The 2026 Grammy nominations represent a recognition of a new crop of stars, and their dedicated hard work.
Congratulations are in order for Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. Martínez Ocasio is the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for Best Album, Song and Record of the Year in a single year. This is a landmark achievement that crowns his year of success. To have the album reach a historic milestone for a Latinx artist amidst Latinx communities being targeted by ICE raids, is a reminder of Latinidad’s importance to culture and our society. Further, the nomination brings attention to one of the album’s goals: the cultural loss and disconnection faced by having to immigrate.
After taking over the summer and burrowing into a special place in our hearts, the movie KPop Demon Hunters received several nominations — Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Remixed Recording categories. This moment isn’t only reflective of the movie’s success but is an important moment for Ejae, who starred in the movie.
Originally, Ejae was a trainee at a K-pop company called SM Entertainment, but never debuted; the company eventually dropped her. After attending New York University, she joined SM as a songwriter, penning the company’s biggest hits. Now she is considerably one of SM Entertainment’s biggest stars after initially being dropped as a performer. It’s a touching story of how being rejected isn’t necessarily the end, but a diversion to something greater.
Another film that gained recognition at the Grammys was “Sinners.” The blockbuster success received five nominations, making it one of the most nominated films. A film that explores the exploitation of Black musicians gaining the Recording Academy’s recognition brings more focus to how Black musicians haven’t been given ownership to their work despite being the leading innovators of the industry.
Further, after a year of returning to its foundations, hip-hop is resurrecting its cultural dominance at the Grammys. In recent years, the genre’s slowed chart dominance became a catalyst for writing off the genre. Continued attention on the genre’s fall from the Billboard Hot 100’s top-40 spot furthered the assumption that it was on a decline.
However, the nominations for the 2026 Grammy tell a different story. For the first time in Grammy history, three albums nominated in the Best Rap Album category are also nominated in the Album of the Year category. They are “Let God Sort Em Out” by Clipse, “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar and “CHROMOKOPIA” by Tyler, the Creator. Hip-hop is not simply a product; it is a force that defines culture, society and politics, which this historic milestone represents.
Interestingly, all three of these artists also engaged in each other’s work. Both Lamar and Tyler, the Creator were both featured on “Let God Sort Em Out.” Clipse made an appearance in Tyler, the Creator’s music video for “Stop Playing with Me” from his album “Don’t Tap the Glass.”
Lamar also became the first artist to have five consecutive albums be nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys. “GNX,” alongside “Let God Sort Em Out,” are a turn to hip-hop’s roots in terms of production and rap flow. This is possibly an outcome of Lamar’s argument against the rise of hip-hop rooted in Drake’s aesthetics that are devoid of history, culture and tradition. This direction back to traditionalism and focus on raw talent rather than spectacle indicates a possible new era for the genre in the second half of the 2020s.
We are also entering a period where we are seeing a new crop of representation for musicians who have been industry staples, but in the background. After being featured as a writer and producer on Justin Bieber’s “SWAG” and “SWAG II,” Dijon Duenas, better known as Dijon, received his first round of Grammy nominations. He’s been nominated for Album of the Year as a collaborator on “SWAG,” and for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) — both categories in the big six. Originally part of the R&B group Abhi/Dijon, he went solo and became a collaborator for a non-defunct Brockhampton, and at one point, Charli XCX.
Alongside releasing his sophomore album “Baby” this year, Dijon also celebrated the fourth anniversary of “Absolutely.” The latter’s short film would increase his profile amongst indie and alternative musicians, landing a spot as an opener for Bon Iver in 2023. His continued production work, such as Mk.gee’s “Two Star & the Dream Police,” eventually got him noticed leading to this monumental moment in his career.
A familiar face most of us grew up with on Nickelodeon, Leon Thomas III is getting recognition as a solo artist. Thomas has already won a Grammy as a writer on SZA’s “Snooze,” and was previously nominated as a songwriter for “Gold Roses” by Rick Ross, featuring Drake. However, his sophomore album “MUTT” launched him into the spotlight. Originating in R&B circles, Dijon gained more attention after being featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk in February 2025. By November, the album’s single “Mutt,” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Thomas has six nominations for the 2026 Grammys, including the coveted Best New Artist and Album of the Year.
The 2026 Grammy nominations eligibility year covers Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2025. Usually, the eligibility year for an upcoming Grammys show spans from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30; this is the second time in a row that the Recording Academy has deviated from the longstanding 30-year Grammy eligibility year.
Any music released after Aug. 30 of this year will be considered for the 2027 Grammys. Deadlines for eligibility marks one of the three major structural changes to next year’s Grammys, the other two being the addition of the Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Music Album categories. The latter replaces the singular Best Country Music Album category, which will now be split into two different categories — Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Traditional Country Album.
The change has been interpreted to be in response to Beyoncé becoming the first Black woman to win Best Country Music Album at the 2025 Grammys. This change continues the conversation about who gets to participate in certain music genres and the policing of how musicians choose to interpret genre in their work.
The 2026 Grammy nominations seem to reflect the highlight reel of late 2024 to summer 2025, but somehow may still feel lackluster in comparison to the 2025 Grammys. It seems that the hangover of 2024’s peak in music for the 2020s seems to still be lingering. However, despite this shift, breakout stars are still getting their recognition for their years of dedication.
List of Big Four Nominees
Album of the Year
“DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny
“SWAG” by Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter
“Let God Sort Em Out” by Clipse
“MAYHEM” by Lady Gaga
“GNX” by Kendrick Lamar
“MUTT” by Leon Thomas III
“CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator
Record of the Year
“DtMF” by Bad Bunny
“Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” by Doechii
“WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga
“Luther” by Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA
“The Subway” by Chappell Roan
“APT.” by ROSE and Bruno Mars
Song of the Year (awarded to the songwriter)
“Abracadabra” (Henry Walter, Lady Gaga & Andrew Watt)
“Anxiety” (Jaylah Hickmon)
“APT.” (Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Henry Walter, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park & Theron Thomas)
“DtMF” (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Roberto José Rosado Torres, Marco Daniel Borrero, Hugo René Sención Sanabria & Tyler Thomas Spry)
“Golden” (EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick)
“luther” (Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Ink, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Anthony Spears, Solána Rowe & Kamasi Washington)
“Manchild” (Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter)
“WILDFLOWER” (Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell)
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas III
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Suzanne Bagia can be reached at [email protected].