The 2026 Grammy Nominations: A Fresh Line-Up for Music’s Biggest Night

Who’s Leading the Pack

One of the standout stories is the dominance of Kendrick Lamar, who leads the nominations with nine nods this year.

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Close behind is Lady Gaga with seven nominations.

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These numbers suggest strong respect from the votes of the Recording Academy for their recent work.

In the top categories, the Album of the Year nominations include:

GNX (Kendrick Lamar)

Mayhem (Lady Gaga)

Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Bad Bunny)

Swag (Justin Bieber)

Man’s Best Friend (Sabrina Carpenter)

Mutt (Leon Thomas)

Chromakopia (Tyler, the Creator)

Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse / Pusha T & Malice)

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For Record of the Year and Song of the Year, the list also features a strong hip-hop representation, showing how the genre continues to be central in award-land.

AP News

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New Categories & Structural Updates

This year brings structural change. Two new categories have been added: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.

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The new Best Album Cover category, in particular, recognizes the visual side of musical releases—design, illustration, photography, graphic art—an acknowledgement of how album-art remains culturally relevant even in the digital age.

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Additionally, the Online Entry Process for submissions opened on July 16, 2025, and closed August 29, 2025. The eligibility period for submissions runs from August 31 2024 to August 30 2025.

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Why It Matters

There are several reasons this nomination list stands out:

Diverse genres gaining recognition: From hip-hop major-category dominance to pop, country, and international artists being nominated, the list reflects a broad musical palette.

Major artists still relevant: With artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga at the top, the nominations confirm that established stars continue to shape the industry.

Visual/Creative components respected: The addition of Best Album Cover suggests that the recording industry acknowledges all aspects of a release—not just the audio.

Emerging talent spotlighted: New artist nominations and lesser-known names entering major categories show that the awards body is looking ahead, not just back.

What to Watch

Here are a few key items to keep an eye on as the awards approach:

Album of the Year competition: With a field that includes heavy hitters, it will be interesting to see which direction voters lean — classic artists, genre-pushing work, or commercial success.

Best New Artist: This category often signals who the industry sees as rising star material for the next few years.

Impact of new categories: Will Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album be seen as meaningful additions? How will they be received?

Voting dynamics: With more genres and categories in the mix, how will the votes distribute? Will there be major surprises?

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Grammy nominations reflect an industry in motion—honouring heritage artists and genre-trailblazers alike, adjusting categories to reflect changing creative practices, and remaining attentive to both sound and visual artistry. Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop, pop, country or beyond, the nominations suggest there’s something in this list for everyone.

As we move toward February 1, 2026, the excitement builds—not just for who will win, but for what the nominations themselves say about the direction of music today.