The music industry is heading to Los Angeles this weekend for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The show kicks off this Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena. If you aren’t there in person, you can catch the whole thing live on CBS or stream it through Paramount+.
This year feels like a bit of a turning point for the awards. From a longtime host saying goodbye to brand new categories for country music and album art, there is a lot to keep track of. Here is the full breakdown of what to expect when the curtains go up this year at Grammys.
Trevor Noah returns for one last show
For the sixth year in a row, Trevor Noah is back on stage as our host. But this time it’s a bit bittersweet, the comedian has announced that 2026 will be his final year hosting the show. Since he started in 2021, Noah has become the ‘reliable’ face of the Grammys, known for making jokes that aren’t mean-spirited and keeping the energy high even during the long three-hour broadcast.
Along with hosting, he’s also an executive producer this year. Expect him to go all out for his final bow, likely with a few surprises up his sleeve before he officially hands over the mic to whoever takes over in 2027.
Who is performing?
The awards function is famous for its “Grammy Moments” – those weird or wonderful collaborations you don’t see anywhere else. This year, the lineup is a mix of massive pop stars and some heavy-hitting rap legends.
Sabrina Carpenter is probably the biggest name to watch. She’s had a massive year and is up for six awards, including Album of the Year for Man’s Best Friend. This will be her first time performing on the main Grammy stage. Justin Bieber is also returning to perform songs from his latest album, SWAG, which has put him back in the running for Best Pop Vocal Album.
In a move that has hip-hop fans excited, the duo Clipse is reuniting on stage with Pharrell Williams. They are performing tracks from their nominated album Let God Sort Em Out. Pharrell is also up for several awards himself, including Best Music Film for his Lego-animated biopic, Piece By Piece.
Spotlight on new artists
One of the coolest things happening this year is a dedicated segment for all eight Best New Artist nominees. Usually, only one or two get to perform, but this time, the Academy is letting everyone show what they can do.
You’ll see performances from Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías. It’s a fast-paced way to see the future of the industry all in one go.
The premiere ceremony and red carpet
Before the big TV show starts, there is the “Premiere Ceremony.” This is where the majority of the 94 awards are actually given out.
Darren Criss is hosting this afternoon session, which starts at 12:30 p.m. PT. You can watch this live on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel. It features performances from Spiritbox and Zara Larsson, and presenters like the legendary Jimmy Jam.
As for the fashion, the Red Carpet coverage starts at 3:00 p.m. PT. It’ll be hosted by Cassie DiLaura and Taylor Hale. You can find the stream on TikTok, Facebook, or the official Grammy website.
What’s different this year at Grammy’s 2026?
The Grammys are always changing their rules to try and stay relevant. This year, they’ve added two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.
They also changed the rules for Best New Artist. Now, if a singer was a ‘featured artist’ on a big album in the past, they aren’t automatically disqualified from being considered a “new” artist later. This is a big win for creators who spent years building their names on other people’s tracks before going solo.
When, where and how to watch Grammys 2026?
- When: Sunday, Feb. 1.
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.
- Channel: CBS.
- Streaming: Paramount+. (Note: You need the “Premium” plan to watch it live. If you have the “Essential” plan, you have to wait until Monday to watch the replay.)
It’s shaping up to be a historic night, especially for Kendrick Lamar, who leads the nominations, and Bad Bunny, who could win the first-ever Album of the Year for a Spanish-language record.