Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga dominate while Bad Bunny and Rosé set precedents.

On November 7, the Recording Academy dropped nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards. The list, spanning pop icons and cultural shifters, reflects a dynamic year in music and nods to acts across genres and nationalities reshaping the music landscape.

Read on to discover the highlights of this year’s noms, from Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny’s history-making Big 3 nods to Rosé and Huntrix’s groundbreaking nominations.

Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the list

U.S. artists Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy Awards nominations. 

Wrapping up a year of accolades, from headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show to sweeping the 2025 Grammys, Lamar racked up 9 nominations. The rapper’s collaboration with SZA, “luther,” was acknowledged in the Song Of The Year and Record of The Year categories. The artist also received nods for Album Of The Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Rap Album.

Lady Gaga, who enjoyed mainstream success with hits such as “Die With a Smile” and “Abracadabra,” snatched 7 noms. The list spanned coveted categories, including Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Song Of The Year. 

Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Sabrina Carpenter followed suit with 6 nominations each 

In 2025, Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny dominated the charts with globally celebrated albums and viral hits. Their nominations, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, underscore the influence of girl pop and Latin music in the U.S. 

Bad Bunny, whose politically-charged DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS became one of this year’s most listened-to albums, made history as the first Spanish-language artist to earn nominations in the Big 3 categories (Song, Record and Album of The Year). The singer, set to perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime, further cemented his influence, receiving additional nominations for Best Música Urbana Album, Best Global Music Performance and Best Album Cover.

Carpenter, on the other hand, completed 6 nominations with nods in Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Music Video.

Meanwhile, R&B singer Leon Thomas earned noms for Album Of The Year, Best New Artist and Best R&B Performance. The former Disney crooner made it to the list of most nominated stars with 3 additional nominations, including Best R&B Album.

Women and diversity get their flowers 

In a year dominated by girl pop music, the Recording Academy also recognized women’s creative acumen across borders. 

K-pop, traditionally snubbed at the Grammys, finally broke the spell. Musicians and acts associated with the genre stood out in the nomination list.

Rosé made history as the first K-pop solo act to be nominated for the Grammys. She also became the first Korean act to be recognized in the elusive Song and Record Of The Year categories. “APT.,” Rosé’s inescapable collaboration with Bruno Mars, also earned a nom for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. 

Reflecting a more globally-conscious voting membership—ICYMI, the Recording Academy introduced its new class of members and allowed selected Latin Recording Academy members to participate this year— K-pop music rode the momentum with “Golden,” Kpop Demon Hunters’ theme song.

Although “Golden” is a full English track, the film’s association with the South Korean music scene and the involvement of AAPI singers brought representation to the nominee list. “Golden” is nominated for Song Of The Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written For Visual Media. Additionally, Kpop Demon Hunters secured a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Straying from the classic K-pop model but trained under its system, girl group Katseye also earned noms for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Gabriela”).

A-List Performers

Echoing the exciting lineup of nominees, the performer list is packed with A-listers and major music acts. Among the highlights, the Recording Academy has announced the return of the Best New Artist showcase, which will feature nominated stars Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young.

Lauryn Hill is also set to return to the Grammy stage for a tribute performance honoring Roberta Flack and D’Angelo. The stage will be a full circle moment for Hill, whose cover of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” earned the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997. Additionally, Hill will pay homage to D’Angelo, who passed away in October 2025, and with whom Hill collaborated in the 1998 hit “Nothing Even Matters.”

The show will also feature a collaborative stage reuniting Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and Slash, Post Malone, Andrew Watt and The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, to honor the late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne.

Meanwhile, award nominees Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Rosé will hit the stage to perform their 2025 chart-toppers and showcase their artistry between award announcements.

All the Grammy Nominees

The 2025 Grammy Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, February 1,  at the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles. 

In the meantime, check out all the major category nominations below.

Record Of The Year

“DtMF” – Bad Bunny
“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” – Doechii
“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar With SZA
“The Subway” – Chappell Roan
“APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

Album Of The Year

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
SWAG – Justin Bieber
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
MUTT – Leon Thomas
CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Song Of The Year

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Anxiety” – Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter (Doechii)
“APT.” – Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter, songwriters (ROSÉ, Bruno Mars)
“DtMF” – Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo René Sención Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters (Bad Bunny)
“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” – EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI)
“luther” – Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar With SZA)
“Manchild” – Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)
“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave

Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Tobias Jesso Jr.
Laura Veltz

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” – HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI
“Gabriela” – KATSEYE
“APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
“30 For 30” – SZA With Kendrick Lamar

Best Pop Vocal Album

SWAG – Justin Bieber
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus
MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims

Best Dance Pop Recording

“Bluest Flame” – Selena Gomez & benny blanco
“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga
“Midnight Sun” – Zara Larsson
“Just Keep Watching (From “F1® The Movie”)” – Tate McRae
“Illegal” – PinkPantheress

Best Rock Song

“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)
“Caramel” – Vessel1 & Vessel2, songwriters (Sleep Token)
“Glum” – Daniel James & Hayley Williams, songwriters (Hayley Williams)
“NEVER ENOUGH” – Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills & Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)
“Zombie” – Dominic Harrison & Matt Schwartz, songwriters (YUNGBLUD)

Best Alternative Music Album

SABLE, fABLE – Bon Iver
Songs Of A Lost World – The Cure
DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, The Creator
moisturizer – Wet Leg
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams

Best R&B Performance

“YUKON” – Justin Bieber
“It Depends” – Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller
“Folded” – Kehlani
“MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” – Leon Thomas
“Heart Of A Woman” – Summer Walker

Best Rap Album

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
GLORIOUS – GloRilla
God Does Like Ugly – JID
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Best Country Solo Performance

“Nose On The Grindstone” – Tyler Childers
“Good News” – Shaboozey
“Bad As I Used To Be [From “F1® The Movie”]” – Chris Stapleton
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson

Best Latin Pop Album

Cosa Nuestra – Rauw Alejandro
BOGOTÁ (DELUXE) – Andrés Cepeda
Tropicoqueta – KAROL G
Cancionera – Natalia Lafourcade
¿Y ahora qué? – Alejandro Sanz

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television)

How To Train Your Dragon – John Powell, composer
Severance: Season 2 – Theodore Shapiro, composer
Sinners – Ludwig Göransson, composer
Wicked – John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, composers
The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers, composer