Kendrick Lamar Leads 2026 Grammy Nominations with Nine Nods
The Recording Academy has unveiled the nominations for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, set to take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Kendrick Lamar tops the list with nine nominations, including Album of the Year for his critically acclaimed album “GNX.” This marks his fifth consecutive album to receive a nomination in this prestigious category.
Top Nominees and Categories
Following Lamar, Lady Gaga, producer Cirkut, and Jack Antonoff each garnered seven nominations. Lady Gaga’s album “MAYHEM” is also in contention for Album of the Year, alongside works by Bad Bunny (“Debí Tirar Más Fotos”), Justin Bieber (“Swag”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Man’s Best Friend”), Leon Thomas (“Mutt”), and Tyler, the Creator (“Chromakopia”). Notably, this year marks the first time three rap albums have been nominated for Album of the Year.
In the Record of the Year category, nominees include Bad Bunny’s “DtMF,” Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “luther,” and Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” Rosé’s nomination is particularly historic, as she becomes the first K-pop artist to be recognized in this category.
Best New Artist and Genre-Specific Categories
The Best New Artist category features a diverse lineup of emerging talents: Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, and Alex Warren. Genre-specific categories highlight standout projects from artists like Giveon in R&B, Skrillex in electronic music, Deftones in rock, Bon Iver in alternative, and Feid in Latin urban.
New Categories and Ceremony Details
This year, the Recording Academy introduced two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+. A host for the ceremony has yet to be announced.
As the music industry anticipates the upcoming awards, these nominations reflect a diverse and competitive field, celebrating both established artists and newcomers across various genres.
