The Recording Academy has unveiled the full list of nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, and the 2026 lineup signals a dramatic reshaping of the global music map.
With genres blending, international acts rising, and streaming-born stars sharing space with industry icons, this year’s nominations reflect one of the most diverse and unpredictable fields in recent memory.
Kendrick Lamar Sets the Pace
Rap titan Kendrick Lamar tops the nominations with nine nods, including Album of the Year for GNX. His dominance reaffirms his standing as one of the most influential artists of the decade, carving a lane where sharp lyricism meets genre-stretching experimentation.
A Competitive Field of Heavyweights
Pop powerhouse Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations, tying with hitmaking producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut, who continue to shape the sound of modern pop.
In a groundbreaking moment, Bad Bunny becomes the first Spanish-language artist to earn nominations across all Big Four categories—Album, Record, Song, and Best New Artist—signaling the Recording Academy’s growing recognition of Latin music’s global dominance.
The Best New Artist category paints a vivid picture of the streaming era’s impact, with nominees ranging from social-media-born personalities like Addison Rae, to established creatives such as Leon Thomas, emerging bands like The Marías, and soulful rising stars like Olivia Dean.
Genres Collide in Record of the Year
This year’s Record of the Year lineup reads like a world tour of modern music, featuring:
Bad Bunny’s infectious “DtMF”
Lady Gaga’s theatrical “Abracadabra”
Sabrina Carpenter’s pop brilliance on “Manchild”
Doechii’s genre-merging “Anxiety”
Billie Eilish’s atmospheric “WILDFLOWER”
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s emotional “luther”
Chappell Roan’s “The Subway”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars with the global hit “APT.”
New Categories Reflect Industry Evolution
For the first time, the Grammys introduce Best Album Cover, acknowledging the renewed importance of visual identity in the digital age. Meanwhile, the traditional Best Country Album category has been redefined as Best Contemporary Country Album to better reflect the genre’s modern direction.
A Broader Global Imprint
This year’s nominations highlight the Grammys’ expanding global lens. K-pop acts, Latin artists, and cross-genre collaborations have become staples in major categories, underscoring the Academy’s shift toward international representation.
Notably absent from some categories are artists like Taylor Swift, whose latest project fell outside the eligibility window—proof that timing still matters in Grammy politics.
Key Battles to Watch
Album of the Year contenders span hip-hop, Latin trap, pop, and alternative:
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), and CHROMAKOPIA (Tyler, The Creator).
Best New Artist will be a close contest featuring Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.
A New Era for the Grammys
The 2026 nominations make one thing clear: the globalisation of music is no longer emerging—it is here. From Latin trap to K-pop, experimental rap to genre-fluid pop, the Grammys are now reflecting a world where music crosses borders faster than ever.
The awards ceremony, set for February 1, 2026, promises to be one of the most competitive and culturally diverse in Grammy history.
