The 2026 Grammy Awards take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, marking the 67th edition of what is often called music’s biggest night. The ceremony will feature major stars, surprise performances, and awards across nearly every music genre.
Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with nine nods, mainly for his album GNX. He was also the biggest winner last year. Other top contenders include Lady Gaga with seven nominations, and Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas, who each received six.
The most watched prize of the night is Album of the Year. Many insiders see a close race between Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga. None of them has won this award before. A win for Bad Bunny would be historic, as it would mark the first time a Spanish-language album takes the top prize.
In the Best New Artist category, British singer Olivia Dean is a strong favourite after a successful year. She faces competition from Lola Young, Leon Thomas, and several rising pop and indie acts. All eight nominees will perform during the show.
For Record of the Year, the leading songs include Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” and Rosé and Bruno Mars’s “APT.” If “APT.” wins, Rosé would become the first K-pop artist to win a Grammy, while Bruno Mars would set a new record with four wins in the category.
The show will feature performances from Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Post Malone, Rosé, Lauryn Hill, and many others. Taylor Swift will not be performing, as her latest album was released after the eligibility period.
Politics may also feature during the ceremony. Several nominated artists, including Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny, have spoken out on current US issues. Grammy organisers say music often reflects what is happening in the world.
Around 15,000 music industry professionals vote for the Grammy winners. The awards cover music released between 31 August 2024 and 30 August 2025, with more than 20,000 recordings submitted this year.
In the UK, the Grammy premiere ceremony begins at 8:30pm on Sunday, followed by the main show at 1:00am on Monday. While there is no official UK broadcast, clips and performances usually appear online soon after.
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