The 2026 Grammy Awards are shaping up to showcase intense competition among some of the most influential musical talents. Kendrick Lamar tops this year’s nominations with nine nods, closely followed by Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Canadian producer-songwriter Cirkut, each boasting seven nominations. Additional artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Serban Ghenea received six nominations apiece, highlighting the diverse range of contenders vying for prestigious honors.
Album of the Year
The contenders for Album of the Year include "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" by Bad Bunny; "Swag" from Justin Bieber; Sabrina Carpenter's "Man’s Best Friend"; the collaboration "Let God Sort Em Out" by Clipse, Pusha T, and Malice; Lady Gaga's "Mayhem"; Kendrick Lamar's "GNX"; Leon Thomas’ "Mutt"; and Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia."
Maria Sherman observes that while Lady Gaga's "Mayhem" is a commendable album, her anticipated victory may hinge more on her artistic narrative and impact rather than the album's comparative merits. She emphasizes Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" as a deserving contender, noting its historical significance as possibly the first Spanish-language album to win, supported by Bad Bunny's status as the most-streamed global artist on Spotify last year. Sherman also highlights Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" as worthy of the award but suggests that after his dominance in the previous year’s ceremony, voters’ recognition may be less forthcoming this time.
Jonathan Landrum Jr. appreciates the global representation among nominees and underscores that "GNX" exhibits a cross-cultural presence beyond just music charts, permeating sports and everyday culture. He cites tracks such as "luther," "Squabble Up," and "TV Off," which became part of everyday vernacular and sports celebrations. Landrum posits that Lamar's sustained engagement and cultural penetration may give "GNX" an advantage over its competitors.
Record of the Year
Nominated recordings include Bad Bunny’s "DtMF"; Sabrina Carpenter’s "Manchild"; Doechii’s "Anxiety"; Billie Eilish’s "Wildflower"; Lady Gaga’s "Abracadabra"; Kendrick Lamar with SZA on "luther"; Chappell Roan’s "The Subway"; and the collaboration between Rosé and Bruno Mars titled "APT."
Landrum asserts that "APT." stands out for its widespread accessibility and enduring popularity, attributing its crossover appeal to Bruno Mars’ production expertise and Rosé’s presence, which signifies the Recording Academy’s growing acceptance of global pop influences. He forecasts that a victory for "APT." would mark a historic first for a K-pop artist winning Record of the Year.
Sherman concurs on the song's ubiquity but suggests that from an award focus on performance and production, Lamar and SZA's "luther" might be a more fitting winner.
Song of the Year
The Song of the Year nominees include "Abracadabra" by Henry Walter, Lady Gaga, and Andrew Watt; "Anxiety" by Jaylah Hickmon; "APT." featuring a range of songwriters including Amy Allen and Bruno Mars; "DtMF" by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and others; "Golden" by EJAI and Mark Sonnenblick; "luther" featuring Jack Antonoff and Kendrick Lamar; "Manchild" by Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff; and "Wildflower" from Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell.
Sherman notes the strong competition and suggests that Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" might secure a win in this category, particularly since she has yet to claim a victory here despite four nominations. Sherman argues that "Abracadabra" might feel more deserved in this songwriting-focused category versus Album of the Year.
Landrum agrees, emphasizing the song’s precise and intentional lyricism and melodic construction that reflect Lady Gaga’s focused songwriting approach.
Best New Artist
The nominees include Olivia Dean, Katseye, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.
Landrum remarks that this category increasingly rewards those presenting a strong, cohesive identity from the outset, highlighting Leon Thomas for his songwriting discipline and genre versatility demonstrated on "Mutt," qualities that could resonate with voters looking toward long-term career potential.
Sherman acknowledges Thomas’s strengths but points out Olivia Dean as the most frequently mentioned new artist in discussions, noting that streaming success does not always translate directly to this award.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Nominees include "Defying Gravity" by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande; "Golden" by HUNTR/X featuring EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI; "Gabriela" by Katseye; "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars; and "30 for 30" by SZA with Kendrick Lamar.
Sherman identifies multiple K-pop or K-pop adjacent nominees, suggesting a potential breakthrough if any win, with "Golden" currently favored. She also notes that if the Lamar and SZA collaboration were "Luther" instead of "30 for 30," this would likely change the competitive dynamics.
Landrum sees the category as a close contest between "Golden" and "APT.", giving a slight edge to "APT." due to its balanced collaboration and strong presence of Bruno Mars, whose refined performances resonate well with voters.
Best Rap Album
Nominees: "Let God Sort Em Out" by Clipse, Pusha T, and Malice; "Glorious" by GloRilla; "God Does Like Ugly" by JID; "GNX" by Kendrick Lamar; and "Chromakopia" by Tyler, the Creator.
Landrum contends that if "GNX" merits Album of the Year, it should logically also receive Best Rap Album. He commends "GNX" for its cultural prominence and coherence without following algorithmic trends, representing rap at its pinnacle. Sherman concurs, describing "GNX" as a standard-setting work deserving of top honors.
Best Contemporary Country Album
The five nominees are Kelsea Ballerini's "Patterns," Tyler Childers’ "Snipe Hunter," Eric Church's "Evangeline vs the Machine," Jelly Roll's "Beautifully Broken," and Miranda Lambert's "Postcards from Texas."
Sherman details the newly introduced distinction in country categories into contemporary and traditional, noting that the contemporary label tends to encompass artists blending country with other genres or presenting non-traditional narratives. She suggests Eric Church’s country-rock style may appeal more to voters than the pop-oriented Ballerini or the genre-fluid Jelly Roll.
Landrum sides with Jelly Roll’s candidacy, emphasizing "Beautifully Broken" as a timely and redemptive work characterized by emotional honesty and genre fluidity, which may resonate with voters embracing broader interpretations of the category.
Best R&B Album
Nominated albums include "Beloved" by Giveon, "Why Not More?" by Coco Jones, "The Crown" by Ledisi, "Escape Room" by Teyana Taylor, and "Mutt" by Leon Thomas.
Landrum points to "Mutt" as a leading contender, emphasizing its songwriting and performance focus and restraint in production, traits that often attract Grammy recognition. Sherman agrees, referencing industry commentary on R&B’s anticipated resurgence with Leon Thomas positioned as an emerging leader in the genre.
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Nominees are FKA twigs’ "EUSEXUA," Fred again …’s "Ten Days," PinkPantheress’ "Fancy That," Rüfüs du Sol’s "Inhale/Exhale," and Skrillex’s "F--- U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but UR Not! 3."
Sherman remarks on Skrillex's strong standing given his previous Grammy successes. Landrum highlights Skrillex’s album for its forward sound exploration balanced with clear structure, qualities historically favored in this category.
Best Latin Pop Album
Nominees include Rauw Alejandro’s "Cosa Nuestra," Andrés Cepeda’s "Bogotá (Deluxe)," Karol G's "Tropicoqueta," Natalia Lafourcade’s "Cancionera," and Alejandro Sanz’s "¿Y ahora qué?."
Sherman suggests voters may lean toward traditional artists like Lafourcade or Sanz, reflecting patterns from previous Latin Grammys. Landrum acknowledges the case for tradition but highlights Karol G’s "Tropicoqueta" as a project representing forward movement by balancing accessibility with cultural specificity, which could stand out to voters embracing contemporary shifts.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on CBS with streaming available on Paramount+. For ongoing coverage and updates about this year's awards, interested audiences can visit the official Grammy Awards coverage hub.