Some huge stars were locked out of the elections for the 2026 awards reveal, however there were likewise factors to commemorate
The elections for the 2026 Grammy Awards have actually been exposed, and as constantly, there is a lot to arrange through here for music fans. Some significant acts are no place to be seen, while others got simply the best acknowledgment. Finding out which is which, and commemorating or frowning appropriately, is half the enjoyable of Grammy elections day. Let’s get to it!
As a tip, music launched in between Aug. 31, 2024, and Aug. 30, 2025, was qualified for election. The awards will be provided on Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Here are 20 of the most significant snubs and many welcome surprises in this year’s elections.
SNUB: Nothing for Lorde? What Was That?
Lorde squashed all expectations with her 4th album,Virginproviding high-energy pop bangers in sharp contrast to 2021’sSolar energyThat didn’t matter to the Academy. Lorde didn’t get a single election, regardless of her star power and the album’s success.
This should not come as an overall surprise, considering that Lorde and the Grammys have a complex history. Things got specifically tough in 2018, when her well-known LPMelodramagot a desirable Album of the Year election, however the Recording Academy nevertheless decreased to provide her a solo efficiency slot in the telecast.( The other candidates in the classification that year, all of whom occurred to be male, were apparently all provided solo efficiencies.) A number of days after the Grammys event, where she lost on the huge award, Lorde secured a full-page ad in her regional paper, specifically thanking her fans for “thinking in female artists” in what some saw as a vital reaction to the Academy’s sexism. Especially, the only time Lorde has actually won a Grammy remained in 2014, when she made history as the youngest songwriter to get the Song of the Year award.–Maya Georgi
SNUB: The Weeknd Played the Game and Lost Again
This previous February, the Weeknd went back to the Grammy Awards 4 years after releasing an extremely advertised boycott and knocking what he called the” corruption “of the elections procedure. Back in 2021, he ‘d been burned by the truth that his albumAfter Hoursand its enormous single “Blinding Lights” got no elections; now, he buried the hatchet with a surprise efficiency of 2 standout tracks from his most current album,Rush TomorrowObviously, that wasn’t enough to get him any much better factor to consider from the Recording Academy, which has actually shut him out throughout the board when again.Rush Tomorrowwas far from not successful, and his single “Timeless” just recently became his 28th tune to exceed 1 billion streams on Spotify. He even let Republic Records run for-your-consideration advertisements. And yet, it appears, some things never ever alter, and playing the video game does not constantly work. No difficult sensations, however? “I’ve got no beef, it was so long earlier,” the Weeknd informedThe New York Timespreviously this year, “and they did a great deal of modifications, I suggest, we got under the hood.”–Larisha Paul
SURPRISE: The Academy Loves Bad Bunny’s “DtMF”
Bad Bunny’s 6 elections this year show simply what a huge year he had. The Puerto Rican artist ran success laps all throughout 2025, off the success of the chart-toppingDeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS— and plainly the Academy saw. The LP is just the 2nd Spanish-language album to get chosen for Album of the Year (the very first was Bad Bunny’s 2022 release,Un Verano Sin Ti. While it’s no surprise to see the job get chosen, lots of forecasted the salsa smash” Baile Inolvidable” would be the tune with all the Grammy nods; rather, the Academy leaned towards the psychological” DtMF,” which weaves standard bomba rhythms with a heart-wrenching message about living in the minute and caring individuals while there’s still time.–Julyssa Lopez
SNUB: Brandi Carlile and Elton John Miss the Top Categories
Entering into this year, Elton John and Brandi Carlile had a combined 61 elections at the Grammy Awards. Offered the Recording Academy’s widely known love for both artists and their love for intergenerational cooperation (à la Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ), their albumWho Believes in Angels?would’ve as soon as appeared like a lock for any of the significant all-genre classifications. Rather, they were chosen for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and are no place to be seen in Album, Record, or Song of the Year. Those identifying the elections this year appeared to break from previous beloveds in the leading classifications, and it’s not simply Brandi and Elton: Jon Batiste, a Grammy beloved who won Album of the Year in 2022, likewise started out in the all-genre classifications.–Jonathan Bernstein
SURPRISE: Lots of Love for Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams launched among the very best albums of the year with her solo LPEgo Death at a Bachelorette Partyand it’s good to see the Academy acknowledge that. The vocalist got 4 elections associated to the album: Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, Best Alternative Music Performance, and Best Alternative Music Album. Williams is no complete stranger to Grammy love– she got lots of nods and wins as part of Paramore. She even got her very first nod as a solo artist for her singing contributions to B.o.B’s 2010 hit” Airplanes Part II”( which likewise included Eminem ). These elections are the very first time the Grammys have actually acknowledged Williams’ own solo work, which feels like a memorable win for the artist.— M.G.
SNUB: Benson Boone Backflips Out of the Picture
This previous February, Benson Boone stimulated a few of the more heated disputes after he backflipped his method throughout the Grammys phase. He was up for Best New Artist at the 2025 awards, and he signed up with fellow candidates Doechii, Teddy Swims, Shaboozey, Raye, and Khruangbin for an unique collection of their hits. In the months after, Boone dropped a brand-new album and a couple of more hits, however that wasn’t enough to keep him in the excellent enhances of Grammy citizens. While much of his fellow Class of ’25 BNA candidates are up once again for more tune and album nods, Boone is no place to be discovered on this year’s list. Absolutely nothing wonderful or magical about that.–Brittany Spanos
SNUB: Where’s” That’s So True”?
Gracie Abrams scored her very first Top 10 struck with this blissfulSecret of United States( Deluxe)cut, a quick-witted takedown of an ex that functions as an alerting to his brand-new lady. You might feel the tune’s effect in minutes like Abrams’SNLefficiency, that time Elle Fanning lip-synced it onThe Tonight Showand when Abrams ‘co-writer, Audrey Hobert, caught her own album this summer season. It’s a disappointment it didn’t get a nod for Song of the Year, especially considering that Abrams currently has 2 Grammy noms under her belt, for Best New Artist (2024) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance( in 2015, for her duet with that up-and-coming artist Taylor Swift). Ideally, Abrams takes one home for her next album.–Angie Martoccio
SURPRISE: Clipse Get a Shot at Album of the Year
When’s the last time you heard it like this? It’s been a long period of time considering that the Clipse got any love from the Grammys– 22 years, to be exact, when the brotherly duo snatched their one and just election previously, a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration nod at the 2003 awards for their function on Justin Timberlake’s” Like I Love You.”( They lost to Nelly and Kelly Rowland’s” Dilemma.”) Pusha T and Malice infamously got stuck in major-label hell the list below year due to a merger, and they ultimately ended the group in 2010. Ever since, Pusha has actually ended up being a Grammy routine, making 5 elections for his solo work, consisting of 2 for Best Rap Album. And this year, after reuniting in amazing style for their albumLet God Sort Em Outthey’ve matched that overall with 5 brand-new elections: 3 rap classifications (tune, efficiency, and album), Best Music Video, and a prominent nod for Album of the Year. In a year that’s been everything about righting previous music market wrongs for these guys, these elections use them some well-deserved and long-overdue regard.–Simon Vozick-Levinson
SNUB: Role Model Gets Left on Read
Good example is among 2025’s most significant music-biz success stories, with his single” Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” ending up being a legitimate phenomenon that’s swept up everybody from Charli XCX to Al Roker in its wonderfully appealing pop-rock wave. The vocalist, whose genuine name is Tucker Pillsbury, has actually charmed the world this year– however obviously he hasn’t yet won over the Recording Academy, which provided him a huge round absolutely no elections. We believed he had a good chance at Best New Artist and the pop classifications, however the Grammys had other concepts. Good idea he’s currently dealing with his next album, as he just recently informed María Zardoya in their Musicians on Musicians digital cover story.–S.V.L.
SNUB: Nothing Special for “Ordinary”
Among the year’s most significant tunes appears like it didn’t even strike the radar of Grammy citizens this year. Alex Warren’s” Ordinary “topped theSignboardHot 100 for 10 successive weeks and was a streaming giant, ending up being flat-out inevitable within a couple of months of its release this previous February. It appeared like a shoo-in for some Grammy love this year, however the tune was roundly disregarded, even in the pop classifications. Warren, nevertheless, did get a nod in the extremely competitive Best New Artist classification. That’s a great alleviation reward, however it’s still unexpected that the tune that positioned him there was all however forgotten.–B.S.
SNUB: No Rap or Country in Best New Artist
Rap and c and w are both totally, and remarkably, missing from this year’s Best New Artist elections.
What occurred here? Let’s begin with rap. The “no brand-new stars in hip-hop “conversation continues, for great factor. Significant labels’ deprioritization of rap has actually made it tough for increasing acts to accomplish the groundswell of nationwide buzz that may be required for a Best New Artist election. BigXthaPlug– who crossed over into Nashville with his enthusiastic album,I Hope You’re Happy— might have been the exception. The Texan has actually been on theSignboardHot 100 weekly considering that April, providing him the longest active streak of any rap artist. BigX songs like “All The Way” with Bailey Zimmerman and “Home” with Shaboozey have actually been chart essentials. Central Cee, who made waves withCan’t Rush Greatnessand Ken Carson, who droppedA Great ChaosandMore Chaoslikewise appeared like practical competitors, however neither got a nod.
It was a huge year for females in c and w, too, with stars Ella Langley and Megan Moroney gathering prominence with their albumsStill HungoverandAm I Okay?respectively. Langley discovered a radio struck with her Riley Green duet “You Look Like You Love Me,” and Moroney scored a duet (and trip opening slot) with nation legend Kenny Chesney and an enormously effective 2nd album. Neither of them got chosen, either. It’s weird not to see 2 of the most crucial categories in music totally missing from a Big Four classification like this one.–Tomás Mier and Andre Gee
SURPRISE: Plaqueboymax Is the First Twitch Streamer Nominated for a Grammy
The worlds of material developers and artists continue to turn into one. Take” Victory Lap,” at first formulated throughout Plaqueboymax’s London streams from previously this year. The tune got an election for Best Dance/Electronic Recording, and it discovers the U.K. rap icon Skepta signing up with forces with Fred Again (whose album10 daysis up for Best Electronic/Dance Album) over fleet-footed production that mixes hip-hop and electronic music. It’s a fitting example of how streaming platforms like Twitch, where Max hosts his “In the Booth” series including artists making a track together in genuine time, are altering the nature of partnership. Now, the 22-year-old banner may get his very first Grammy.— Jeff Ihaza
SURPRISE: Girl Groups Recognized!
Woman groups are getting a great Grammy minute this year. Katseye scored a Best New Artist nod, while animated K-pop trio Huntr/x got numerous elections for their viral hit” Golden “fromKPop Demon Hunters— consisting of Song of the Year, marking the very first girl-group tune chosen because classification in almost twenty years. Both “Golden” and Katseye’s “Gabriela” likewise made history in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which had actually never ever seen a lady group chose given that the classification started more than a years earlier. British R&B trio FLO made a Best Progressive R&B Album election forGain access to All Areas—T.M.
SNUB: Playboi Carti Gets Shut Out
Among the more outright cases of an artist being neglected by the Recording Academy this year is Playboi Carti being frozen out, as the rap artist got nary a Grammy election regardless of delighting in a dominant year. He’s probably among the most prominent artists in music today, a figure whose every relocation commands international attention. His long-awaited albumMUSICwas among 2025’s buzziest releases, getting here after years of hold-up and quickly declaring his cult-like status. The job was met extensive recognition, showing that Carti’s artistry goes far much deeper than the buzz that typically surrounds him. While sales and appeal aren’t constantly the very best signs of creative benefit, Playboi Carti has actually shown himself to be more than an innovator and lightning arrester. He’s likewise a gifted artist with compound that belies the surface area. His innovative advancement continues to redefine what it indicates to be a modern-day icon– it’s simply unexpected the Grammys do not appear to see him the exact same method, a minimum of this year.–Preezy Brown
SNUB: Two Superproducers Get Ignored in Producer of the Year
Perhaps the Grammys were simply attempting to change it up, however 2 of the most dominant manufacturers in pop and beyond were in some way left unacknowledged in the Producer of the Year classification. Andrew Watt co-produced among the most-nominated albums of the year, Lady Gaga’sTroubleamongst lots of other jobs, however was ended the slate. Repeat Producer of the Year winner Jack Antonoff was likewise ended, regardless of branching off to deal with Kendrick Lamar’s Album of the Year-nominatedGNXand another competitor because classification, Sabrina Carpenter’sMale’s Best Friend—Brian Hiatt
SURPRISE: JID Gets His First Nomination
Considered as among hip-hop’s elite lyricists, JID has actually developed a track record for complex wordplay, active circulations, and an unique innovative voice– yet in some way, he’s never ever gotten a Grammy election for hisownwork. That now alters, with the Atlanta spitter being chosen for 2 Grammy Awards as the lead artist: His well-known studio albumGod Does Like Uglymade a nod for Best Rap Album, and its hit single”Wholeheartedly”including Ty Dolla $ ign and 6Lack was consisted of in the very best Melodic Rap Performance lineup.
JID’s very first brush with the Recording Academy can be found in 2020 through his contributions to J. Cole and Dreamville Records’Vengeance of the Dreamers IIIwhich made an election for Best Rap Album. His intense efficiency on the standout single “Down Bad,” together with J. Cole, Bas, EarthGang, and Young Nudy, likewise protected a nod for Best Rap Performance. Still, both elections ended in losses, leaving the talented lyricist acknowledged however unrewarded. His newest election prior this year got here in 2021 through his function on Doja Cat’sWorld HerThat album’s luxurious edition got an election for Album of the Year at the 64th Grammy Awards, however once again, JID left without the prize.
This year, the very best Rap Album field is cluttered with heavyweight releases that were likewise chosen in the Album, Record, and Song of the Year classifications, whichGod Does Like Uglyis not. This makes vanquishing the competitors a high, though still possible, job for him. For our cash, JID’s finest chances at winning his very first Grammy will be by means of an upset over Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” for Best Melodic Rap Performance.–P.B.
SURPRISE: Lefty Gunplay Gets a Grammy Nod for Just Six Words
One cool aspect of the Grammys is that they acknowledge everybody who’s credited on a tune, no matter how huge or little their contribution. Lefty Gunplay, the charming L.A. artist whom Kendrick Lamar included on” television off,”might have simply broken a record for least words to a Grammy election. The tune is chosen for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Lefty provided simply 6 words to theGNXtrack, memorably rapping” Shit gets insane, frightening, creepy, amusing”towards the tune’s conclusion. He didn’t require an entire verse to make his existence felt, or to get a possibility at his very first Grammy.–A.G.
SURPRISE: Bobby Pulido Gets a Nomination
At the end of in 2015, Tejano icon Bobby Pulido revealed he was stepping far from music to pursue a profession in politics. Before hanging up his guitar, he’s closing that chapter with a bang: making a last Grammy election forPor La Puerta Grandehis enthusiastic, collaboration-filled live album including duets with Bronco, Alicia Villarreal, David Bisbal, and Kinky. The job, launched simply ahead of the Grammy cutoff, reimagines a few of Pulido’s most significant hits along with those of his partners. Now, as he projects in what he explained toWandereras “the most conservative district in South Texas,” he can include another Grammy nod to his résumé. Pulido was last chosen in 2004 forMóntamewhen the Grammys had a Tejano-specific classification. Now, it’s bunched in with the very best Música Mexicana classification.–T.M.
SURPRISE: Eddy Kenzo Brings Some Variety to Best African Music Performance
In its brief history(simply 2 years before this one ), the African Music Performance classification has actually been controlled by tracks that have actually had apparent crossover success in the U.S., mainly Afrobeats tunes by Nigerian artists with flecks of South African amapiano. Breaking that dullness this & year is Ugandan artist Eddy Kenzo’s”Hope & Love,”a cooperation with classically trained instrumentalist Mehran Matin. Kenzo has actually been popular in his nation and throughout pockets of the African diaspora given that his 2010 advancement, “Stamina,” however his stature hasn’t increased to the pop fame of the acts that he’s completing versus here, like Tyla, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Ayra Starr. This isn’t Kenzo’s very first time completing versus Burna Boy at the Grammys– in 2023, his look on American artist Matt B’s “Gimmie Love” went up versus Burna’s smash “Last Last” in the Global Music Performance classification. (Both lost.) —Mankaprr Conteh
SURPRISE: Sexyy Red Earns Her First Grammy Nod
Similar To Lefty Gunplay on the Kendrick tune, Sexyy Red scored a Best Rap Song election for her short visitor look on Tyler, the Creator’s” Sticky,”which likewise includes Glorilla and Lil Wayne. This may pertain to the surprise– and annoyance– of her critics. In Spite Of the St. Louis rap artist’s frequently inevitable appeal and unrefined appeal, the benefits of her specific, straightforward rapping and self-proclaimed “ghetto” personality have actually constantly been questioned. WhenWanderercalled her “SkeeYee” the finest rap tune of 2023, we were implicated by a few of “buffooning” Black music by commemorating its clear effect and cultural significance. The manufacturer behind her super-hard noise toolbox, Tay Keith, may have finest caught why more highbrow stars like Tyler have actually gathered to her: “She’s having a good time, and it actually influenced me to simply have more enjoyable with this shit,” Keith informedWandererin 2015. “She’s simply enjoying herself which ought to be the real significance of music. You do not need to be major all the time.”–M.C.
From Wanderer United States.