Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga Lead 2026 Grammy Nominations Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga are leading the pack in the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, setting the stage for a potentially historic night in Los Angeles. K-Pop also achieves a significant milestone, breaking into the coveted Song of the Year category for the first time.

Lamar and Gaga Vie for Top Honors Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has secured an impressive nine nominations, marking the second consecutive year he has topped the nominee list. His critically acclaimed album, GNX, is vying for Album of the Year, a prize that could cement his legacy as one of rap's most influential artists. Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations, including a nod for Album of the Year for Mayhem. The album, a return to her electro-pop roots, is a personal exploration of her artistic journey.

K-Pop's Breakthrough Moment In a landmark achievement for the genre, two K-Pop songs have been nominated for Song of the Year: Rosé (of Blackpink) and Bruno Mars' collaborative pop track "APT," and Hunter/x's "Golden," a standout from the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. This marks the first time K-Pop artists have been recognized in this prestigious category, signaling a growing acceptance and influence of the genre in the global music landscape.

Album of the Year: A Diverse and Competitive Field The Album of the Year category is particularly competitive this year, showcasing a diverse range of genres and artists. Lamar and Gaga face stiff competition from Tyler, The Creator (Chromakopia), reunited hip-hop duo Clipse (Let God Sort Em Out), and Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny (Debí Tirar Más Fotos). Bad Bunny's nomination is especially noteworthy, as Debí Tirar Más Fotos is only the second entirely Spanish-language album to be shortlisted for the prize, following his own Un Verano Sin Ti in 2022. The album blends live instrumentation with reggaeton and traditional Puerto Rican styles.

Rap's Potential to Dominate This year marks the first time in Grammy history that three rap albums have been nominated for Album of the Year. Dr. Joan Wallace, a musicologist at the University of Southern California, notes that this reflects a shift in the Recording Academy's recognition of rap's artistic merit. "For years, rap was often relegated to genre-specific categories," Dr. Wallace explains. "The inclusion of three rap albums in the Album of the Year category signifies a growing appreciation for the genre's innovation and cultural impact." If Lamar wins Album of the Year, GNX would be the first rap album to win the award since Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2004. This victory would be a monumental moment for hip-hop.

Other Notable Nominations

Sabrina Carpenter garnered six nominations, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Album for her country-pop crossover album, Manchild. Alex Warren, whose song "Ordinary" was a hit in the UK, received a Best New Artist nomination. Timothée Chalamet is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for his Bob Dylan song album from the film biopic, A Complete Unknown. The Dalai Lama is nominated for Best Audiobook, competing against Milli Vanilli's Fab Morvan.

British Talent Represented British artists are well-represented across various categories. Olivia Dean and Lola Young are nominated for Best New Artist, following in the footsteps of Adele and Amy Winehouse. Isle of Wight indie band Wet Leg is nominated for Best Alternative Album and Best Alternative Song, categories they won in 2023. The Cure are also nominated for two awards after releasing their first album in 16 years. Yungblud received his first Grammy nominations, including Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance. Alt-pop artists FKA Twigs and PinkPantheress will compete for Best Dance Album. Coldplay, however, were surprisingly shut out despite expectations for their album Moon Music.

Taylor Swift's Absence For the first time since 2006, Taylor Swift is not eligible for a Grammy nomination. Her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, was released after the eligibility cut-off date. It is expected to be a strong contender for nominations at the 2027 Grammy Awards.

How the Grammys are Decided The Grammy Awards process involves a rigorous screening and voting system. Almost 23,000 entries were submitted for consideration this year. After verification, nearly 15,000 musicians, critics, and industry professionals cast ballots to determine the nominees. A final round of voting will take place between December 12 and January 5 to determine the winners, who will be announced at the ceremony on February 1, 2026. According to music industry analyst Ben Carter, the Grammy's voting process has evolved to be more inclusive over the years. "While the Grammys have faced criticism in the past for being out of touch, the Recording Academy has made efforts to diversify its membership and voting processes," Carter states. "The nominations this year reflect a broader range of genres and artists, indicating a willingness to embrace the changing landscape of music."