
- Olivia Dean
- Katseye
- The Marias
- Addison Rae
- Sombr
- Leon Thomas
- Alex Warren
- Lola Young
Notable surprises include TikTok sensation Addison Rae earning a Best New Artist nomination, completing her journey from social media star to bonafide Grammy nominee.
New Grammy Categories for 2026
The 2026 Grammys introduce two exciting new categories:
- Best Album Cover – recognizing visual artistry in music
- Best Traditional Country Album – complementing the renamed Best Contemporary Country Album
The Best Album Cover nominees include Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia," Djo's "The Crux," Bad Bunny's "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS," Perfume Genius' "Glory," and Wet Leg's "Moisturizer".
Is Taylor Swift Eligible for the 2026 Grammys?
A burning question on many fans' minds! Taylor Swift's album "The Life of a Showgirl" was released in October, which did not fall within the eligibility window for the 2026 Grammys. She will be eligible for the 2027 awards show instead.
The eligibility period for the 2026 Grammys covered releases from a specific timeframe, and Swift's latest work fell just outside that window.
Grammy Voting Timeline 2026
Understanding the Grammy voting process:
- First Round Voting: October 3-15, 2025 (determined nominees)
- Nominations Announcement: November 7, 2025
- Final Round Voting: December 12, 2025 – January 5, 2026 (determines winners)
- Grammy Awards Ceremony: February 1, 2026
The Grammy voting process is peer-reviewed, with Recording Academy Voting Members determining both nominees and winners based on artistic and technical merit.
Notable Surprises and Snubs
Surprises:
- Leon Thomas emerging as a breakout nominee with six nominations, including Best New Artist
- Justin Bieber's return to Album of the Year category with "Swag"
- Addison Rae's Best New Artist nomination
- The fictional K-pop group from Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" earning a Song of the Year nomination for "Golden"
Notable Absences:
Many of 2025's biggest artists received limited recognition or were left out entirely, creating room for fresh voices and unexpected nominees to shine.
Pop Categories Highlights
The pop categories feature fierce competition:
Best Pop Vocal Album:
- Swag – Justin Bieber
- Man's Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
- Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus
- Mayhem – Lady Gaga
- I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims
Best Pop Solo Performance:
- "Daisies" – Justin Bieber
- "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter
- "Disease" – Lady Gaga
- "The Subway" – Chappell Roan
- "Messy" – Lola Young
Latin Music Representation
Bad Bunny's six nominations represent strong Latin music presence in the major categories, avoiding the historical pattern of Latin artists being relegated primarily to Latin Grammy categories. His album "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" competes for Album of the Year, while "DtMF" is up for both Record and Song of the Year.
Rock, Metal & Alternative Nominees
The 2026 Grammys feature nominees across six rock, metal, and alternative music categories, continuing to recognize diverse sounds within these genres.
Electronic & Dance Nominees
Notable electronic nominations include:
- Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Disclosure & Anderson .Paak's "No Cap," Kaytranada's "Space Invader," Skrillex's "Voltage," Tame Impala's "End of Summer," and Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax's "Victory Lap"
What Makes the 2026 Grammys Special?
With Recording Academy favorites like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé out of the running, this year's race feels refreshingly unpredictable and free of foregone conclusions. This opens the door for new winners and historic moments.
The Recording Academy welcomed almost 3,800 new music creators and professionals as part of its 2025 New Member Class. For the first time ever, invitations were extended to all Latin Recording Academy Voting Members, helping to build a more globally representative voting body.
How to Watch the 2026 Grammy Nominations Results
The complete list of all 95 categories is available on Grammy.com. Fans can stay updated through:
- Official Grammy website
- Recording Academy YouTube channel
- Social media platforms
- Music streaming services with Grammy playlists
Grammy 2026 Winner Predictions
While it's difficult to predict with certainty, here are some strong contenders:
Album of the Year: Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" appears to be a frontrunner, though Lady Gaga's "Mayhem" and Bad Bunny's work could create upsets.
Record of the Year: The battle between Kendrick Lamar's "Luther," Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra," and Rosé & Bruno Mars' viral hit "APT." will be intense.
Best New Artist: Leon Thomas has momentum with his six nominations, but competition remains fierce.
The Big Picture
The 2026 Grammy nominations showcase:
- Diversity: Latin, hip-hop, pop, rock, electronic, and country all strongly represented
- Fresh voices: New artists breaking through alongside established legends
- Genre-blending: Artists crossing traditional category boundaries
- Global reach: International artists competing in major categories
- Innovation: New categories recognizing evolving aspects of music creation
Final Thoughts
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards promise to deliver unforgettable moments, historic wins, and recognition for the incredible music released over the past year. Whether you're rooting for Kendrick Lamar's continued dominance, Lady Gaga's major award breakthrough, or breakthrough moments for newcomers, February 1, 2026, will be a night to remember.
Stay tuned to ToolzMallu for continued coverage, winner predictions, and all the latest Grammy news as we approach Music's Biggest Night!
Key Takeaways
- 68th Grammy Awards date: February 1, 2026
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Broadcast: CBS and Paramount+
- Total categories: 95
- Top nominee: Kendrick Lamar (9 nominations)
- Voting period: December 12, 2025 – January 5, 2026
The 2026 Grammy nominations set the stage for one of the most exciting and unpredictable Grammy ceremonies in years. Which artists will take home the golden gramophones? We'll find out on February 1st!
For more entertainment news, music updates, and Grammy coverage, visit ToolzMallu
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