Stars turned the red carpet into a protest runway, making ICE Out the defining accessory of the 2026 Grammy Awards

5 February 2026

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber at the 68th GRAMMY Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert Flores

At the 2026 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, what might have been a standard night of music celebration became a striking visual and political moment as more and more artists used their red-carpet appearances to voice solidarity with immigrant communities and opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This year’s ceremony, held at Crypto.com Arena, saw key figures from across the music world from seasoned icons to rising stars wearing pins, badges and other sartorial symbols emblazoned with slogans like “ICE out” or wearing subtle protest accessories that called attention to broader political issues, transforming a fashion moment into a cultural statement observed around the world.

On the night that Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny won the prestigious Album of the Year award for his Spanish-language record Debí Tirar Más Fotos and Billie Eilish took home Song of the Year for Wildflower, the red carpet reflected a convergence of style, activism and identity. Artists including Justin and Hailey Bieber showed up wearing ICE out pins alongside their glamorous attire, signaling their alignment with fellow musicians and activists calling for the controversial federal immigration agency to be held accountable for its practices. Joni Mitchell, a Grammy winner in her own right, also sported the pins, blending protest with recognition of her long and storied career.

Billie Eilish notably echoed the protest message not just through what she wore but how she spoke. In her acceptance speech for Song of the Year, she declared, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” a phrase that captured both the frustration and hope felt by many in the audience and among activist circles. Her statement underscored that the protest symbols seen on the red carpet were not merely fashion statements but reflections of deeper cultural and political engagement.

The presence of these protest pins wasn’t confined to a handful of stars. Multiple artists including Kehlani, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Olivia Dean were seen wearing ICE out or similar pins, each adding their visual voice to the collective stance against the agency’s actions. The imagery became a recurring motif in media coverage of the event, signaling a broader willingness among music’s leading figures to speak out on contentious national issues.

The trend at the Grammys built on a broader pattern of celebrity involvement in political causes, where fashion choices become platforms for messaging. In previous award seasons, performers and guests have used pins and badges to highlight diverse issues such as international ceasefire calls, civil rights marches and now immigration policy, with each choice resonating with different audiences and prompting discussion both online and in traditional media.

Critics of this kind of activism on high-profile platforms argue that celebrities should stick to entertainment and avoid political controversy, but supporters see the integration of fashion and protest as a natural extension of artistic expression and public influence. For many at the Grammys, the red carpet was not just a space to display designers and couture but a moment to visually assert solidarity with immigrant communities and call attention to human rights concerns.

For Bad Bunny, who opened his acceptance speech with the words “ICE out,” the gesture was more than symbolic. His public stance against the agency has been consistent, he has previously cited concerns about federal immigration enforcement and its impact on fans and communities, even explaining that he avoided booking U.S. tour dates out of fear that immigration agents might disrupt shows. His Grammy moment fused music achievement with a powerful plea for compassion and dignity.

The visual impact of the protest on the red carpet was further amplified by social media, where images of the ICE out pins and other protest accessories quickly circulated, sparking conversation among fans and critics alike. For many viewers, the sight of internationally recognized artists taking a clear and visible stand lent momentum to ongoing debates about immigration policy in the United States and the role of public figures in shaping those conversations.

This blending of celebration and advocacy at the Grammys reflected a moment where culture and politics intersected visibly and unmistakably. The red carpet became more than a runway for fashion; it became a stage for collective expression. As artists continue to use their influence and visibility to spotlight issues that matter to them and their audiences, events like the Grammy Awards offer a unique cultural lens through which social debates are broadcast not just to industry insiders, but to a global audience.