The 2026 Grammy nominations just dropped, and the anticipation is real! The Recording Academy’s choices are expected to shake things up, especially with new categories and a year packed with viral hits, emotional albums, and genre-bending records.
According to TODAY, the Academy added Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album this year. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. says the updates reflect the ever-changing music landscape.
“Each year during our Awards & Nominations review, our focus is on refining our rules,” Mason told Grammy.com. “And ensuring we are celebrating our creative community in the most meaningful way.”
So, who do we think will dominate?
For Album of the Year, all eyes are on Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. This album has become a global sensation, blending his Puerto Rican heritage with live instrumentation and undeniable hits. But don’t count out Kendrick Lamar either, whose latest project, GNX, pushed lyrical boundaries and cultural conversations once again.
For Record of the Year, we’re betting big on Doechii’s “Anxiety” and Doja’s “Jealous Type,” both defining the year’s sound and streaming charts. Best New Artist could go to Victoria Monét’s protégé Leon Thomas, or Afrobeat sensation Ayra Starr, who’s been heating up global playlists worldwide.
With the new Best Album Cover category, expect visual powerhouses like Tyler, The Creator to lead the pack. Artists who consistently merge fashion, concept, and storytelling are sure to win BIG. Of course, the Grammy voters will have the final say.
The 2026 Grammys will take place Feb. 1, 2026, at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles, CA. What are YOUR predictions after checking out the nominees? Sound off in the comments!
Here are a few important categories from the 2026 Grammy nominations list:
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
“Mayhem” — Lady Gaga
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Mutt” — Leon Thomas
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator
Song of the Year
“Abracabara” — Lady Gaga
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Apt.” — ROSÉ & Bruno Maros
“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Bad Bunny
“Golden” — “KPOP Demon Hunters”
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
Katseye
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Best Rap Album
“Let God Sort Em Out” — Clipse
“Glorious” — Glorilla
“God Does Like Ugly”
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator
Best R&B Album
“Beloved” — Giveon
“Why Not More” — Coco Jones
“The Crown” — Ledisi
“Escape Room” — Teyana Taylor
“Mutt” by Leon Thomas
Best Song For Visual Media
“As Alive As You Need Me to Be”
“Golden” — KPop Demon Hunters
“I liked To You” — Miles Caton, Sinners
“Pale, Pale Moon”
“Sinners”
Producer of the year, non-classical
Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave
Record of the Year
“Debí Tirar Más Fotos“ — Bad Bunny
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
“Abracabara” — Lady Gaga
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
“Apt.” — ROSÉ & Bruno Maros
Best R&B Performance
“YUKON” — Justin Bieber
“It Depends” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller
“Folded” — Kehlani
“MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” — Leon Thomas
“Heart Of A Woman” — Summer Walker
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Here We Are” — Durand Bernarr
“UPTOWN” — Lalah Hathaway
“LOVE YOU TOO” — Ledisi
“Crybaby” — SZA
“VIBES DON’T LIE” — Leon Thomas
Best R&B Song
“Folded” — Kehlani
“Heart Of A Woman” — Summer Walker
“It Depends” — Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller
“Overqualified” — Durand Bernarr
“YES IT IS” — Leon Thomas
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
“Golden” — HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami
“Gabriela” — Katseye
“APT.” — Rosé, Bruno Mars
“30 for 30” — SZA With Kendrick Lamar
Best Album Cover
“CHROMAKOPIA” — Shaun Llewellyn & Luis “Panch” Perez, art directors (Tyler, The Creator)
“The Crux” — William Wesley II, art director (Djo)
“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, art director (Bad Bunny)
“Glory” — Cody Critcheloe & Andrew J.S., art directors (Perfume Genius)
“moisturizer” — Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, Matt de Jong, Jamie-James Medina, Joshua Mobaraki & Rhian Teasdale, art directors (Wet Leg)
Best Score for Visual Media
“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
. Check out the full nominations list and a few of our predictions inside.){kind=link}