The music world has its eyes fixed on the 68th Annual Grammy Awards preparing to crown the definitive sounds of the past year on February 1. This year’s ceremony isn’t just a celebration of hits; it’s a moment where the record books are likely to be rewritten. With 95 categories in total, the nominations reflect an industry that is becoming more global, more diverse, and more willing to embrace experimental sounds.
Leading the charge is Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar, who walked into the night with a staggering nine nominations. Following his explosive momentum from 2025, Lamar’s album GNX has cemented his status as a critical favorite, making him the first artist ever to have five consecutive studio albums nominated for Album of the Year. Hot on his heels are Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter, both of whom have dominated the airwaves and the nomination ballots.
The battle for Album of the Year
The “General Field” categories, the big four that everyone watches, are particularly competitive this year. The battle for Album of the Year feels like a three-way tug-of-war between Lamar’s GNX, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM, and Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
If Bad Bunny takes home the top prize, he will make history as the first artist to win Album of the Year with a project recorded entirely in Spanish. He is already the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for the ‘Big Three’ (Album, Record, and Song of the Year) simultaneously. For Lady Gaga, a win would be a long-overdue ‘thank you’ from the Academy for MAYHEM, an album that fans and critics alike have called her most cohesive and raw work to date.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter has completed her transition from teen idol to pop royalty. Her album Man’s Best Friend and its lead single ‘Manchild’ have earned her six nods, proving that her blend of sharp wit and catchy hooks is exactly what the industry wants right now.
New faces and new categories
The Recording Academy has also introduced two new categories this year: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. These additions show a desire to honor both the roots of American music and the visual artists who bring albums to life in the digital age.
The Best New Artist category is especially stacked this year, featuring a mix of viral sensations and polished musicians. Names like Addison Rae and Alex Warren, who built their massive followings on social media, are competing against critically acclaimed acts like KATSEYE, The Marías, and the soulful Leon Thomas.
A night of tributes and performances
The ceremony, hosted for the sixth consecutive year by Trevor Noah, promises to be as much about the performances as the awards. The lineup includes a mix of current superstars and heartfelt tributes to those we’ve lost.
One of the most anticipated moments is a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, featuring a rock supergroup consisting of Post Malone, Slash, and Chad Smith. Additionally, the legendary Lauryn Hill is set to perform a special tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack, two pillars of soul music.
68th Annual Grammy Awards: Full list of nominees
Below is the list of the nominees who have shaped the soundtrack of 2026.
General Field
- Record Of The Year:
- DtMF — Bad Bunny
- Manchild — Sabrina Carpenter
- Anxiety — Doechii
- WILDFLOWER — Billie Eilish
- Abracadabra — Lady Gaga
- luther — Kendrick Lamar With SZA
- The Subway — Chappell Roan
- APT. — ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
- Album Of The Year:
- DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny
- SWAG — Justin Bieber
- Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
- Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
- MAYHEM — Lady Gaga
- GNX — Kendrick Lamar
- MUTT — Leon Thomas
- CHROMAKOPIA — Tyler, The Creator
- Song Of The Year:
- Abracadabra — Lady Gaga
- Anxiety — Doechii
- APT — ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
- DtMF — Bad Bunny
- Golden — HUNTR/X
- luther — Kendrick Lamar With SZA
- Manchild — Sabrina Carpenter
- WILDFLOWER — Billie Eilish
- Best New Artist:
- Olivia Dean
- KATSEYE
- The Marías
- Addison Rae
- sombr
- Leon Thomas
- Alex Warren
- Lola Young
Production & Songwriting
- Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
- Dan Auerbach
- Cirkut
- Dijon
- Blake Mills
- Sounwave
- Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical:
- Amy Allen
- Edgar Barrera
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Tobias Jesso Jr
- Laura Veltz
Pop & Dance
- Best Pop Solo Performance:
- DAISIES — Justin Bieber
- Manchild — Sabrina Carpenter
- Disease — Lady Gaga
- The Subway — Chappell Roan
- Messy — Lola Young
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
- Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
- Golden — HUNTR/X
- Gabriela — KATSEYE
- APT — ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
- 30 For 30 — SZA Featuring Kendrick Lamar
- Best Pop Vocal Album:
- SWAG — Justin Bieber
- Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
- Something Beautiful — Miley Cyrus
- MAYHEM — Lady Gaga
- I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy — Part 2 — Teddy Swims
- Best Dance/Electronic Album:
- EUSEXUA — FKA twigs
- Ten Days — Fred again..
- Fancy That — PinkPantheress
- Inhale / Exhale — RÜFÜS DU SOL
- F— U SKRILLEX… — Skrillex
Rock & Alternative
- Best Rock Performance:
- U Should Not Be Doing That — Amyl and The Sniffers
- The Emptiness Machine — Linkin Park
- NEVER ENOUGH — Turnstile
- Mirtazapine — Hayley Williams
- Changes (Live) — YUNGBLUD
- Best Rock Album:
- private music — Deftones
- I quit — HAIM
- From Zero — Linkin Park
- NEVER ENOUGH — Turnstile
- Idols — YUNGBLUD
- Best Alternative Music Album:
- SABLE, fABLE — Bon Iver
- Songs Of A Lost World — The Cure
- DON’T TAP THE GLASS — Tyler, The Creator
- moisturizer — Wet Leg
- Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party — Hayley Williams
R&B & Rap
- Best R&B Album:
- BELOVED — GIVĒON
- Why Not More — Coco Jones
- The Crown — Ledisi
- Escape Room — Teyana Taylor
- MUTT — Leon Thomas
- Best Rap Performance:
- Outside — Cardi B
- Chains & Whips — Clipse
- Anxiety — Doechii
- tv off — Kendrick Lamar
- Darling, I — Tyler, The Creator
- Best Rap Album:
- Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
- GLORIOUS — GloRilla
- God Does Like Ugly — JID
- GNX — Kendrick Lamar
- CHROMAKOPIA — Tyler, The Creator
Jazz & Traditional Pop
- Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
- Trilogy 3 (Live) — Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade
- Southern Nights — Sullivan Fortner
- Belonging — Branford Marsalis Quartet
- Spirit Fall — John Patitucci
- Fasten Up — Yellowjackets
- Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
- Wintersongs — Laila Biali
- The Gift Of Love — Jennifer Hudson
- Who Believes In Angels — Elton John & Brandi Carlile
- Harlequin — Lady Gaga
- A Matter Of Time — Laufey
- Partners, Volume 2 — Barbra Streisand
Whether it’s the K-pop influence of ROSÉ and KATSEYE, the Latin power of Bad Bunny, or the lyrical mastery of Kendrick Lamar, the stage is set for a historic celebration.
