2026 Grammy Nominations Are Almost Here – What to Expect

Fixya November 07, 2025
2026 Grammy Nominations Are Almost Here – What to Expect

2026 Grammy Nominations Are Almost Here – What to Expect

The excitement is building as the 2026 Grammy Award nominations are about to be announced, and this year, the competition promises to be fierce. Fans and industry insiders alike will be tuning in on Friday for a livestream on the Grammy website and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel. The announcement will take place at 8 a.m. Pacific and 11 a.m. Eastern, and a star-studded lineup of hosts will be presenting the nominees. Among them are Gayle King, Doechii, Karol G, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, Nicole Scherzinger, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, Angélique Kidjo, Brandi Carlile, CeCe Winans, David Foster, Jon Batiste, Little Big Town, Masaki Koike, and last year’s best new artist winner, Chappell Roan.

Only recordings released commercially in the U.S. between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025, are eligible, which means some big names like Taylor Swift won’t appear this year. However, Sabrina Carpenter’s album “Man’s Best Friend,” released just before the cutoff, is expected to be among the nominees. This album has already sparked buzz due to its striking cover art, which features Carpenter in a provocative, dog-like pose, igniting discussions online. Interestingly, a new standalone category for Best Album Cover has been introduced, making this a category to watch.

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Several other heavy hitters could make a splash this year. Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX,” Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem,” and Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” are all potential contenders for major awards, possibly even Album of the Year. The country music categories have also seen a notable change: following Beyoncé’s historic win in both Best Album and Best Country Album in 2025, the Best Country Album category has been split into Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album.

This year’s nominations will also reflect the Recording Academy’s ongoing efforts to diversify its voting body. More than 3,800 new music creators and professionals recently joined the Academy, with a significant portion being under 40, people of color, and women. For the first time, Latin Recording Academy voting members were also invited, which could influence the shape of this year’s nominations.

Fans should also keep an eye on trending performers like Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress, Ravyn Lenae, and Megan Moroney, who are strong contenders for Best New Artist. Bad Bunny, who will headline the next Super Bowl halftime show, could see his numerous Latin Grammy nominations translate into Grammy wins, while Kendrick Lamar may be recognized once again for his hit collaboration with SZA. A surprise could even come from the world of K-pop, as HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” featured in the Netflix series “KPop Demon Hunters,” might make history as the first fictional band nominated for Record of the Year.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on February 1, 2026, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Until then, all eyes will be on the nominations, which are expected to reflect both the changing face of the music industry and the sheer talent of this year’s eligible artists.

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