The 2026 Grammy Awards officially took place on February 2, once again serving as the music industry’s most prestigious annual event honoring outstanding global achievements. This year’s ceremony brought together top-tier artists and critically acclaimed releases from around the world, from industry veterans to trend-setting new voices, further strengthening the Grammy Awards’ influence on the international music landscape.
The event attracted particular attention from Asian audiences thanks to the presence of K-pop-related nominees, including Golden from Huntr/X and APT. of Rosato. Their inclusion in one of the world’s most prestigious awards seasons sparked high expectations and intense discussion about whether Asian artists could pull off a big surprise on the Grammy stage.
In the four largest overall categories, the winners reflect the strongest forces in global music today. Olivia Dean took home the award for best new artist, while Kendrick Lamar’s Luther featuring SZA won record of the year. Song of the Year went to Wildflower by Billie Eilish, while the most coveted award, Album of the Year, went to Bad Bunny for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
With this achievement, Luther not only helped Kendrick Lamar earn Record of the Year for the second year in a row, but also solidified his dominance at the 2026 Grammys. Kendrick Lamar finished the night with an impressive total of five wins, reaffirming his enduring influence and authority in both the hip-hop genre and the broader music industry.
Billie Eilish also made history by winning song of the year with Wildflower. This win officially made her the artist with the most songs of the year wins in Grammy history, following her previous triumphs with Bad Guy (2020), What Was I Made For? (2024) and now Wildflower (2026). At just 25 years old and ten years into her career, Billie Eilish has established herself as one of the most important artists of her generation.
Another highlight of the night was the recognition of a K-pop representative, as Huntr/X’s Golden won Best Song Written for Visual Media. The song, part of a film soundtrack, had already achieved considerable success throughout the year and gained international acclaim. Her Grammy win was widely seen as a testament to K-pop’s growing global impact and artistic recognition.
On the other hand, the APT. , the highly anticipated collaboration between Rosé and Bruno Mars, ended the evening winless, despite strong pre-ceremony expectations. Notably, this result also marked the end of Bruno Mars’ uninterrupted streak of Grammy wins that had lasted since 2018.
Sabrina Carpenter was another artist who left fans disappointed. Despite strong critical praise for her album Man’s Best Friend, she failed to secure a Grammy win this year amid fierce competition from heavyweight contenders. As a result, the beloved era of Man’s Best Friend has yet to be crowned with a Grammy trophy.
Overall, the 2026 Grammys featured record-breaking results, unexpected outcomes and significant milestones, reflecting both the evolving global music scene and the increasingly prominent presence of diverse voices on the world’s biggest music stage.
Album of the Year: I SHOULD THROW MORE PICTURES – Bad Bunny
Record of the Year: Luther – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – Wildflower
Best New Artist: Olivia Dean, Producer of the Year: Cirkut
Songwriter of the Year: Amy Allen
Best Music Video: Doechii – Anxiety
Pop and dance/electronic
Best Pop Solo Performance: Lola Young – Messy
Best pop vocal album: Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity
Best Dance-Pop Recording: Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Best Dance/Electronic Album: FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Tame Impala – End of Summer
Rock, metal and alternative
Best Rock Album: Turnstile – Never EnoughBest Rock Performance: Yungblud – Changes (Live from Villa Park, Back to the Beginning)
Best Rock Song: Nine Inch Nails – As Alive as You Need Me to Be
Best performance on metal: Turnstile – Birds
Best Alternative Music Album: The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Best alternative music performance: The Cure – Alone
R&B, rap and urban
Best Latin Pop Album: Natalia Lafourcade – Cancionera
Best R&B Album: Leon Thomas – Mutt
Best R&B Performance: Kehlani – Folded
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Leon Thomas – Vibes Don’t Lie
Best R&B Song: Kehlani – FoldedBest Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Best Rap Performance: Clipse – Chains & Whips (with Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams)
Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar ft. Lefty Gunplay – TV Off
Best Melodic Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar with SZA – Luther
Best Urban Music Album: Bad Bunny – I should have thrown more photos
Country and folk
Best Contemporary Country Album: Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
Best Traditional Country Album: Zach Top – I’m Not In This For My Health
Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton – Bad As I Used to Be
Best Country Song: Tyler Childers – Bitin’ List
Best Folk Album: I’m With Her – Wild, Clear and Blue
Global, jazz and classical
Best Overall Musical Performance: Bad Bunny – EoO
Best African Music Performance: Tyla – Push 2 Start
Best Jazz Performance: Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade – Windows (Live)
Best orchestral performance: Andris Nelsons (Boston Symphony Orchestra) – Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: Sinners
Best Song Written for Visual Media: Huntr/x – Golden ( KPop: Demon Hunters )
Best Comedy Album: Nate Bargatze – Your friend, Nate Bargatze
Sources: Netizenbuzz
