Get ready for a night of musical magic and controversy as the Grammy Awards 2026 unfold!
The Battle for Album of the Year
In a thrilling three-way race, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga are the frontrunners for the night's biggest prize. With no previous wins, despite multiple nominations, the stage is set for an exciting outcome. Gaga, a Grammy favorite, returns with her seventh album, 'Mayhem,' a maximalist pop masterpiece that showcases her enduring talent. Lamar, with five consecutive album of the year nominations, presents his crowd-pleasing 'GNX.' But it's Bad Bunny who leads the pack with his musically diverse 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' a fusion of live instrumentation and Latin rhythms. Will this be the first win for a Spanish-language album? Or will the Grammys surprise us with an unexpected choice?
Justice for Milli Vanilli?
Thirty-six years after being stripped of their Grammy for miming, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli is back with a memoir. His audiobook nomination for 'You Know It's True' could be a moment of redemption, offering a raw glimpse into the world of fame and its consequences.
The Rising Stars: Olivia Dean and Beyond
British sensation Olivia Dean is a strong contender for best new artist with her joyful pop anthems. Her album, 'The Art of Loving,' released just in time to capture voters' attention, faces tough competition from fellow Brit Lola Young and R&B artist Leon Thomas. The diverse pack also includes Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Sombr, and The Marías. All eight nominees will perform during a special segment, showcasing the next generation of musical talent.
Record of the Year: A Fierce Battle
The record of the year category sees Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan go head-to-head with Rosé and Bruno Mars' 'APT,' a massive crossover hit. Kendrick and SZA's 'Luther' provides stiff competition, having topped the charts for 13 weeks. If 'APT' wins, it will break records, making Rosé the first K-pop artist to win a Grammy and Mars the only artist with four record of the year wins. The song of the year award, recognizing songwriters, has a similar shortlist, with Golden from 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' joining the mix. Here, Carpenter's 'Manchild' could shine, appealing to a broad range of voters.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The Grammy stage will be a who's who of musical talent, including Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse & Pharrell Williams, Olivia Dean, Katseye, Lady Gaga, Lauryn Hill (paying tribute to D'Angelo & Roberta Flack), Reba McIntyre, The Marías, Bruno Mars, Post Malone, Slash, Chad Smith (tribute to Ozzy Osbourne), Addison Rae, Rosé, Sombr, Tyler, The Creator, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. Unfortunately, Bad Bunny won't be performing due to his Super Bowl halftime show commitment.
K-Pop's Grammy Moment?
Could this be the year K-pop finally takes home a Grammy? Rosé, a member of Blackpink, is nominated for three awards for her duet with Bruno Mars, 'APT.' Katseye, a global girl group trained in the K-pop system, is also up for best group and best pop group performance. While they may not win, their presence reflects K-pop's growing cultural and commercial influence. Audrey Nuna, part of the fictional group Huntr/x, emphasizes the impact of seeing Korean faces on the Grammy stage.
Other Notable Nominees and Surprises
Barbra Streisand aims to correct a historic wrong with her duets album, 'The Secret of Life,' nominated for best traditional pop album. Haim could make history as the first all-female band to win best rock album. The Dalai Lama's 'Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama' is nominated for best audiobook, a first for a Dalai Lama. And eight-year-old Aura V could become the youngest-ever Grammy winner with her children's album, 'Harmony.'
Politics on the Grammy Stage
With Bruce Springsteen releasing a politically charged song and Billie Eilish calling for musicians to speak up about ICE, politics is expected to make an appearance. Bad Bunny has already voiced his opinion on ICE agents. Grammy boss Harvey Mason Jr. confirms that emotions will be high, with artists expressing their feelings through music and performance.
Who Votes and How?
This year, around 15,000 people, including musicians, producers, lyricists, and even album liner note writers, are eligible to vote. To qualify, they must work in the music industry and pay an annual subscription to the Recording Academy. All former winners can also vote. Members vote in up to 10 categories across three fields, encouraged to stick to their areas of expertise. Everyone gets to vote for the six biggest awards: album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best new artist, songwriter of the year, and producer of the year.
How to Watch in the UK
The ceremony is split into two parts. The premiere ceremony, where the first 80 awards are distributed, starts at 20:30 in London on Sunday. This is often a more intimate and exciting part of the show, with less polished but more passionate winners and performances. The red carpet coverage begins at 23:00 in the UK, and the main show starts at 01:00 on Monday. While there's no official UK broadcast, clips and full speeches appear on social media quickly, and select performances are uploaded to YouTube the following day.
