The 2026 Grammy nominations across music’s biggest categories have landed with a bang
- Nov 7, 2025
- 3 min read
07 November 2025
This year’s nominations, unveiled by the 68th Annual Grammy Awards and covered in detail by the article published by People, offer up a thrilling snapshot of both established stars and rising talents across genres. Among the heavy hitters, Kendrick Lamar dominates with nine nominations, including coveted slots for Album of the Year with GNX, Record of the Year for “luther” (with SZA), Song of the Year and more. Following closely is Lady Gaga, nominated seven times most notably for her album MAYHEM while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and others pick up six nominations each.
In the General Field categories, the competition is fierce. For Record of the Year the nominees range from Bad Bunny’s “DtMF” to Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” Doechii’s “Anxiety,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” and more. Album of the Year underscores this breadth of musical ambition, with nominees including Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Justin Bieber’s SWAG, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Leon Thomas’s MUTT and Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA. The Best New Artist category introduces cultured newcomers such as Olivia Dean, Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young.
Notably, the article highlights some broader shifts within the awards themselves. The nominations reflect a move toward more genre-fluid recognition, embracing everything from Latin and global music to rap, pop, and more experimental sounds. The article points out that some marquee releases like Taylor Swift’s latest album missed the window for eligibility (Aug 31 2024–Aug 30 2025), which accounts for some surprising absences. Another key detail: these nominations follow changes implemented by the Recording Academy, including new categories and eligibility shifts intended to broaden the pool of recognized artists.
From a cultural vantage point this nominations list feels reflective of the moment. Kendrick Lamar’s dominance underscores hip-hop’s continued evolution and potency. Lady Gaga’s nomination haul signals that her reinvention continues to resonate. Bad Bunny’s multiple nominations show how Latin and global artists are no longer just niche categories—they’re central contenders. Meanwhile the Best New Artist lineup hints at the future of pop and culture, with creators rising from diverse backgrounds and platforms.
At the same time the article suggests that the Grammys are willing to lean into the unexpected. The inclusion of artists like Leon Thomas and The Marías alongside mainstream powerhouses points to a deliberate effort to reshape what mainstream recognition looks like. The presence of categories such as Best Album Cover, added for the first time this year, reinforces that the visual and aesthetic aspects of music are being elevated.
For fans and industry watchers the takeaway is clear: the upcoming Grammy ceremony (scheduled for February 1 2026 in Los Angeles) promises to be less about predictable winners and more about cultural statements. The nominations themselves tell a story of legacy artists still commanding attention, of new voices bursting into the limelight, of genre boundaries continuing to blur, and of powerhouses and under-the-radar acts vying side by side for acclaim.
In sum this nominations roundup doesn’t just list who’s in contention it reveals where music is right now. There are stars burning bright, new voices emerging, and the awards machinery itself evolving to keep pace. For the music industry and its audience the message is simple: expect the unexpected, value the boundary-pushing, and watch how these nominations translate into wins and influence.
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