2026 Grammy Awards Nominations: Kendrick Lamar Leads with 9 Nods for 'GNX
The 2026 Grammy Award nominations have been announced, with Kendrick Lamar leading the pack with nine nods for his album "GNX." The awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This year, there are three releases nominated in both the rap album and album of the year categories, including Lamar's "GNX," Clipse, Pusha T & Malice's "Let God Sort Em Out," and Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia." The inclusion of more diverse artists in the nominations this year signals a potential shift in the Grammy Awards landscape.
While hip-hop is well-represented in the album of the year category, it is notably absent from the best new artist nominees list. Similarly, country music is missing from the new artist category as well. Billie Eilish, a favorite of the Recording Academy, is up for two trophies this year for her track "Wildflower," despite it being released in May 2024. The eligibility rules for the Grammys allow for certain exceptions, which may impact the outcome of the awards.
Changes to the Grammy Awards this year include the creation of a best traditional country album category and the renaming of the best country album category to best contemporary country album. The distinction between the two categories remains unclear. Notably, Morgan Wallen did not submit his hit album "I'm the Problem" for consideration this year. The Weeknd, who criticized the Grammys in 2020, did not receive any nominations for his album "Hurry Up Tomorrow" in 2026.
K-pop artists have gained more recognition at the 2026 Grammys, with Rosé becoming the first K-pop artist to receive a nomination in the record of the year category for her song "APT." Bad Bunny is a top nominee this year, making history with his album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" as the second all-Spanish language album to be nominated in the album of the year category. The evolving landscape of the Grammy Awards reflects a potential openness to diverse music genres and artists.
Despite some artists not receiving nominations this year, the Grammy Awards continue to evolve and recognize a wide range of talent. The 2026 nominations showcase a diverse selection of artists and genres, setting the stage for an exciting awards ceremony.