The anticipation is building as the nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards were officially announced on Friday, November 7. This year, prominent artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, and Lady Gaga are dominating the nominations, making it a highly competitive event.
After a triumphant win for Song and Record of the Year with “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar is leading the pack with a staggering nine nominations for the 2026 Grammys. His acclaimed album GNX has earned him a nod for Album of the Year. Additionally, Lamar is back in contention for Song of the Year and Record of the Year for his collaboration with SZA on the track “Luther.”
Following closely behind Lamar, Lady Gaga has secured seven nominations, showcasing her continued relevance in the music industry. Gaga is in the running for the three major categories—Album, Song, and Record of the Year—with her projects Mayhem and the hit single “Abracadabra.” Meanwhile, Bad Bunny garnered six nominations, marking his second nomination for Album of the Year with DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He also received his first nominations as a lead artist for Song and Record of the Year for “DtMF.”
In addition to these top contenders, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas also received six nominations each. Both artists will compete in the highly coveted Album of the Year category with their works Man’s Best Friend and Mutt, respectively. Other notable albums in this category include Justin Bieber’s Swag, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia.
The competition for Record of the Year is fierce, featuring tracks like “Luther,” “Abracadabra,” and “DtMF.” Other nominees include Carpenter’s “Manchild,” Doechii’s “Anxiety,” Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower,” Chappell Roan’s “The Subway,” and the collaboration between Rosé and Bruno Mars on “APT.” The Song of the Year category includes similar heavyweights such as “Abracadabra,” “Anxiety,” “APT,” “Luther,” “Manchild,” “Wildflower,” and the breakthrough hit “Golden” from KPop sensation Demon Hunters.
The Best New Artist category is set to feature emerging talents like Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. Notably, KATSEYE, Thomas, and Young have also received nominations in other Grammy categories.
Kendrick Lamar is favored to expand on his recent Grammy success. If he wins Album of the Year for GNX, it will mark the first time a rap album has taken home this prestigious award since Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003. Lamar has been nominated for Album of the Year six times, a remarkable feat that mirrors the repeated nominations of iconic artists like Beyoncé, though he is still seeking his first win in this category.
Many of Lamar’s competitors are also overdue for an Album of the Year win. Lady Gaga has been nominated for this honor four times previously, while Justin Bieber is vying for his third nomination. Although Gaga boasts an impressive 14 Grammy wins, she has yet to secure a major category win. Similarly, Bieber has only two Grammy wins despite multiple nominations.
This year also sees numerous first-time nominees. Protest singer Jesse Welles has received nominations across four folk and Americana categories, while Blackpink’s Rosé, country artist Zach Top, and UK rocker Yungblud have each garnered three nominations. Additionally, acclaimed singer-songwriter Dijon received two nominations, including one for Producer of the Year, highlighting his work on Lamar’s “TV Off.”
The 68th Grammy Awards will introduce new categories, including Best Album Cover, with nominees such as Tyler’s Chromakopia, Djo’s The Crux, and Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. There will also be significant changes to the country categories, splitting Best Country Album into Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Traditional Country Album. Notably, Willie Nelson will compete against his son, Lukas Nelson, in the latter category.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on February 1, 2026. With a diverse range of nominees and categories, this year’s Grammys promise to be an unforgettable celebration of music.
See the full list of nominees below:
Album of the Year Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS Justin Bieber – Swag Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out Lady Gaga – Mayhem Kendrick Lamar – GNX Leon Thomas – Mutt Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia Record of the Year Bad Bunny – “DtMF” Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” Doechii – “Anxiety” Billie Eilish – “Wildflower” Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “Luther” Chappell Roan – “The Subway” Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.” Song of the Year Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” Doechii – “Anxiety” Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.” Bad Bunny – “DtMF” Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “Luther” Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” Billie Eilish – “Wildflower” Huntr/x (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – “Golden” (from KPop Demon Hunters) Best New Artist Olivia Dean KATSEYE The Marias Addison Rae Sombr Leon Thomas Alex Warren Lola YoungThis year's nominations reflect a vibrant tapestry of talent across genres, setting the stage for an exciting Grammy Awards ceremony.
