A guide to the 2026 Grammy nominations

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On 7th November, the Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 68th Annual

Grammy Awards. The awards take place on 1st February 2026, leaving plenty of time to

speculate on who may win, and debate on whether any artists were unduly snubbed.

Leading the field is Kendrick Lamar (9 nominations), followed closely by Lady Gaga (7), Bad

Bunny (6), and Sabrina Carpenter (6); all four are competing in the Song, Record, and

Album of the Year categories.

It’s unsurprising that Lady Gaga’s ‘Abracadabra’ is up for three awards, with her album

Mayhem marking her most nominated project to date. Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Manchild’ also

features, following the success of her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend.

Bad Bunny’s latest album Debrí Tirar Más Fotos and its title track have already made

Grammy history, making him the first Spanish-Language artist to sweep the big three in the same year. Just last week he won five Latin Grammys, setting him up nicely for 1st February.

As expected, the fame of many nominees has stemmed from TikTok popularity, including

Hunter/x’s ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters, Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’, and Bruno Mars and

ROSÉ’s ‘APT’. This recognition affirms the undeniable pop culture impact they’ve had this

year.

It's only fitting that Chappell Roan’s ‘The Subway’, a highly anticipated release gaining

traction after its 2024 Governor's Ball debut, earned a spot in the Record of The Year

category too.Best New Artist is consistently the Grammy’s most scrutinised field. From The Marías, who have been releasing music since 2017, to Addison Rae and Sombr who have both only just released their debut albums, the nominees showcase an incredible range of vocal talent.

Olivia Dean is definitely a fan favourite this year. Her sophomore album The Art of Loving,

alongside the song ‘Man I Need’, both earned number one spots on the charts, making her

the first solo British female to claim UK number one spots for both a single and an album

simultaneously since Adele in 2021.

While I'm pleased with the Recording Academy's recognition this year, several artists were

unduly snubbed. Despite an easy Best New Artist nod, Alex Warren’s ‘Ordinary’ was absent

from major categories, even though its 12 consecutive weeks at UK number one set the

record for a US artist in Official Singles Chart history.

Gracie Abrams’ ‘That’s So True’ was definitely worthy of a nomination, after amassing over 1

billion Spotify streams, as well as Lorde’s album Virgin and Tate Mcrae’s So Close to What,

featuring the single ‘Sports Car’.

Whether the Recording Academy leans towards viral popularity, established star power, or

history-making global impact, I’m intrigued to know which big names will be walking away

victorious on 1st February.

Edited by Gabriella Whiston